YELLOWMAN – Zungguzungguguzungguzeng – LP – Black Vinyl

LP – Reissue On Black Vinyl

Originally released in 1983, the album, titled after one of his most iconic hits in dancehall, brings together Roots Radics, engineer Errol Thompson, and producer Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes at the height of Yellowman‘s ascension. It’s a hits-heavy outing, made all the more pleasurable by the combination of big, booming beats and the DJ’s delightful chatter.

The title track, in particular, is a fabulous showcase for Yellowman‘s incredible verbal skills. Ad-libbed in the studio, he skitters along with barely a pause for breath, delivering a non-stop flow of skillful rhymes and infectious exuberance. What people loved best about the DJ was his braggadocio, and he’s at his boastful best on Yellowman Wise, a sharp version of the much-covered old chestnut Solomon, and Who Can Make the Dance Ram, a deliciously wicked rewrite of Sammy Davis, Jr.‘s The Candyman.

On the simmering Take Me to Jamaica, the DJ expounds on the glory of Jamaican women, all of whom, we well know from past songs, desperately desire the oh-so-wonderful Yellowman. Amidst the fun and bragging, there’s still room for more serious matters. A pair of religiously themed songs are also featured, as well as a couple of cultural numbers. The Good the Bad & the Ugly is particularly noteworthy for its hard-hitting look at ghetto life, based on the pair’s own poverty-stricken pasts.

Add the superb rhythms, Lawes‘s excellent production, and Zungguzungguguzungguzeng is an unforgettable DJ extravaganza.

Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Zungguzungguguzungguzeng
2. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
3. Rub A Dub Play
4. Dem Sight The Boss
5. Can’t Hide From Jah

Side 2
1. Who Can Make The Dance Ram
2. Yelloman Wise
3. Take Me To Jamaica
4. Friday Night Jamboree
5. Jah Jah Are We Guiding Star