“Truths And Rights” by Johnny Osbourne - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1979Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

TJR says

After some nine years in Canada singing with various soul and reggae groups, Johnny, recently turned 30, returned to his homeland in '79 and very quickly hooked up with Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. The timing was good, the producer having revamped his studio and keen to regain some lost market share. For his part, Johnny had always wanted to record at Studio One, so he was fulfilling a long-held ambition. In Johnny Osbourne, Dodds had his own Gregory Isaacs, and, sure enough, Johnny's smooth and soulful vocals were very well received on the island. All vocals were newly recorded, although the backing tracks were pulled from the vaults, overdubbed and reworked with new touches here and there. On an old skool rocksteady beat, the fantastic “Can't Buy Love”, built on the Soul Vendors “Swing Easy” instrumental of '67, Johnny adds his new lyrics: “I'll never sing love to you if I don't mean it”. Johnny knows that's what the girls want to hear - I reckon he fancies himself a crooning hearthrob. Love, faith and empathy inform almost all of his words, “Jah Promise” being the best of the songs of praise. “Respect is overdue” sings Johnny, echoing the aforementioned Gregory Isaacs' “Love Is Overdue” smash of '75. The riddim and the backing singers sweeten the deal for me, with a sweeping horn that appeals. Best on side two is “Sing Jay Stylee” (wrongly titled as “Sing Jah Stylee” on the back sleeve), which is delivered in a new and fresh style which sounds ready for the dancehall. “Rub-a-dub-stylee… Singjay stylee”. Fun lyrics, cool riddim, makes me wanna walk and skank: “She say Johnny you a really cool star”. 'ear dat.

The Jukebox Rebel
18–Jan–2012

Tracklist
A1 [02:59] 6.8.png Johnny Osbourne - Truth And Rights (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
A2 [03:31] 6.2.png Johnny Osbourne - Children Are Crying (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
A3 [02:14] 8.3.png Johnny Osbourne - Can’t Buy Love (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Ska / Rocksteady
A4 [03:51] 7.1.png Johnny Osbourne - Jah Promise (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
A5 [02:53] 6.9.png Johnny Osbourne - Nah Skin Up (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Ska / Rocksteady
B1 [03:36] 5.2.png Johnny Osbourne - We Need Love (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
B2 [02:47] 5.9.png Johnny Osbourne - Eternal Peace (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
B3 [02:49] 8.1.png Johnny Osbourne - Sing Jay Stylee (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
B4 [02:16] 5.7.png Johnny Osbourne - Love Jah So (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
B5 [02:48] 6.2.png Johnny Osbourne - Let Me In (Clement Seymour Dodd, Errol Osbourne) Reggae
© The Jukebox Rebel 2005-2020 All Rights Reserved