Los Angeles, California: It was back in the late 1970s, not long after the release of a certain Clint Eastwood movie, that Josey Wales first started strutting the Kingston dancehall scene.
And he might have been just one of many that followed in the footsteps of the greatest names on the toasting scene - U Roy, I Roy, Big Youth and all. Except for one thing. Like the outlaw after whom he named himself, he had no interest in obeying the rules.
He still doesn’t, and his latest album It A Fi Burn blazes with such incendiary passion that even the old songs sound new.
And there are some old songs here. Josey pays tribute to his roots with striking versions of foundational tunes like Desmond Dekker’s “007 (Shanty Town),” The Wailers’ “Simmer Down,” and even Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth!"
“Let Go Mi Hand” and “Bo Bo Dread” were monster hits for him back in 1983, “Undercover Lover” in 1984. The new album’s title track, “It A Fi Burn” itself, spins off his The Outlaw Josey Wales statement of intent; and so does his latest single, the so inviting “Stalk of Sensemilia.”
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/joseywales_stalkofsensimilia
Even more importantly, however, Josey Wales is not one of Jamaica’s most prolific artists… yes, he was pounding out new material through the 1980s, but he slowed a lot thereafter, which means it demanded something very special to coax him back onto the frontline.
That “something special,” he says, was meeting Cleopatra Records, "a recording company that is trying their best to preserve the works of our Jamaican culture, and I am one hundred percent liking this project for more reasons than one.
“I want to advise all the veteran entertainers from my era to hurry up and get moving to jump on this project. Simple reason is, after a reggae artist reaches over 50 years of age, it’s very important to answer response to a company like this. It’s for your own musical good. I’m very pleased doing business with them so far. My album is ready for the world, so I’m saying thanks to all staff members for this opportunity. Looking forward to the future!”
And thank you to you, too, Josey. Here’s to many more!
CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=josey+wales
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/joseywales_itafiburn
Track listing
1. Let Go Mi Hand
2. It a Fi Burn
3. Stalk of Sensimilia
4. 007 (Shanty Town)
5. Undercover Lover
6. Watch This Sound
7. Bobo Dread
8. My Jamaican Girl
9. Love I Want
10. Ready Fi Josey
11. Jah a Mi Guiding Star
12. Simmer Down
