Gone To Negril (10")

Althea And Donna ‎– Gone To Negril

A1. Althea And Donna - Gone To Negril
B1. Talent Crew - Crazy Negril (mixed by Lee Perry)

Althea And Donna ‎– Gone To Negril

Producer Tommy Cowans cut the first version of the ‘Gone to Negril’ rhythm for Devon Irons to voice the song ‘Jerusalem’ on. He then returned to the same rhythm for Althea and Donna's follow-up to their pop hit ‘Up Town Top Ranking’.

Somewhere along the line, prompted by Bob Marley, Tommy Cowans took the tapes up to the Black Ark. Anyone who was coming from another planet who wanted to know what Lee Perry was about would be well advised to listen to the all out audio assault of ‘Crazy Negril’.

Like a careering car that Perry just about maintains control of, ‘Crazy Negril’ screeches whirls and zooms from one side of the musical track to the other. Possibly because it was a ‘mix’ that he was asked to do for someone else from the outside, Perry throws caution to the wind and adds a simple rhythm box as well as whistles and a cow bell to amazing effect. It's an inspired, crazy version and is a nice counterpoint to the slightly commercial song on the A side.

‘Gone to Negril’ has its lyrical moments as well. Anyone who rhymes ‘Adam and Eve without their leaves’ and ‘Feminine gender ranking agenda’ is alright by us.

Incredible.