Call On I In Trouble: A Brief Review Of The New Prince Far I Box From Cherry Red Records

I think it's safe to say that there are no bad Prince Far I albums. I mean, once you've heard the voice of the late reggae legend, you won't forget it. His voice is like hearing something divine brought down to Earth, and the effect of the pronouncements of the late singer is a profound one, even if the material is not his peak work. That said, The Trojan Album Collection, out now via Cherry Red Records, compiles Prince Far I's last 4 albums for the Trojan label onto one smart set.

Now, while Prince Far I is known for his work with Adrian Sherwood and the On-U Sound crew, he was also a prodigious solo performer, recording lots of stuff that was a bit easier to embrace, and pointed more directly at listeners who were not ready for something as adventurous as that Sherwood stuff. 1975's Free From Sin is fairly conventional, with the backing tracks here lighter than one might expect, and far afield from the dub heaviness of some of Far I's work right before this set's starting point. That said, "When Jah Ready You Got to Move" remains one of Prince Far I's best songs, and it sits nicely next to the warnings of "Call on I in Trouble", a track with an almost Biblical force. "Reggae Music", another highlight here, is more accessible, and a nice reiteration of the power of the form itself.

Jamaican Heroes (1980) is a lot of fun, and not just because drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie) are all over this. "Natty Champion" is a bit of silliness at odds with lots of what Prince Far I's most known for, while "Deck of Life" rides a nice hook as easily as some of this stuff maintains a heavy one. And there is no more heavy or necessary message in Prince Far I's mind here than on "Prison Discipline" and "Musical History". These two numbers are examples of the prowess of Prince Far I as a producer and proto-rapper, respectively. While the former bounces, "Musical History" is, lyrically, deadly serious, and a nice showcase for the call-and-response between Far I and bassist Earl "Flabba" Holt on backing vocals. It's one of my favorite songs on this whole set.

Voice of Thunder from 1981 feels more dub influenced than the other titles in The Trojan Album Collection. There are different players all over this, and the mood is a somber one. Which is another way of saying, I guess, that this one stands out as the clear masterpiece of this entire set of near-masterpieces. "Ten Commandments" offers up the exact kind of Biblical-invocations-with-a-beat that you would expect from Far I in this era, while "Every Time I Hear the Word" is slow and steady. "Coming in from the Rock" is almost spry, while "Skinhead" closes the record in a style that doesn't feel too dissimilar to lots on the On-U Sound label in this period.

Prince Far I was murdered in 1983 and that hangs over how one looks at Musical History from the same year. The lyrics portend doom, or at least a reckoning with one's maker, and so many of the track titles reference the almighty that one wonders if Prince Far I knew his time on earth was limited. "Everytime I Talk About Jah" is simple and the type of thing you're going to bob your head to, while "More We Are Together" is pure rock steady goodness. Elsewhere, "At The Cross", "Working for My Saviour", "I Don't Know Why I Love Jah So", and "What You Gonna Do on Judgment Day" hammer home the idea of coming to grips with one's maker, and the prospect of everlasting fury or glory. That an entire half of this record works that way makes Musical History one of the heaviest releases in the Prince Far I back-catalog, at least lyrically.

The Trojan Album Collection fills in a bunch of gaps in the Prince Far I discography simply by offering a few of these on CD for the first time. Only Voice of Thunder has ever been on disc, and while it's likely going to be judged as the strongest album in this four-album set, the other three are certainly worth having as well. If one can make an argument that Prince Far I had more power in his voice earlier in his career, or that this material is (generally) less dub and more mainstream reggae in sound, that's fine. Still, for anyone even slightly interested in Prince Far I, these albums are essential. As the final releases from one of the greatest singers ever in reggae, this compilation is a must buy. The voice of Prince Far I in any setting warms the soul, roils the blood, and sends chills up the spine. Sometimes all at once! For that reason, I'd urge you to get yourself right and buy this compilation.

The Trojan Album Collection is out now via Cherry Red.

[Photos: Cherry Red]