Johnny Clarke – Enter Into His Gates With Praise LP

Description

LP version. Radiation Roots present a reissue ofJohnny Clarke‘sEnter Into His Gates With Praise, originally released in 1975. Along with his rivalCornell Campbell, Johnny Clarke was one of the most esteemed singers of the roots reggae era. Having grown up next door to a popular sound system on Waltham Park Road in western Kingston, Clarke’s early fascination with music led him to hang out at Studio One withJacob Millerwhile still at school. He then made the rounds of talent shows withBarry Brown,Sugar Minott, and theDiamonds, which led to a debut recording in 1973, for the pianistGlen Stair, which remains unreleased. An early effort forClancy Eccles, “God Made The Sea And Sun”, was not promoted properly, though “Everyday Wondering”, forRupie Edwards, impacted in Britain; “Golden Snake” forStamma Houghtonand a cover ofSmokey Robinson‘s “You Really Got A Hold On Me” forGlen Brownwere also false starts. The breakthrough finally came in 1975 when Clarke linked withBunny Lee, who had him voice the Rastafari landmark “None Shall Escape The Judgement” (written byEarl Zero, who failed to muster a credible take), which kick-started the “flying cymbal” craze. Clarke’s resultant debut album,Enter Into His Gates With Praise, mixed hard-hitting Rastafari devotional material with sympathetic cover versions of classics by the likes of theParagons,Slim Smith, andDelroy Wilson, along with a few reggae renditions of some vintage American R&B.