Roots Master: The Vintage Roots Reggae Singles Volume 1 (Sun King, 2007)

Claudius "Kingman" Linton is an originator in the field of roots reggae, a Trenchtown contemporary and friend of Bob Marley who was part of the wave of Jamaican musicians who ushered reggae from '60s ska to '70s roots. Unfortunately, despite a string of successful singles, he's largely been forgotten -- partly because he hasn't released any material since the mid-'80s. But thanks to indie musician/producer Ian Jones, AKA Jonah, his legacy lives on in this collection of singles from Linton's heyday. Listening to Roots Master, it's amazing that so much great material is just now seeing the light of day on CD (and one, "Road of Life," was previously unreleased in any format). The songs were recorded between 1969 and 1986 and aside for the ska track "Woman Wash Your Hair," are vintage roots reggae. His biggest hit, 1976's "Crying Time," is indicative of his style: bouncy bass line, rural guitar, strong R&B-styled melody, emotional delivery, and a socially conscious, righteous message with the world's sufferers in mind. Songs like "Crying Time," "Put Your Shoulder to Jah Wheel," "Backra Massa," and "Reach Out" just sound like classics, capturing the musical artistry of the Golden Age of Reggae. Linton's scratchy vocals are reminscent of Culture's Joseph Hill with a touch of U-Roy in the more "scatty" elements of songs like "Cry Now," lending an air of immediate reverence to his tunes that many people strive for years to attain. The potency of his lyrics only add to his stature, particularly when they prove as timeless as they do in "Put Your Shoulder to Jah Wheel" -- which cites economic and energy crises that continue to this day -- and "Reduce the Arms Race," which pleads for a reduction in world conflict. I can only hope that a Volume 2 will follow shortly. You can hear samples at www.sunkingrecords.com.