Jah Loves Everyone

In the late 1970s Leroy Smart was an unstoppable force. First garnering public acclaim with 1973's "Mother Liza," the singer initially continued unleashing popular singles for a variety of producers. By 1977, both Jo Jo Hookim and Bunny Lee had recorded enough to each fill an album -- Ballistic Affair and Superstar respectively, in Lee's case two -- In London Clinker arrived the following year. By then, however, Smart was already successfully self-producing his own singles, which he swiftly bundled onto two compilations -- Dread Hot in Africa and Impressions of Leroy Smart. Both those albums were released in 1977; the following year a full-length featuring all new material, Jah Loves Everyone, finally arrived. Like Dread and Impressions, this one too was recorded at Channel One studio, but now the riddims were far more stripped down, giving the entire set a more militant feel than its predecessors. This is evident from the opening track, "No Love for Jah," which boasts a spare, dubby version of Yabby You's indeed all "Conquering Lion." And that wasn't the only popular recent riddim Smart versioned, "Have Got to Go" is built around a bass and drum-driven take on Trinity's "Three Piece Suit." However, for "Maria" Smart reached further back in time, creating a sultry version of the Soul Vendors' "Swing Easy." In fact, the set is filled with splendid riddims, the forceful basslines to the fore and the melody lines oft times kept to a minimum. And never more so than the re-recorded "Mirror, Mirror," an early hit Smart had cut for Jimmy Radway back in 1972. The pruned back riddims invariably threw the spotlight on the singer, a mistake with "Mirror,Mirror," where Smart comes across as overwrought, but that's the sole misstep within this excellent set. On "No Love" and the title track, the singer hits just the right emotive notes, delivering a particularly strong message on "World of Hatred." "It's Impossible" is wonderfully lovelorn, "Darling You're Mean to Me" splendidly indignant, and "Maria" a romantic delight. Smart's productions are superb throughout, his performances top-notch, for at this point in his career, the singer could do little wrong. ~ Jo-Ann Greene