Appointment With His Majesty is a studio album by the Jamaican reggae singer Burning Spear. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 40th Grammy Awards, in 1998.
The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard'''s Reggae Albums chart.
Production The title track is thought to be a polemic about the rise of dancehall music. "Play Jerry" is a tribute to Jerry Garcia.
Critical receptionThe Washington Post wrote that "the reggae ... is typically swirling and hypnotic, but this is first and foremost message music." The Boston Globe thought that "the formula is simple: mesmerizing bass lines, snappy horns and Spear's own time-worn voice, reflecting conscious themes and Pan-African concerns." Stereo Review'' concluded that Spear "remains a quietly persuasive singer with often overlooked knacks for melody and topical bite; 'Commercial Development' and 'Don't Sell Out' strike back at the industrialization of both Jamaica and reggae."
Track listing All songs written and arranged by Winston Rodney.
"The Future (Clean It Up)" – 4:47 "Appointment With His Majesty" – 4:20 "Play Jerry" – 4:39 "Reggae Physician" – 4:25 "Glory Be to Jah" – 5:04 "Don't Sell Out" – 4:33 "Come in Peace" – 4:23 "African Jamaican" – 5:02 "My Island" – 4:54 "Commercial Development" – 5:21 "Music" – 4:54 "Loving You" – 4:57
Credits
Published by Burning Spear Publishing, ASCAP. Executive producer – Sonia Rodney Recorded at Grove Recording Studio, Ocho Rios, St. Ann's. Edited by Barry O'Hare Mixed by Barry O'Hare and Winston Rodney. Assistant engineer – Bobby Hawthorne Project Coordinator for Heartbeat - Garret Vandermolen Sequencing - Chris Wilson Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital Recording, Southborough, MA. Photography by Dana Siles Design by Jean-Pierre LeGuillou
Musicians Winston Rodney - vocals, congas, percussion, background vocals Nelson Miller - drums James Smith - trumpet Lenval Jarrett - rhythm guitar Num H.S. Amun’Tehu - percussion, background vocals Steven Stewart - keyboards Rupert Bent - lead guitar Ronald "Nambo" Robinson - trombone Howard Messam - saxophone Barry O'Hare - keyboard Carol "Passion" Nelson - background vocals Edna Rodney - background vocals Rachell Bradshaw - background vocals Yvonne Patrick - background vocals Sharon Gordon - background vocals Additional Musicians Tony Williams - drums Trevor McKenzie - bass Collin Elliot - bass Robbie Lyn - keyboard, background vocals Ian "Beezy" Coleman - rhythm, lead guitar ("Play Jerry") Junior "Chico" Chin - trumpet ("Play Jerry") Uziah "Sticky" Thompson - percussion ("Play Jerry") Tony Green - saxophone ("Play Jerry")
References