As a number of reggae artist today place their energy into the dancehall, creating jams for thee people to dance and get wild to, those with a more mature ear are left to listen to classic reggae artists who never disappoint, but have the same familiar voice. To some listening to Beres Hammond or Frankie Paul records for that 20 or so years is all right, but there comes a time when a new voice must emerge. In 1999, such a voice arose out of London, England, backed by one of the most influential reggae labels in the world. Alpheus‘ debut album Quality Time, on the Studio One/Heartbeat label, gives fans of classic dubs and lovers rock faith that there are new talents recreating that mature sound. (Not to say that dancehall is immature, but who really goes to the dance to listen to the music?)
The song “Mrs. Right” is only one of many examples of Alphesus regenerating hope for lovers rock fans. There are two reasons why this song injects feeling of hope: the classic dub that is used and the simple lyrics that are sung. The dub for this song is controlled by a powerful bassline that truly puts that “rock” in lovers rock. Accompanying the bassline is the light strumming of the guitar player and of course the drummer, who is the backbone of reggae music. The song begins with a mellow, yet triumphant, blare of the horn section, as if to announce the discovery of “Mrs. Right”. This horn piece is also repeated during the chorus part of the song, as Alpheus professes his joy about finding the right woman. The way that Alpheus rides this dub seems so natural, that the song becomes reminiscent of the styles of seasoned lovers rock veterans like Sugar Minott and Alton Ellis (both of who were also, at one point, a part of the legendary Studio One family). Unfortunately, this was the original track of this classic dub that was used; in other words, the dub was made years before Alpheus wrote this song, so he never got to build up musical chemistry with the band during the creation of this song. However, using prerecorded riddims and dubs is common practice in reggae music— its about the feel of the music.
And the lyrics applied to this song capture the feel with simple yet effective words. The lyrics are such that a man can woo (ha, he said “woo”) a lady with this song. The song is simple enough to memorize in one listen and simply state how a man in love feels. The way that Alpheus croons the lyrics out is the audible equivalent to the texture of silk. Basically, his voice is apropos for a lovers rock song.
The coupling of sensible lyrics and a beautiful dub create this lovely song out of the Studio One camp. Studio One is one of the greatest record labels in reggae history. Officially stated as a label in 1963 by Sir Clement “Coxsone” Dodd (its true beginnings started in the late 1950’s, but it was more of a concept than an actual label until ‘63), Studio One has seen the likes of every reggae artist of importance to the music, such as Bob Marley, Frankie Paul, The Sound Dimension, The Skatalites, Peter Tosh, and Freddie McGregor. The label played a major part in the introduction of ska to the music scene, as well as creating a distinct sound that can only be labeled as the Studio One sound, the original champion sound. Some years ago, Treasure Isle bought Studio One, yet the name still exists and artists still record for the label; and just as well, the sound is still around to bless the ears. Big ups to Alpheus for keeping the legacy alive.
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