Dread in a Babylon

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Dread in a Babylon was released in 1975, when Virgin Records was turning its attention to Jamaican music in the mid-1970s. Tony Robinson produced the album and Errol Thompson was the engineer. The Jamaican musician U-Roy was accompanied by the bands Soul Syndicate and Skin, Flesh & Bones. On the front, his face is hidden behind a cloud of marijuana smoke. Runaway Girl was released as a single.

Trench Town Rock is an instrumental track. His favourite was Chalice in the Palace, in which he imagines smoking marijuana with Queen Elizabeth II. The album was a commercial success in Jamaica and Great Britain, where he promoted it with a tour. The critical response was mixed: Robert Palmer thought it suitable only for the most dedicated reggae fans. AllMusic later counted it among the dub masterworks of the 1970s.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Runaway Girl3:47Apple Music ↗
2. 2Chalice in the Palace3:29Apple Music ↗
3. 3I Can't Love Another3:24Apple Music ↗
4. 4Dreadlocks Dread2:47Apple Music ↗
5. 5The Great Psalms2:50Apple Music ↗
6. 6Natty Don't Fear2:29Apple Music ↗
7. 7African Message2:44Apple Music ↗
8. 8Silver Bird3:12Apple Music ↗
9. 9Listen to the Teacher2:40Apple Music ↗
10. 10Trench Town Rock2:48Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗