Who Say

Description

Horace Andy has always commanded a place high on the list of Reggae singers from Jamaica. His distinctive haunting vocal style stands strong on any rhythm,song or style he chooses to cover. Of the singers on that long list, he has managed more so than any other, to crossover to a new generation of listeners due to his individual style, helped also by his collaborations with the likes of Massive Attack. Horace Andy (b. Horace Hinds,1951,Kingston Jamaica) like many other Jamaican singers began his musical career at Coxsonne Dodds Studio One. So impressed with the youth, Coxsonne decided on a name change for the young artist and called him after his top songwriter of the time Bob Andy. So Horace Hinds became Horace Andy.

His first tune for Coxsonne, Something On My Mind, was a slow burner in Jamaica, but his belief in his young protégé paid off when followed later by Skylarking a tune that burst the singer all over the radio and sound systems of Jamaica. After numerous singles and two albums worth of material, Horace moved on to work with many of the topflight Jamaican producers, among them Keith Hudson, Augustus Pablo and Niney the Observer, but it was his work with producer Bunny Lee in the 70s that he cut most of his hits for and from this stable of work, that we have compiled this set.

Some of his late 60s classics were re-cut in the popular 1970s style, working with the rhythm kings themselves, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. They have added some shine to the tracks, Something On My Mind and Skylarking and made them hits all over again. Such was Horaces delivery to the covers he sang like Delroy Wilsons version of the Tams Riding For A Fall, the Heptones My Guiding Star, John Holts Man Next Door and Bill Withers Aint No Sunshine, that these fine tunes were made his own. The roots end of his musical style was covered by Andy originals such as You Are My Angel, Zion Gate,Money Money and the cut which we have taken our edited title, the timeless Just Say Who.A bass heavy cut to Bob Marleys Natural Mystic works so well in this style also.

Another nickname Horace acquired was the affectionate title of Sleepy, as he was always hanging around the yards and studios of Jamaica waiting his turn, sometimes so long he would fall asleep. His enthusiasm to get back in the studio to work some more of his magic, to a catalogue of material that has developed into one of the finest in Jamaica. I hope you will agree, this fine set of 1970s classics will sit alongside.