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Flashback review of WATERHOUSE REVISITED CHAPTERS I and II

© Ryan A. MacMichael

The Waterhouse District of Kingston, Jamaica has spawned some of reggae's most prolific vocalists. Half Pint, Michael Palmer, Sugar Minott, Michael Rose, and Junior Reid were all brought up in this poor district on the west side of Jamaica's capital city. In addition to those five recognizable names, there were other very unique (if slightly less famous) artists, like Pad Anthony, General Trees, Tonto Irie, and King Everall that were just as worthy of notice.

In the mid-1990s, in collaboration with Feel the Beat Records, Hightone Records released Waterhouse Revisited Chapters I and II. Between the two discs were 25 tracks of absolutely outstanding reggae from the mid-1980s with production Errol Myrie and Errol Marshall. These discs captured the essence of everything positive that was coming out of this financially impoverished area of Jamaica.

Half Pint has two tracks that were both relatively difficult to find before the release of Waterhouse Revisited: "What's Going Down" and "Babylon Release the Chain" (the latter of which was an inspiration for the song of the same title by little-known Turbo Belly). Both of these tracks are poignant social observations backed by amazing production. Pint's own "Winsome" was probably the first track to really get the Waterhouse District worldwide acknowledgement when the Rolling Stones covered it (as "Too Rude") in 1987. I believe that Pint's best work came with Myrie and Marshall in the mid-1980s, and these two tracks exemplify the immense talent behind the mic as well as behind the production boards.

One of Waterhouse's other crucial sons was Junior Reid who, after Michael Rose, went on to lead Black Uhuru. While Reid has always been criticized of sounding like Michael Rose, his nasal "far east" style was really and truly unique. It was only certain catchphrases that Reid picked up that warrant the connection to Michael Rose, an inevitable connection made when Reid took over the Black Uhuru frontman position. Reid's "Bank Clerk" and "Youthman" are both strong contributions.

One artist I didn't know much about before listening to these two discs was Pad Anthony. His four tracks ("Molly Molly" and "I'm Poor" on Chapter I, "Champion Bubbler" and "This Feeling" on Chapter II) are . Also outstanding are King Everall's "Tell Me," the Black Crucials' "Hammer Them," and Jr. Rankin and Finnegan's "Give a Hand."

Out of all 25 tunes, there are no throw-away tracks. Period. Quite simply, Waterhouse Revisited Chapters I and II are essential reggae collections that cannot be missed.

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