Party Time

About

The Heptones, one of Jamaica's best harmony groups, meet The Upsetter, Lee Perry, Jamaica's most radical producer. Perry was at a creative peak at this time (mid seventies) and the Heptones were trying to make a decided move away from their rock steady roots into political reggae along the lines of the Wailers (whom Perry had also produced during a crucial transition period). It makes for a solid album, and an intriguing one, but great harmony trio + Lee Perry wasn't quite the magic formula it had been in 1970. Perry's production sound, while unique and righteous, was just too heavy handed at this point to shape itself to the Heptones obvious assets. There are some great tunes here--Sufferer's Time, for instance--but the hope was that this album would deliver on the promise showed by the new tunes on the earlier Island release, Night Food. It doesn't accomplish that. Lead singer Leroy Sibbles left soon after this album's release, and the remaining Heptones more or less re-embraced their Rock Steady roots, gaining a reputation as something of a throwback group.

via Last.fm

The Clerk says

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