Barrington Levy

Respect where Respect is due. Been checking out a couple of Barrington Levy's albums and i must say i like him a little bit more with every new track i discover. Sure he was THE 80ies Ragamuffin Singer with massive success especially in the UK. His unforgotten mid eighties smash hit "Here I Come (Broader Than ) is a mainstay in every Dancehall since 2 Decades. "Under My Sensi" and "Prison Oval Rock" are only nuances behind. "Hunterman", "Shaolin Temple" - all these tunes breathe Longelivity. Timeless great Songs by an excellent vocalist . When his voice rides a great Riddim and gets produced right the results are among the best Reggae has to offer. He was lucky to meet these persons, but somehow he never really succceeded in reaching the next level : The Pop Market. His MCa 93 album with the Top 100 Billboard Hit Work turns out to be his weakest album by far. The prioduction and connection with Hip Hop Beats and artist doesn't compliments neither his style, voice or song writing. I guiess his style and topics are just not suited for crossover success. Too deeply rooted in Rastafari, Reggae and Herb Culture.
Recently there were a few better Cross Over Attempts esp. BAD BOY's SHYNE floatng over the unforgotten 'Broadway' wins.
Here his new sung vocals make sense mixed way in the backgrounnd.
Beenie Man , Shabba Ranks or Bounty Killer - you name them : of course all of them have their fair share of Combination Style Hits with the melodic Tenor of Barrington Levy. One of my favourites is "Living Dangerousely" with Bounty - Such a nice Vocal delivery with a Good Time Melodie perfectly contrast Bounties convincing hardcore delivery here!
Anyway it's his own material that made him the Reggae Star he is and that's what makes him so good.
Original albums that are strong are Mr. Englishman, Buy Out The Bar, Bounty Hunter to name a few. If you want a good kind of BEST Of there is "The Barrington Levy Collection" from 1989 with mostly 12" Versions of the lovely early Hit "Mini Bus" , "Money Move", "She's Mine", "Shine Eye Girl" and the dramatic sung "Vibes Is Right" on top of the smash hits "Bounty Hunter" "Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway)"and "Under My Sensi".