VICEROYS
THE VICEROYS AT STUDIO ONE: YA HO
(Heartbeat)

This originally ran in the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 1995.

One of the smoothest reggae records ever recorded was the Viceroys' "We Must Unite" in the early '80s. A new release from Heartbeat, "The Viceroys At Studio One: Ya Ho," chronicles seventeen tunes this unheralded group recorded over a decade earlier at "Coxsone" Dodd's legendary studio.

Although the Viceroys had some line-up changes through the years, this new disc features the original trio which formed in 1968: Wesley Tinglin, Linvall Williams and Daniel Bernard. Their smooth vocals, combined with the talented backing of the Soul Vendors, Sound Dimension, Soul Defenders and Studio One Band, makes this release over 47 minutes of soulful rock steady and early reggae at its best.

Beautiful harmonies, sincere lyrics and timeless rhythms mark each track, with standouts being "Ya Ho," "Love Jah," "So Many Problems," "Slogan On The Wall," "Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego" and "Rasta Footprints." The disc ends with a wicked, extended mix of "Ya Ho."

These superb tracks were recorded at the time that rock steady was evolving into reggae and this collection is an outstanding example of what one of Jamaica's premiere groups sounded like during this incredibly vibrant period.






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