features in: Album Chart of 1976 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |

Virgin’s raid on Jamaica for talent led to the debut long player of the Mighty Diamonds vocal-trio – Donald Shaw, Fitzroy Simpson and Lloyd Ferguson – a soulful group who could easily be viewed as Trenchtown’s Temptations, and were a good bet to shift units in worldwide markets. They had appeal at home too, mainly due to their sweet harmonies, spirituality and empathy for the strugglers. An early highlight is “Why Me Black Brother Why” which pleas to the menaces plaguing Jamaican society: “Why me black brother why, dis robbing and killing? Why me black brother why, dis looting and shooting? Why me black brother why, you ruling your mumma? Why me black brother why, you mash up your puppa? What you gonna do when a voice say come, Remember the day of Judgement.” A main lyrical feature of the LP is to remember, respect and relay the writings and teachings of Marcus Garvey, who worked tirelessly to unify Black peoples and to instill pride into the downtrodden and oppressed. The excellent “Them Never Love Poor Marcus” comes right out on the attack against the characters who did not heed his calls. Bag O’Wire, supposedly Garvey’s driver who sold him out for nothing but the cost of rice and peas, is particularly shamed: “Men like Bag O' Wire, should burn in fire, the betrayer of Marcus Garvey”. “Have Mercy”, first out as a single in ’75, is another good highlight on side 2, notwithstanding the nonsensical belief that deities (or even mighty gods who are living men) can somehow play human beings like puppets on strings: “change them who’s gone astray and show them the way, Jah man”. Alas, Haile Selassie died shortly after that single was released, closing a huge chapter in the Rastafarian’s story.
The Jukebox Rebel
25–Apr–2009
Tracklist |
A1 | [03:16] ![]() |
A2 | [03:09] ![]() |
A3 | [03:20] ![]() |
A4 | [03:06] ![]() |
A5 | [02:44] ![]() |
B1 | [02:50] ![]() |
B2 | [03:28] ![]() |
B3 | [03:18] ![]() |
B4 | [02:47] ![]() |
B5 | [03:09] ![]() |