Never Stop Fighting, by Johnny Osbourne

Never Stop Fighting

by Johnny Osbourne

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1.	Never Stop Fighting 03:11	buy track
2.	Love Is Universal 03:46	buy track
3.	In Your Eyes 03:09	buy track
4.	Over 31 Under 21 03:45	buy track
5.	Sister Mister 04:02	buy track
6.	Give A Little Love 05:02	buy track
7.	Freelance Lover 03:30	buy track
8.	Curly Locks Girl 03:28	buy track
9.	Baccara 02:45	buy track
10.	Words Of The Ghetto 03:37	buy track

about

The follow-up to Johnny Osbourne's 1980 Fally Lover album, and even though two years have passed, time seems to have stood still here, but that's not surprising considering this set was also overseen by Junjo Lawes and backed by the Roots Radics. Regardless, Never Stop Fighting has a brighter sound than its predecessor, especially on the first half of the disc. Across four love numbers the Radics offer up a series of breezy backings, or as breezy as the band can be when fired by Style Scott's militant beats and Errol "Flabba" Holt's thumping basslines. However, pianist Gladdy Gladstone and keyboardist Winston Wright keep the sound light and the melody flowing, reaching effervescent heights on the delightful "Sister Mister." Most of the album is themed around matters of the heart, and while numbers like the superb "Curly Locks Girl" are declarations of love, there's also the emotional confusion of "Over 31 Under 21" and the timeless romance of "Love Is Universal." In a totally different vein comes "Baccara" (aka "Backra"), a patois-heavy party piece with a carnival lilt. There's little for culture fans, but Osbourne makes up for quantity with quality, opening the set with the potent demand to end the violence of the title track, fueled by one of the Radics' most militant rhythms, and ending with the heartfelt sufferer's song "Words of the Ghetto." But the set's showcase is the extended "Give a Little Love," a soulful call to share the love, and boasting one of Scientist's most spectacularly militant mixes. The Radics are superb as always, Lawes' dubby production giving even the breeziest songs a deep roots feel, while Scientist gives every number the sharpest of edges. An excellent set. - Jo-Ann Greene

credits

released January 1, 1982

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Greensleeves Records Ltd.
Copyright © – Greensleeves Records Ltd.
Published By – Greensleeves Publishing Ltd.
Published By – Sparta-Florida Music
Recorded At – Channel One Recording Studio
Recorded At – King Tubby's Studio
Mastered At – Utopia Studios

Backing Band [Backed By, Backing] – Roots Radics Band
Cover – Tony McDermott
Mastered By – Steve Angel
Mixed By – Scientist
Plated By – PAG
Producer – Henry Junjo Lawes

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Miles Ahead

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With origins in Kingston, Jamaica in the late 1950s as Randy’s Record Mart, Vincent and Patricia Chin’s small used record business would grow to become one of the world’s largest independent record labels, with a catalog of 35,000 recordings. ... more