Uploaded by alexdoherty1984 on Mar 19, 2009
The death of Haile Selassie, in August 1975, utterly devastated Junior Byles and brought his career virtually to a halt. Having released a flood of hits across the first half of the decade, the singer was now incapable of working and unable to follow up the international success of his "Fade Away" single, released earlier that year. However, in 1976, Byles did manage to record two songs with Niney Holness. The two had previously worked together back in the '60s when Byles was still a member of the Versatiles and Holness was employed as Joe Gibbs' recording engineer. The Observer, also a Rastafarian, was obviously sympathetic to Byles' emotional distress and did what he could to make the singer's return to the studio a positive experience. "King of Babylon" had been originally cut by the singer for Lee Perry earlier in the decade. It was an astute choice of songs, as it allowed the singer to reiterate his own deep religious views while the lyrics' overall optimism surely provided comfort. Of course, Holness created his own new rhythm for the song: a perky beat, but not strident enough to overwhelm the still fragile singer. Byles treats the lyrics like a lifeline, offering them up not just to the listeners, but to himself to ponder and renew his faith. The song did well, and fans hoped that the singer's career would now get back on track. But it was not to be.
Appears On
45 videosYouTube Mix for Junior Byles- 3:09
Junior Byles - Thanks And Praiseby gibos237,212 views
- 3:40
Junior Byles & The Upsetters - The Thanks We Getby rudeboy60005,233 views
- 2:57
Junior Byles - Curly Locksby RootsDaughter4192620,399 views
- 7:15
king Jammys "Sleng Teng"by tombomboo23,774 views
- 3:12
Junior Byles - Fade Away (With Lyrics)by dreadeduardo11,173 views
- 3:33
Junior Byles - Chant Down Babylonby lardsah10,501 views
- 2:44
Junior Byles - Don't Know Whyby BRIGADIERLION3,355 views
- 2:41
JUNIOR BYLES - A Place Called Africa.wmvby yoga123456781,828 views
- 3:25
Keith & Tex - Run To The Rocksby axiom566,184 views
- 5:20
Pablo Moses & Junior Byles - ONE PEOPLEby ZuluWarriorz3,402 views
- 2:30
Horace Andy - Every Tongue Shall Tell (Studio One)by alexdoherty198443,018 views
- 6:33
Junior Byles Pretty Fe Trueby woccowpuaski1,918 views
- 2:38
Cornell Campbell - Pretty Looks Isn't All (Studio One)by alexdoherty19845,093 views
- 5:07
Junior Byles - Pharaoh Hiding - Hail To Powerby mrmsclvr890 views
- 4:37
Junior Byles - Long Way (Good Quality)by marcodiesel9002,899 views
- 2:19
Horace Andy - Unity Strength & Loveby afrorules9,426 views
- 4:53
Sons Of Jah - Grass Is Greenby axiom5612,476 views
- 7:38
Junior Byles-Weeping(12'' mix)by hugh7777777933 views
- 3:26
NICE DAY feat. SINGER JAY ( ROCKERS RADIO MIX )by mattflores14,778 views
- 3:52
Junior Byles - The Long Way - Reggaeby RedAppleReggae1,743 views
Byles was a prolifc writer and singer, whose style can not be duplicated, though so many have tried. to see this old man now, the genius he was is indeed sad that he doesn't get the recognition he so deserves.
rdawta 2 years ago 7
I have been trying to find this old classic.The music that never dies.....big up rootsman
QUINTIN29 2 years ago