1 To Z: Horace Andy - 'Skylarking'

Today's 1 To Z entry comes from a man who has only just become part of my collection. For many years I have owned a number of Massive Attack tracks that featured his vocals, and also have a bargain 3CD reggae compilation boxset which features this reggae gem from 1972. Since my '1 To Z' list confirmed that Jamaican legend Horace Andy was to be the next featured artist, I decided to buy myself a cheap copy of his 'Wicked Dem A Burn: The Best Of Horace Andy' compilation on CD. Money well spend indeed. He recorded his first single in 1967, but 'This is a Black Man's Country' failed to make an impact. In 1970, he successfully auditioned for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label, and went on to release a string of acclaimed singles. 'Skylarking' first appeared on Dodd's 'Jamaica Today' compilation album, but after proving a sound system success, it was released as a single and topped the Jamaican chart. The song also lent its name to Horace Andy's debut album, also released in 1972. On August 16 he will be playing a show at the Trinty Centre in Bristol, along with fellow reggae legends Culture, and Black Roots. More info HERE.