CHUNE

Riddim: N/A

Producer: Lee “Scratch” Perry

1977 was a year like few others in Jamaica. Marcus Garvey’s apocalyptic vision for 7/7/77—”when the sevens met”—was colliding with the ongoing political tensions that fractured Kingston, and roots music responded by becoming heavier and more urgent than ever. Consider the albums: Culture’s When the Two Sevens Clash; Peter Tosh’s Equal Rights; Dennis Brown’s Wolf and Leopards; The Congos’ Heart of the Congos. It was into this that vocalist Junior Delgado emerged. Originally a teenage member of the group Time Unlimited, he had released a couple of singles produced by guitar legend Earl “Chinna” Smith. But with Smith playing in Scratch Perry’s Upsetters, it wasn’t long before Delgado and Scratch linked up, and the result was this defiant scorcher.

Are we not the sons of slaves
(Yes we are, I say, yes we are)
Are we not the children that run away from plantations
Are we not the children of Israel
They took us away from Africa land
Brought us down deh in Babylon
Now we all like the roaring lion
Jah high, Jah high…

Amazingly, Delgado wasn’t even 19 when he recorded this song.

Additional Listening:

• Time Unlimited, “Give Me Love” (1975)

• Junior Delgado, “Tichion” (1977): The song that first brought Delgado wider notice. “Tichion” being slang for politician, you can imagine where this goes.

• Junior Delgado, “Movie Star” (1980): Delgado wasn’t all sufferation; songs like this one and “Love Tickles Like Magic” spoke to the sweeter side of life.