A bit of a classic from 1979, as featured in the film Rockers, this is effectively a double-bill of vintage rocksteady duo The Maytones and the great toaster I-Roy.
It’s easy to regard the latter as inferior to U-Roy because he adapted his name and delivery when he came along a little later, but the hugely prolific Roy Reid had a style all of his own that’s heard to fine effect here.
His toasts were notable for his freestyling flow, taking the original song to new places – and often dropping in historical names or cultural references – along with those little conversational asides and gasps (the gravelly “yeeeeeaaah”) that’s something of a trademark.
And the song is a classic, by rocksteady favourites The Maytones, showing off their harmonies to sweet effect on this tune, Money Worries.