Weakheart Fadeaway

Album review

What Studio One was to Jamaica's up-and-coming singers, Stur-Gav Hi-Fi Sound System was to its toasters, a finishing school for DJs. Founded by U-Roy, its first graduates were Jah Screw and the newly promoted to Ranking Little Joe. Weakheart Fadeaway, released in Jamaica in 1978, bundled up ten of Ranking Joe's recent recordings from Channel One, with Jo Jo Hookim taking the production credit. The Revolutionaries provided the riddims, and a stellar bunch they were, for why would the DJ deign to ride anything less? Back then, his live performances were the stuff of legend, and "Rock Pon the Rock" captures the excitement Joe engendered, as he pays tribute to the "Rockfort Rock" riddim he's riding with such aplomb. "Dub Sister Dub It" is a rub-a-dub big-up to the dance, cut on a version of the Wailing Souls' "Joy Within Your Heart." But Ranking Joe was equally capable of delivering powerful cultural numbers, like the powerful "A Dread Earthquake," a version of "He Prayed," and the potent title track, a major hit cut on the "Fade Away" riddim. On "Milkman Coming," the DJ expounds on Rastafarian practices, while "Natty Dread a Trademan" is a strong riposte to the "Rastas are all loafers" slander. "Honest Living" further elaborates on the latter's point, while exploring the difficulties involved. "Living" is a slice-of-life look at the working class, and "Natty the Collie Smoker" hangs out with the chalice puffers. And then there's "Queen Tell," which transforms Cornel Campbell's romantic classic "Queen of the Minstrels" into a telling tale of a Jezebel. The riddims and production are superb and Ranking Joe is at his headiest heights. Of course, the DJ unleashed many more hits in the aftermath of this set, yet few of his full-lengths would reach this level of overall quality.

© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo