Sometimes in life something will happen serendipitously that makes you stop and wonder about how the universe is working with us to give us what we need. So when my good friend Amy Wachtel “The Night Nurse,” in her infinite wisdom, mailed Sister Carol a copy of my new Wailers LP it caused a reaction (as every action does). Carol was very impressed with the fact that U Roy had voiced over some classic Bob Marley and The Wailers songs. Unknown to most of the rest of the world, Sister Carol had also voiced over some of these same rhythm tracks back in 2008-2009.
Produced by Glen Adams, who himself was an Upsetter and part of the band comprised by Family Man and Carlton Barrett, these tracks had remained quietly hidden away until the time was right to unleash them for the world to get to know and enjoy. You will recognize many of these famous rhythm tracks produced by both Lee Perry and Bunny “Striker” Lee. And the vocal delivery of Sister Carol is both poignant and on the mark as she toasts effortlessly on these classic tracks. Sister Carol came up with the title “Opportunity” and it should be noted that “unity” is a part of “opportunity”.
Carol saw this (2020) as an opportune time to now release these tracks because it felt like in these current times when so many face police brutality, and all that so many have endured with systemic racism and slavery, and just the outright bigotry and hatred we are experiencing in these times, that something needed to be said on these classic rhythms that addressed these issues. Sister Carol has always been a fighter for equal rights and justice and her lyrics reflect these sentiments clearly. To quote her: “I really feel gratitude and reward for this opportunity. I give thanks to re-record my big hit song “Wild Thing” (from the soundtrack to “Something Wild”) and to voice on the “Duppy Conqueror,” “Soul Rebel” and “Mr. Brown” rhythms. To work with Glen Adams was pure delight. He was a great producer, musician and artist. All in one. He took me into Landmark Studios in Brooklyn. He had had a dream of him and Bob Marley driving in a car and he asked me if I wanted to get into that car as well. Of course I did! So we spent a great amount of time in the studio and he regaled me with stories of The Hippy Boys, The Upsetters and taught me a great deal about Jamaican music history and his involvement with Scratch and others.
These were lessons that greatly changed my life and appreciation of our great reggae music.” I could go on and on about these great tracks, but I would prefer to let the music speak for itself. When Sister Carol and Dean approached I and I to release these great songs I felt very honored. It was a great Opportunity I was not going to pass up. Give a listen and let others listen as well. This trip down memory lane is just what the doctor ordered. Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay blessed. And keep giving thanks. The “Opportunity” is all yours.
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