Fally Lover/Never Stop Fighting

RELEASE
February 25, 1997
LABEL
Greensleeves Records
GENRES
Reggae, Dancehall, Lovers Rock

Album Review

This reissue brings together two classic Johnny Osbourne albums from the early '80s, 1980's Fally Lover and 1982's Never Stop Fighting, both overseen by up-and-coming producer Junjo Lawes and backed by the Roots Radics. Inevitably, then, the two sets have a certain similarity of sound, but there are noticeable differences as well, particularly in the mix. Fally boasts a more atmospheric sound, as mixer Barnabus conjured up stark, dread vistas for the record. The title track is filled with mists, "Ice Cream Love" is absolutely frigid, and "Love So Strong" is haunted by melancholy, while "Man from Jehoviah" enters the dreadest of territory. Never Stop Fighting is much busier, with mixer Scientist filling the grooves with ever more radical sounds, which reach fruition on the extraordinarily militant "Give a Little Love." Counterintuitively, however, Fighting boasts brighter atmospheres overall, particularly on "Baccara," a party piece in a carnival style, and across virtually all of the first half of the set, culminating in the bubbly love song "Sister Mister." However, the quality of Osbourne's lyrics -- many being just one step away from throwaway -- do not match the Radics' rhythms. Regardless, there's no arguing with the singer's performances, which equal the band's own. Forget the words and listen instead to Osbourne's emotions playing across the songs, and the true power of these sets comes alive.
Jo-Ann Greene, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Fally Lover
  2. You're Too Sexy
  3. Two Bad Daughter
  4. Ice Cream Love
  5. Man of Jahoviah
  6. Mushroom
  7. No Lollipop No Sweet So
  8. Love So Strong
  9. He Can Surely Turn the Tide
  10. Come Back Darling
  11. Never Stop Fighting
  12. Love Is Universal
  13. In Your Eyes
  14. Over 31 Under 21
  15. Sister Mister
  16. Give a Little Love
  17. Freelance Lover
  18. Curly Locks Girl
  19. Baccara
  20. Words of the Ghetto