The signature tune of Max Romeo, War Ina Babylon earned him a deal with Island Records in the mid-Seventies, reviving  a career that began in the late Sixties in Jamaica.

Max Romeo had a few phases to his career, starting out – like so many others – with a vocal group in the rocksteady era before going solo and having a top ten UK hit with the “suggestive” Wet Dream in 1969.

Its success probably owed something to being banned by the radio censors (despite Romeo’s implausible defence that it was about a “leaky roof”), giving it publicity and an excitingly dangerous aura that served only to make it more popular.

It also prompted a craze for rude singles built around reggae rhythms and Carry On-style double (and single) entendres by a white fellow called Judge Dread, which were all banned – songs like Big Six and  Up With The Cock! – and consequently became hits.

Back in Jamaica Romeo capitalised on his “rude boy” reputation before switching styles again, turning towards political activism. It was when he teamed up with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry in 1975 that he made this record, which became his signature tune and led to a UK deal with Island Records.

The harmony vocals are by Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones and Perry’s house band The Upsetters includes Boris Gardiner (bass), Sly Dunbar (drums), Earl “Chinna” Smith (guitar), Winston Wright (keyboards) and Keith Sterling (keyboards).

Romeo is still going strong in JA, and remaining true to his roots music.