Junior Delahaye: Reggae Showcase - 1982


There is not much available out there from Junior Murvin sound-alike Junior Delahaye. This six track sampler of an album is the only release remotely resembling an album. That said, it has a super sound quality to it, with a really nice, warm, melodic bassline that immediately draws me right in. 

The skanking is easy on the ear and Delahaye’s high and sweet vocal equally so. The music is a mix of Lovers Rock such as I Love You For All Seasons, Sitting In The Park and Travelling Man (lovely dubby break near the end) and rasta consciousness-inspired material like All I Need Is Jah (check out that sweet, Glen Da Costa-ish tenor saxophone break). There are also hints of Gregory Isaacs to Junior’s vocals. 

Overall it is extremely pleasant early eighties reggae - tuneful with a melodically dubby roots edge. From this collection, though, I get the impression that Delahaye was more of a lover than a Rastaman. All I Need Is Jah is indeed the only Rasta song. The other two, Love and Movie Show are lovers cuts. 


Also available are stand alone singles the socially-conscious but lovers-sounding groove of Working Hard For The Rent Man and the Marley-esque Mystic Revellation (the original spelling). Two definite diamonds here.


Rick Anderson, writing for Allmusic has written the only other review I could find on it, I have re-produced it here to catch the important minutiae. He also expresses pretty much everything I would want to add to what I have already said - 


“Junior Delahaye was one of a number of young and unheralded reggae singers who were given an opportunity to prove themselves in the Bronx recording studio of producer Lloyd "Bullwackie" Barnes. He acquitted himself nicely on this 1982 release, which languished in Barnes' vaults for 20 years before being reissued on CD in late 2002. Focusing primarily on romantic material (with one religious song thrown in for good measure) and helped by Barnes' crack studio band and his Lee Perry-influenced production style, Delahaye alternates between a romantic falsetto and a rich tenor voice, delivering one of the few worthwhile reggae versions of Sitting in the Park and a nice version of the soul classic I Love You for All Seasons, as well as longtime reggae favourite Traveling Man and three originals. His style is not revelatory, but the quality of his voice and his studio presence make it clear that he deserved more attention than he got.”

With its home-produced cover and short track listing, this is definitely one of roots/lovers reggae's forgotten little gems. It is available via most streaming services. Check it out.

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