Derrick Morgan People Decision

One of the very first artists to begin recording in Jamaica, Derrick Morgan is beloved as a ska icon and a pioneer of the ‘skinhead reggae’ style. Blessed with a rich, deep tenor, which with he belts out his clever and often humorous lyrics, Morgan became known on the Kingston music scene through Vere Johns’ regular talent contests, and enjoyed a lengthy run of hits during the 1960s for producers such as Simeon Smith, Duke Reid and Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd (among others), cultivating a popular vinyl feud with Prince Buster after being brought into Leslie Kong’s camp by the young Jimmy Cliff. Morgan moved to England during the late 1960s to capitalise on the skinhead reggae craze, but was back in Jamaica from the early 1970s, and since Bunny Lee was his brother-in-law, the two have always maintained a close working relationship. People Decision, voiced at King Tubby’s studio for Lee and released by Third World in 1977, sees Morgan in politicised roots reggae mode on songs like ‘Let’s Build A Better Jamaica,’ the symbolic racetrack drama ‘Racing At Ballistic Park,’ and the title track, which all boosted the socialist policies of the ruling People’s National Party; ‘Natty Dread Forward Out Of Babylon’ updates the ‘Tougher Than Tough’ saga, and there’s a slew of rude tunes when you flip the disc, including ‘My Dickie,’ ‘Rough Grinder’ and ‘Ride Manny Fanny.’