Completely Random Thoughts Vol. I: 'Out Of Sight, Not Out Of Mind'

Out Of Sight, Not Out Of Mind

Forgive me. I’m venting. There are certain pleasures which I, as an entirely overly attentive Reggae head simply need to experience, if even on an irregular basis. These pleasures include the somewhat regular dosage of vibes from Sizzla Kalonji, singles and albums, the same from Lutan Fyah and the occasional reason to knock my head into a wall, which these days tends to come via some crazy tune from either Aidonia or Saïk. Recently however, while I haven’t had much trouble at all finding any of these, one RIDICULOUSLY exciting pleasure which has managed to allude me now to the tune of a half of a decade is breaking the seal on a new (LEGITIMATE) album from Capleton. This is a scene I’m hoping will play out in the forthcoming calendar year 2010, although I’m not holding my breath in anyway.

Has it really been that long since the Reign Of Fire? YES! Let’s examine:

’Reign’ was released on October 26, 2004.

• First of all I was 23 years, 2 months and 12 days old - Now, I’m 28 years, 4 months and 5 days old.

• Capleton himself was [reportedly] 37years, 6 months and 13 days old - He is now [reportedly] 42 years, 8 months and 6 days old.

• Let’s look at some of his contemporaries: Sizzla has released at least TEN legitimate albums (meaning non Penitentiary, Rude Boy and now ‘Yes’), has number ELEVEN loaded and ready to go, a few greatest hits albums, a re-release of a classic [Da Real Live Thing]. Oh and of course there was Life which was released a couple of weeks before Reign.

• Anthony B released an album, Powers Of Creation on the very same day and has subsequently released at least SIX more, a live album (which was a re-release) a DVD, started his own label and has even released an album on it already (oh, and three of those albums Rise Up, Higher Meditation and Black Star were even for the same producer) (biggup Frenchie).

• Luciano had the lovely Lessons Of Life release just two months before 'Reign' (which was actually his second BIG shot of that year following the MASSIVE Serious Times in May) and has since had at least SEVEN legitimate albums, a re-release and at least one live album (probably as many as three of those).

• Buju has even had two albums, both of which were Grammy nominated (and that’s all I’m going to say about that).

• Turbulence himself has released at lest TEN legitimate albums.

• Jamaica has had a female Head of State; the US has ELECTED two different presidents; there has been a World Cup (and there will most likely be a second before there’s a next Capleton album); there have been two Olympic games (and there was one that year, and there’ll DEFINITELY be a next in less than two months) and there’ll also be six Super Bowls.

• At least SIX of Bob Marley’s offspring have released albums, three have won Grammy’s and the ultra strange Ky-Mani is apparently set to release his second next year (and since we have a title and actual information, I THINK, we can safely assume it too will reach before Capleton’s next effort), entrepreneurial daughter Cedella is also set to make her debut and of course Marley’s Mother transitioned.

• And speaking of families Morgan Heritage has also had two albums, a live release and have taken up solo careers for the awaiting of their forthcoming “opus” next release (which may also be released before Capleton’s next) and of course Gramps has already released an album, with his siblings apparently all set to do the same in 2010. Andddddddd LMS has had an album and have gone their own ways and Father Denroy Morgan has also had an album and a DVD as well.

Now I could go on and on mentioning a variety of different things which have happened since Reign Of Fire released to the public (like how Shurwayne Winchester has won three Soca Monarch crowns) (and of course he didn’t win his first AT ALL until 2005) (oh and he himself has had like three albums); and how my actual copy of the album has become somewhat of a shrine, containing about seven or eight old ticket stubs from Capleton albums my Wife and I had, but instead I’ll do something else:

When Capleton releases an album HE becomes the center of the Reggae world at that point. And he hasn’t really gone anywhere. If such a moment of ’nostalgia’ does exist in your mind and you are a heavy or semi-heavy collector, do allow yourself to think about when you got that album and just how much you were looking forward to hearing it and how much you ultimately enjoyed it. Go back to February 2002 and think about how much you recall the Still Blazin album and even go wayyyyyyyy back to More Fire. How SWEET was that music? In those three albums (and you can definitely go back to the ‘seeding’ period which, in my opinion, existed in the days of Prophecy and I Testament), you can actually see the formation of a VERY popular subgenre of Roots Reggae music. The type of music which would go to show that artists didn’t have to fit into this traditional role of being ’defensive’ (as opposed to ’offensive’) and it’s something which not only has remained very popular up until today, but until this kind of ’peace revival (which would also be very interesting to discuss)’ which includes the likes of Etana and Tarrus Riley, it was THE dominant style, existing in the likes of Capleton, Sizzla, Anthony B, Jah Mason and etc. It showed, and in my opinion MADE that style dominant and also it proved that you could be commercially successful as well. Capleton will perhaps forever maintain that More Fire actually went platinum in terms of sales, but regardless of that, I think that one of the most telling characteristic of the power of that album is the fact that, nearly a decade old at this point, it still is INCREDIBLY popular. Also I cannot begin to tell you just how many people have told me and how many emails I still get which essentially find a way to mention something along the lines of ‘I’m mainly a ____ fan (Hip Hop generally), but when I heard that More Fire album, that got me into Dancehall’. And most certainly you could also attribute the ‘commercialization’ and the prevalence of the ‘fyah bun’ rhetoric which is still so present and visible today to that same period because although he may not have been the first to make the call (Anthony B probably was to any ‘offensive‘ degree), Capleton was surely the first one to prove that it could actually SALE.

And of course he’s still around and still available and building singles. So much so that based on singles alone, I probably could have pulled together a VERY nice Capleton album myself, at least three different times in the past three years. Capleton is also, ostensibly, not too far from his prime and you could even go as far as to say that he is STILL within the frame of it - The ‘reign’ is continuing if you will. You can, of course, sit and argue that until your end (you can do anything you want until your end), but I’m under the impression that it would be SO NICE if 2010 amidst the various other wonderful joys it will most certainly bring, could maybe restart the flames and let the Prophet reign again.