Right Now

Album review

This 1984 album from Barry Brown comes at the end of a prolific run for the reggae singer, one that began in the late '70s with producer Bunny Lee. Right Now, on the other hand, is produced by the underappreciated Jah Screw, and it's unique for other reasons too, like being a rather sweet and cool album and in contrast to his two other 1984 releases -- the upbeat clash album Showdown, Vol. 1 with DJ Little John, and Roots & Culture, the aptly titled throwback album he recorded with "Armageddon Time" singer Willie Williams. Add that year's playful and sexy lovers rock single "Belly Move" -- with swagger borrowed from both Yellowman and Dennis Brown -- and you've got the full Barry Brown picture with the humble and almost hitless Right Now being the rich, rewarding, and dank anchor. That dank bit comes from Screw's reverb-heavy, always echoing production, which on the opening dancehall stepper "Sister Magling" goes beyond the usual dub tropes as its horn section seems to wave in the breeze, occasionally being carried away by the stronger gusts. Convincing heartache from Brown and speaker-cutting lick shots from Screw make "Lonely Girl" a standout, then "I Give My Love" kicks off three easy romantic numbers, all of them prime showcases for the singer's youthful voice and smooth croon. "Mister Minister" and the rest of the original LP's side two are right in the modern Rasta vein of the Mighty Diamonds and are sure to make Sublime fans feel at home, but Right Now exits without that signature hit or standout songwriting, even if Brown's commitment to the B+ material elevates it all. With Brown taking a break soon after its release, Right Now fell into obscurity until 2012 when the Greensleeves label rescued the album and polished it into a true gem with eight extra tracks of dubs, plus a DJ "version" from Triston Palma. The reissue is a great score for reggae enthusiasts, but even without all the extras, this forgotten album is a must for Brown's fans, and Screw's as well.

© David Jeffries /TiVo