I think that, particularly amongst those that don’t listen to the music very much, that there is a common misconception of Reggae music in terms of its relation to and referencing to spirituality and especially the perceived quality which comes along with that. This is, of course, largely due to the fact that, despite the rising of Dancehall music since his death, Bob Marley was and remains the face of the music which he sang and popularized. However, now with the prevalence of so many other different prominent styles underneath that of ‘Reggae’, its become harder to convey a DEFINITIVE spirituality through one’s music as not only can you, as an artist, not simply act as a recorder for Marley’s music and replay it, nor can you get on a song and use the run of the mill Reggae ‘slogans’ about ‘Praise Jah’, ‘Hail The King’ and the likes and, if you do, you certainly must come up with a very creative way in which to mask it. And, again, I think so many times people who don’t listen to much Reggae just automatically relate and associate the word ‘Reggae’ with - dreadlocked, guitar playing Rastaman singing “Praise Jah” but I don’t think that’s spirituality in music. That’s repetition in music, anyone can grow their hair, dress up and make noises with their mouth. But certainly there have been those artists who have distinguished themselves and done so largely on the basis and the STRENGTH of the levels of spirituality they convey in their music and how it reaches the people who ultimately end up loving them for it. My own favourite artist, Sizzla Kalonji, although not as consistent in this department as the others who I’ll mention shortly (and the artist in question here), throughout the early stages of his career weaved GEMS of songs which, in my opinion, made him so easily accessible to the elder and more mature crowd and eventually led people like me to his music seeking these SPRAWLING but aggressive mental and emotional pieces which so wonderfully captured what we were thinking but were so woefully incapable of projecting. He did it for us. Very similarly is Capleton who, again, hasn’t remained so consistently devoted to showing the spirituality in his music typically but it DEFINITELY has become a hallmark of his, particularly in his live show, when he slows the vibes down and gives the long lyrics and, in turn, receives the vibes of the audience. Buju Banton is definitely one of the more consistent names who have shown his spiritual side in his music. Buju (along with Capleton, but ESPECIALLY Buju) is a very interesting case because fans literally followed him along his spiritual path of life to where he is now from former Dancehall bad boy. There are so many younger artists as well, like FANTAN MOJAH especially whose chanting literally sounds, at times, as if it comes from the very bottom of his feet and spreads throughout his entire body before we even hear a single note, as well as the even newer faces like Tarrus Riley, Ras Attitude, Etana and Queen Ifrica who have so wonderfully added a GOOD spiritual dimension to their music so early in their careers.
That being said, the biggest purveyor and perpetrator or keeping spirituality in Reggae and in EXCELLENT quality has been the LEGENDARY Manchester born Roots singer Luciano who has spent the better part of the past two decades turning his edge of the game into his own personal Nyahbinghi tabernacle. And he serves as the PERFECT example on so many levels to eschewing the stereotypical Rastaman singer (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing I should mention) unlike someone like Cocoa Tea, who fits it PERFECTLY (and in a great way). On the look, Luciano, while definitely dreaded will probably NEVER be the kind of either ‘skinny’ or ‘lanky’ type of a person and although he IS, he doesn’t, on first look, appear to be the wonderfully accommodating and inviting type of person (neither am I, Sizzla, Capleton etc.). And musically speaking, it doesn’t really matter: Luciano could sing about ANYTHING and make it sound so spiritual. Luciano seemingly inherited the role of dominant Roots Reggae singer from the likes of the late and great Hugh Mundell and Garnet Silk and has yet to relinquish it and thus, his activity level has been so high throughout his career. And one of the traits that he shares with that Rastaman singer archetype, at least in terms of his perception, is that much of his music, seemingly so similar to itself, has been kind of forgotten. Luciano has also been very active in terms of releasing albums THANKFULLY) and in this case he has what is in my opinion one of the most INTERESTING releases of his entire career, Serve Jah. Why so interesting? Well, look at it like this: Released in 2003 on the largest Reggae label in the world, VP Records, the album has been basically forgotten and despite the fact that it contains a few commercial successes (and I have no official or semi-official data to support this but I’m pretty sure it, itself, was successful also, in terms of sales) and back when it was released, in 2003 it wouldn’t have seemingly had much ‘competition’ in the way of other Luciano albums (of course there were others but the VP album typically is the best (and it was) and best promoted), although it is perhaps even more remarkable that I could make the point that an album from later in that year, Tell It From The Heart has since gone on to become more well regarded than Serve Jah. And, if that’s not enough (and it was), Serve Jah was a BIG album in my opinion and is even outshone (in terms of popularity) by subsequent VP and Luciano links (which I think is the real source of how time has all but erased it from so many memories) 2004’s Serious Times (which was HUGE), 2006’s Child Of A King (in retrospect not as strong as Serve Jah but still very nice) and last year’s very big Jah Is My Navigator. It so interesting that such a POWERFUL artist can be overlooked by ANYONE but even more interesting that he’s apparently so powerful that his own work can make it so that people don’t seem to remember what is, in my opinion, one of the five or strongest albums of his entire career.
One needn’t even know actual names but if I tell you that Luciano has been the dominant Roots Reggae singer for quite awhile, then you might be able to guess that with such a lofty status, he would be afforded some of the best in production talents as well. And, after having gotten his start basically with Philip ‘Fattis’ Burrell, the ‘Messenjah’ has voiced for any and everybody. On Serve Jah, things were no different as the album is produced by the LEGENDARY Black Scorpio imprint for Maurice ‘Black Scorpio’ Johnson (and around that same time, Johnson and co. also released albums for Capleton, Praises To The King and Anthony B, Wise Man Chant, neither of which were at this level). Getting the combination between well respected producer and well respected artist, Luciano’s Serve Jah album for Black Scorpio, started is one of the album’s most ‘curious’ and signature tunes, I Will Survive. The song, all these years later is definitely more interesting to me now as, despite the fact that you wouldn’t know it by looking at the CD AT ALL, it actually features one Messenjah Selah. The tune also features on Selah’s album, Whosoever Will, the previous year and in both cases, it was LOVELY and one of the best on both. Big start. What is largely considered to be the best of the solo tunes is up next, the title track for Serve Jah. This song is just FULL of interesting material, not the least of which is the ENCHANTING riddim over which it plays, Scorpio’s Revival Riddim. I’ve always maintained that the TRUE point of the song was to preach unity to the masses but others have brought up ideas of humility and even patience but regardless of your thoughts you DEFINITELY have to recognize the strength of the tune, one of the finest and beautifully spiritual of Luciano’s storied career. The underrated Win Or Lose completes the opening of Luciano’s Serve Jah and you NEED TO hear this vibe. The tune speaks WONDERFULLY speaks about trusting His Majesty as, despite the fact that people may be prone to let you down, win or lose, you always come out on top with HIM. One sweet tune to end one even sweeter opening.
Of course, the tune which immediately jumps out at you on paper and the one which was and remains most well known and arguably most well regarded is the BIG combination Hail King Selassie featuring Capleton. The tune was lastly featured on Serve Jah after making stops on Capleton’s Still Blazing album and Reggae Gold 2002 I believe. The song was HUGE and what it did musically was urge the masses (especially the youths and oppressed in general (including women)) to go away from the violence and other negative things and go towards His Majesty and it was an ANTHEM and very effective at doing just that. But it wasn’t the best tune I heard on Serve Jah. Instead, that honour would be bestowed upon the SPECTACULAR I Am Not Sorry. This tune has just done so much for me on a personal level over the years that I would have to put it near the top of Luciano’s catalogue altogether and certainly on the Serve Jah album (and you probably won‘t find it anywhere else). BEAUTIFUL! Besides those, you can pretty much drop yourself anywhere on these thirteen tracks and find a BIG tune. Injustice is a prime example. Its kind of written similar to the tune following it but in and of itself is a joy to listen to. Injustice also features Luciano going on the offensive a little as he urges us, in the face of the oppressors to “stand up and fight” and while I may be unsure as to the intended direction of the title tune, Injustice is CLEARLY about organizing and unity amongst children of Afrika and our supporters. The aforementioned next tune, True Love, is another tune espousing on the virtues of UNITY amongst the people but, in this case, instead of using fighting against oppression as the attraction, Luciano goes for the greatest of them all. Love. By my count, Nowhere To Hide is only one of two non-Black Scorpio produced tunes on Serve Jah (however, it and the other were both voiced at Black Scorpio Studios) as it links the Messenjah with another producer with whom he was VERY familiar, Richard ‘Bello’ Bell of Star Trail and, as expected, the two veterans worked absolute magic together wih the vibe on that one as Luciano is sure to remind that when you do EVIL, righteousness and more importantly, His Majesty will find you! You could very well make a case that Born Free is the best tune altogether on the album as it is WONDERFUL! It would probably rank as my second favourite but I love the vibe on the tune which somewhat shoots out against slavery and such things and just, in general, speaks to joy and has a very uplifting and inspiring vibes to it definitely. The very fine old school vibed Long Story across Scorpio’s Dance riddim begins the final stretch of tunes on Serve Jah and does so in a very good fashion. The song, essentially ‘recaps’ the Afrikan Diaspora and Luciano also brings it today’s world where the repercussions of such a terrible tragedy are still definitely being felt. Gideon Bus is another well solid piece (across Scorpio’s BEAUTIFULLY COMPLICATED Justice riddim, the same piece backed the title track to Turbulence’s Upright album as well) which kind of builds on the foundation set by Long Story (wonderful vibe on that one as well). And, speaking of spiritual, House Of The Lord comes in almost completely acoustic style and is standard Luciano. If you’re a fan of The Messenjah you’ve definitely heard such tunes from him in the past and were impressed. The same structure exists for this one and it is QUALITY. House Of The Lord makes way for I Am Not Sorry and ultimately Mankind which closes the door on Serve Jah with a very nice vibes. Mankind almost sounds like, to me, Luciano’s tune The Messenger (from the album of the same title) with a kind of pseudo old school Dancehall feel. The tune speaks to the prevailing vibes on Serve Jah: We need to UNIFY and come together and serve The Almighty. Can’t argue with that and definitely can’t argue with such a nice tune finishing such a nice album.
Overall, like I said, I don’t know why this one has all but faded away into oblivion, but I LOVE IT! The album, like all of Luciano’s good albums, really have a three (or four) dimensional appeal as, as I stressed the spirituality which comes with his music which is a staple of the singer’s, he USUALLY will apply some type of literally tangible message to go along with it or he’ll put it in some relative context which is relatable to everyday life and on the Serve Jah album, in my opinion, that context is Unity. Never mind the fact that, on top of all that, Luciano’s music just makes you feel so GOOD! With all of that said, Serve Jah is PERFECT for any fan, new or old of modern Roots Reggae to the point where its almost embarrassing if you call yourself a Luciano fan and do not own a copy. Big things and big effort for the SOUL of Roots Reggae.
Rated 4.75/5 stars
VP Records
2003
CD + Digital
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