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Wayne McGhie And The Sounds Of Joy
*** 3 Stars
Light In The Attic LITA 008 (33:05)
Long lost soul-reggae gem. Summer is upon us.
After its 1970 release, this sank without a trace through the lack of promotion. A fire destroyed all unsold copies and Jamaican-born McGhie continued with further failed attempts to break into music. In 1979 he went AWOL, but in 1995… Sounds of Joy entered the hip-hop world, and the search began to find McGhie. So what about the music? Much sounds as if Studio One and Atlantic had fused together. Indeed, Jackie Mittoo is rumored to have sat in on the sessions. Cool It and a fantastic cover of Take A Letter To Maria are perfect blends of Otis-soul and rock-steady, yet instrumental Dirty Funk could have risen from New Orleans. Throughout, McGhie's voice is as pure, sweet and emotive as the best soul singers, whilst the band reign themselves in behind. Only on Fire (She Need Water) does everyone threaten to break through the restraint. So what of McGhie? He was finally rediscovered in January of this year, in Toronto, having not touched a guitar since 1979. With this reissue, his one album will finally get a better release than it did back in the day. - Jason Draper
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