Though not a household name in Jamaica, Paul “Barry Boom” Robinson is responsible for breaking some of the biggest British reggae songs in this country. He produced Maxi Priest’s Should I and In The Springtime, as well as Papa Levi’s Mi God Mi King.
Barry Boom is also a singer and musician who has released several lovers’ rock albums, but his latest effort is strictly spiritual, or as he calls it “reggae gospel”.
His Love is the title of the album which will be released today. It has 15 songs, most of them done to the beat of reggae classics like Cherry Oh Baby, Rain From the Sky and You’re Gonna Need Me.
The London-based Boom told the Jamaica Observer that while recording inspirational songs is not new to him, personal grief inspired His Love.
“With my albums I have always done two or three songs giving thanks and praises to God; but with this particular album…having gone through so much loss over the past 10 years — losing my four brothers, my mum and dad — has been a very difficult life experience to go through,” he said. “It’s only our trust and belief in God that has gotten us through such sadness and actually brought me to a place where I could write and sing this album as a testimony.”
The idea to cut some of the songs with familiar rhythms came from a friend who wanted to cover popular reggae songs on dub plates. The first track they did was You’re Gonna Need Me, originally recorded by American soul singer Barbara Lynn and which was a hit for teenager Errol Dunkley in 1967.
According to Boom, positive reception of the dub plate encouraged him to expand on the project.
“It came out really well and when they played it in the dance, it tore down the place. By the time we got to the third song we figured this was too good to be just dub plates; we should continue and make an album,” he said.
His wife Valerie, who wrote songs for his previous albums, did harmony on Everlasting Love and This is My Vow, songs from His Love.
Paul Robinson is the youngest of six brothers born in the United Kingdom to Jamaican parents. Five of them (the others being Errol, Jerry, Ewan and Trevor) formed a band called One Blood which released two albums during the 1980’s.
In addition to recording solo albums for well-known British reggae labels like Fashion Records, Barry Boom helped nurture the careers of homegrown artistes like singer Maxi Priest and deejay Papa Levi, both of whom have Jamaican heritage.
In 1985 he produced You’re Safe, Priest’s debut album which enjoyed strong rotation on Jamaican radio. That year, Papa Levi’s rapid toast made Mi God Mi King a dancehall and radio monster in Jamaica.
This is Barry Boom’s fourth album. His previous, Everyday Life, came out six years ago.
His Love is his way of acknowledging God.
“I wouldn’t describe myself as religious. I would describe myself as a God-fearing person and I know that I am accountable to Him for everything that I do and I believe that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour and that He died for us,” he said. “Therefore, I am grateful to Him for all He has done for me.”
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