Inna De Yard

In 1976, Junior Murvin bemoaned "Police & Thieves" running riot through Kingston's streets, his achingly gorgeous falsetto turning the lament into an international hit. Over three decades later Murvin still flawlessly hits those same high notes, with just a tad more effort than previously. "Police" entitled the singer's crucial Lee Perry-produced album, and a superb recut opens Inna de Yard, the latest in this stunning series of sets produced by guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, all indeed recorded in his back yard. A further trio of Police & Thieves songs were also revisited here, and to hear them in this sparse setting is a revelation. The chugging "Roots Train" is now powered by hand drums and a thumping bassline. For "Police" itself, the producer counterpoints his emotive guitar with Lloyd Palmer's bouncy keyboards. Smith deftly returns "Solomon" to its original early reggae roots via his emphatic guitar, and accentuates "Rescue the Children"'s melancholy with his own bittersweet leads. "Children" is one of two Curtis Mayfield songs Murvin covers here, his phenomenal version of "Gipsy Woman" making clear why he was known as "Junior Soul" early in his career. His version of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" is nearly as phenomenal, but arguably the best of this emotive batch is his own "Closer" (the original was another Perry production). Of course, Murvin's career didn't end with Police & Thieves. The infectious "Badman Posse" was cut for Mikey Dread in 1982, and "World Inflation" for King Jammy six years later. A quarter century later and Murvin is still going strong. His vocals are fabulous throughout, as the singer revisits his past glories with utter delight, and gives new vigor to all these old classics. The musicians are equally marvelous, with the many percussionists and drummers setting a stunning new stage for all the songs within. Smith's expert production and phenomenal and oftentimes sublimely understated guitar work add the final glorious touches to this magnificent set. ~ Jo-Ann Greene|