Junior Murvin
Police and Thieves (1976)
During this horrendous election year in Jamaica, when armed gangs aligned with the two rival parties left scores of people dead, and almost claimed the scalp of Bob Marley himself, you could hardly move for protest songs . Murvin’s hit typified what you might call crisis reggae: of-the-moment social commentary blended with biblical prophecy and delivered in deceptively sweet tones over a liquid rhythm. After it soundtracked that year’s volatile Notting Hill carnival, the Clash covered it, making explicit British punk’s debt to reggae’s revolutionary fire
(1980 Top of the Pops performance here)
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