Trojan Jamaica/BMG shares another U-Roy classic from the soon-to-be-released album, SOLID GOLD U-ROY. Produced by label co-founders Zak Starkey and Sshh Liguz along with Youth (U2, Paul McCartney, The Verve), and mixed by David Sardy (Toots & The Maytals, Oasis, The Who), ‘Stop That Train’ with Rygin King has a band comprised of Zak on guitar, New Orleans legend Cyril Neville on percussion, as well as reggae royalty, including drummer Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare on bass and backing vocals, Tony Chin on guitar and backing vocals, Robbie Lyn on keyboards, trumpet player Stingwray and saxophonist/horn arranger/backing vocalist Dean Fraser.
‘Stop That Train’ was a hit by the Jamaican band The Spanishtonians (also known as the Spanish Town Skabeats) released in 1965 at the height of the original ska movement. Keith & Tex made it a hit again in 1967 and their version of it was sampled by Scotty for the song ‘Draw Your Brakes,’ famously featured on the soundtrack to the film The Harder They Come. The Beastie Boys and Vanilla Ice also sampled the song.
‘Stop That Train’ with Rygin King underscores the timelessness of U-Roy’s approach as he’s joined by Rygin King, the 25-year-old St. James Parish native, who has garnered more than 100 million views on YouTube for his hits like ‘Tuff’ and ‘How Mi Grow,’ and who is recovering from gunshot wounds he suffered in a June 2020 attack. The prolific young deejay, who rose in prominence when he closed out the 2018 Sumfest (Jamaica and the Caribbean’s largest annual music festival) proceedings in his hometown of Montego Bay, proves to be a formidable musical partner for the dancehall Godfather, as his hypnotic vocals flow effortlessly alongside U-Roy over the updated “riddim,” which hits harder than ever now in its latest manifestation. An official music video directed by Nick Franco/1185 Films in collaboration with Zak and Sshh premieres today and is streaming on YouTube now.
The album SOLID GOLD U-ROY was originally set to come out in 2020 with plans for a worldwide tour in support, but unfortunately, the pandemic delayed the release. Now, with the heartbreaking loss of U-Roy on February 17 of this year, SOLID GOLD U-ROY has become a celebration of one of the most profoundly influential reggae stars of his generation. An originator of the chatty rhythmic vocal style known as toasting — a key foundational element in the development of rap in its early stages in the 1970s — U-Roy left behind an unmatched legacy which is clearly on display on SOLID GOLD U-ROY, with its guest appearances including Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Mick Jones of The Clash, Santigold, Sly & Robbie, David Hinds of Steel Pulse, Big Youth, Tarrus Riley, Rygin King, Jesse Royal, Richie Spice, and Scientist. The album arrives on July 16, 2021; pre-orders are available now.
SOLID GOLD U-ROY was heralded last month by the release of ‘Man Next Door’ with Santigold, a song The FADER called “a new reggae classic in the making.” Rolling Stone said, “This new version of ‘Man Next Door’ boasts a quick pace and steady organ stabs; U-Roy and Santigold
WATCH “MAN NEXT DOOR” WITH SANTIGOLD
LISTEN TO “MAN NEXT DOOR” WITH SANTIGOLD
PRE-ORDER SOLID GOLD U-ROY
