Words by Martei Korley, Photo by David Corio—
Today would have been the 56th birthday of Dennis Brown. The late Crown Prince of Reggae died in 1999 at age 42. Though his life was cut way too short, he fortunately left us with a massive catalog of music, recorded over 30 years—he was just 11 at the time of his first recording, “Lips of Wine.” So, instead of running all the big tunes you already know like “Money In My Pocket,” “Promised Land” and “Love Has Found Its Way,” we had our creative director, co-founder and chief Dennis Brown scholar Martei Korley break down his picks for DB’s most unsung gems.
Here’s 10 hidden Dennis Brown classics—+1 of his best combination tunes, and a hidden cameo you might not have known about.
Simply a powerhouse performance…
The hippie-era solidarity tune “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” was popularized by The Hollies in 1969; Neil Diamond also has a version. But DB made it his own on this Studio 1 production.
8. If I Can’t Get Close to You
DB showed he could stay relevant in the dance s with this early ’90s groover.
Do you?
Who say DB only sings for the ladies? In the words of selector Ras Kush of Black Redemption Sound: “No one sings prophecy like Dennis brown.”
This is one of the best lovers rock tunes of all time. The Taxi gang is on an aural excursion here, which is simply unsurpassed. Off the rare Yesterday Today and Tomorrow album in the series produced by Joe Gibbs, almost every track of which is a gamechanger.
Straddling the the line between rocksteady and reggae, DB describes a post-apocalyptic scorched earth, while cautioning the wicked.
True British production on this Bob Marley cover: Roots flare with lovers rock overtones. The keyboards sound like they escaped from Jammy’s on a UK odyssey.
Rarely has DB reeled off an emotional effort as matter-of-factly. Tanisha(baby), the love interest, is even mentioned by name…
The riddim on this obscure 1972 gem sounds a bit like the theme to Sanford and Son. But just try and resist its easy-listening soul feel, you big dummy.
+1: Raggamuffin (with Freddie McGregor)
Before days of wine and roses: two Twelve Tribes rasses stands like pillars in the mansion of ragamuffin.
Extra Bonus:
Aswad, Wrapped Up
Bet you didn’t know DB sang backup on this one. Just listen: “wrapped up here inna JAH loving.”
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