By Howard Campbell/Observer writer—
Still Beating Down Babylon, an 11-song album dedicated to the legacy of singer Junior Byles, released by DubShot Records.
The set is produced by veteran session guitarist Earl “China” Smith, who is backed by his Binghistra band.
It contains Nyahbinghi interpretations of Byles’ classic songs such as A Place Called Africa by Itral Ites, Long Way by Marlon Brown, and King of Babylon done by Color Red.
Initially, Smith approached a few marquee artistes to record for the project, but when that support failed to materialise, he approached grass roots acts.
Junior Byles/Jason Tulloch
“They don’t have a lotta hype, but they did the songs with a lotta heart,” he said.
The best-known acts on Still Beating Down Babylon are Freddie McGregor, Mykal Roze, and Inner Circle who collaborate on Beat Down Babylon.
Fade Away, arguably Byles’ most famous song, is covered by Chiney Kiki. Little Nate out of Israel does Curly Locks while Donovan Joseph sings Fever.
Kenneth Byles Jr was a fireman at the start of his career in the late 1960s with The Versatiles, a harmony group. He was among the flood of roots artistes who emerged during the early 1970s when Rastafari became a theme for an emerging sound called reggae.
Going solo, Byles fit in at producer Lee “Scratch” Perry’s studio, which was a camp for like-minded acts such as The Wailers and Max Romeo.
Perry directed Byles on some of his most succesful songs.
Smith, who wrote and produced Fade Away in 1974, has maintained ties with Byles throughout his struggles with mental Illness.
Still Beating Down Babylon is his salute to “one of reggae’s true legends”.
“Wi can do nuthin more than help dis artiste, because him a guh through him ting from di 70s. Wi jus’ happy wi get it done,” he said.
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