I first came across the name and voice of Lopez Walker from a compilation called Children Of Jah - a collection of sweet tunes re-released in a nice package by UK's Blood and Fire label. The artist title on this compilation reads Chantells and Friends, the Chantells being a sweet-voiced trio who were together briefly in the late 70s. More than anything it is a showcase of productions by Roy Francis and his label Phase 1.
The sound of Phase 1 is some of the most excellent rockers-era music. But not all of the singers voiced by Roy Francis were 'big names' at the time so I think this may be a reason why it's not a well known label outside the boxes of a few roots reggae collectors.
Backed by the revolutionaries backing band with the charging drums of Sly Dunbar, in this particular track you'll also hear some stand out piano and organ playing by Ansel Collins and Winston Wright. The compilation mentioned above and also We Are Getting Bad (another compilation of Phase 1 music out on Motion Records) are both solid collections and highly recommended if you feel Lopez Walker's Send Another Moses.
The song is voiced on a riddim very similar (if not a variation of the same one) to another song of Lopez Walker's, Jah Jah New Garden. The songs lyrics are very much themed in an old testament style and fashion, and as such come across with a tone of biblical righteousness and seriousness in his call out for help. In parts, this help is 'to whip them with the rod of correction... throw them in a pit of destruction'. But with '70,000 heathens coming down to mash down this little town', the situation he paints with this song spells out quite clearly the struggle of the Rastaman in late 70s Jamaica, the overall vibe of the song is actually quite powerful and uplifting.
Although alot of the Phase 1 releases are of a sweet nature, this stands out as one of the tougher tunes, which combined with the great singing, musicians and production, put it in a class of its own. I looked for more works from this singer but there are few other recordings that I could find apart from one or two explorations into dancehall like Cool Me Down (in 1986 for Harry J), Let True Love Begin (Mixing Lab 1992), and some nice UK styles with Take Heed (Shakara 2001).
Repressed on 7" in 2005, below are links to Youtube recordings of the song and the Revolutionaries' Moses Dub which is mixed by Jo Jo Hookim.
Lopez Walker - Send Another Moses
Revolutionaries - Moses Dub (mixed by Jo Jo Hookim)
Comments
tuuuuuuuuuune!
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