"Each and every one of us belongs to Africa. Each and every one is a part. From Africa free, the whole world free."
-- Prince Far I

Little is known, or little has been revealed, about Prince Far I's time with Joe Gibbs Music in 1976 and 1977, but the legacy of Far I's essential "Under Heavy Manners" album is secure nearly 25 years after its release.

Prince Far I started in the late 1960s in the deejay business under the name King Cry Cry for the sound Sir Mike The Musical Dragon. Although he has always been referred to as a deejay, Prince Far I preferred to be called a "chanter", and his unmistakably deep, gravelly tone, the "voice of thunder", helped identify his style from the beginning. His first recording, "The Great Booga Wooga", was made for Bunny "Striker" Lee in the early 1970s. He also recorded for Coxson Dodd and then Enos McCleod, who gave him the name Prince Far I. After a handful of singles, he recorded his first full length, the essential "Psalms For I", for Lloydie Slim in 1975.

Reggae enthusiasts widely regard Far I's "Under Heavy Manners" as a crucial work of the rockers era, both for the artist and the production team. While it was only the second Prince Far I album recorded, and the first to be released, "Under Heavy Manners" showed Far I's craft in full bloom on some of the best rockers rhythms ever put on tape. In addition, the album provides a great example of reggae's role in Jamaican sociopolitical commentary.

In 1976, the Jamaican government under Michael Manley, head of the People's National Party, declared a state of emergency and tension on the island was at a near-revolutionary fever pitch. The economy was crumbling from an over-reliance on oil, and socialism in practice was being severely tested. It was amid these environs that Prince Far I recorded "Heavy Manners", the title coming from the ruling PNP's political slogan of the day.

In one of his only known interviews, with journalist Ray Hurford, Prince Far I commented on the lyrical content of the hit single for Joe Gibbs: "The tune was pertaining to discipline, heavy discipline, but through the politics that is going on, Joe [Gibbs] thought it would sell a boatload by using "Under Heavy manners".

The lyrics of the song are somewhat ambigious, but are probably in sarcastic reference to the PNP's harsh crackdowns: "Manners is like unto a dog / Discipline is what the world needs today, baby / Heavy heavy discipline, ya know, nuh true? / ... War in the East, war in the West, War in the North, War in the South, Crazy Joe get them out / What a terrible bout ... Natty dread don't borrow, cause he remembers tomorrow".

Interestingly, two years later, Prince Far I chanted a song called "No More War". He explained that, "It was we (musicians) that had preached the war, and we had to show the people how to get together again".

Prince Far I worked as a gateman at Joe Gibbs' 24 Retirement Crescent Studio while the "Under Heavy Manners" tracks were recorded. He obviously had the respect of singer Joseph Hil of Culture, who contributed greatly to the character of this album with enthusiastic introductions on several tracks.

Followers of Joe Gibbs' productions, or Jamaican rhythms in general, will recognize several of the backing tracks used here, including Dennis Brown's "Ghetto Girl" ("Young Generation"); "Mean Girl" ("Boz Skank"); "You Don't Love Me / No No No ("Shadow"); "Satta Massa Ganna" ("Deck of Cards"); and Naggo Morris' "Su Su Pon Rasta" ("Heavy Manners").

For this reissue of "Under Heavy Manners", the enigmatic engineer Errol Thompson has resurrected three uncollected Prince Far I cuts from the Joe Gibbs archives to augment the original album. The additional tracks include "Johnny Reggae", chanted over Leroy Graham's "Perilous Times"; "Same Knife", chanted over Culture's "Burning An Illusion This Time"; and a tune called "Emmanuel Road". Also included is a version of the title track, "Heavy Manners". These tracks paint a more complete picture of the artist's work at Joe Gibbs and appropriately compliment the content of original album.

Prince Far I's tragic end is similar to that shared by too many Jamaican musical icons. Far I was murdered in Kingston at the age of 39 on September 15th, 1983. Rightfully, his legacy is solid due to the continued circulation of his Cry Tuff Dub Encounter series, "Under Heavy Manners", and other landmark works. Prince Far I's grumbling "voice of thunder" will always be recognized and remembered where reggae is played.

-- Carter Van Pelt, January 2000

Special thanks to Ray Hurford of More Axe / Small Axe for a fleeting glimpse of Prince Far I while he was alive. His Far I interview is excerpted from More Axe (Black Star, 1987).

Desing: Francisco Marcias
Cover Photograph: Beth Lesser

Total Running Time: 54:38

Tracks 1-10 - "Under Heavy Manners" Original LP
Tracks 11-17 - Previously Unreleased on LP or CD.

All songs written by Joe Gibbs, except "Shine Eye Gal" written by Errol Thompson, and Tracks 12-17 written by Joe Gibbs & Errorl Thompson.

All Songs Published by Joe Gibbs Music Publishing (BMI)

All Tracks Recorded at
Joe Gibbs Recording Studios
24 Retirement Crescent,
Kingston 5, Jamaica

Produced & Arranged by
The Mighty Two
(Joe Gibbs & Errol hompson)

Recorded & Mixed by
Errol Thompson

Mastered by
Jim Fox, Lion + Fox, USA

Joe Gibbs Enterprises, Inc.
3240 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33122 USA
Tel: (305) 436 3045 Fax: (305) 436 3047
Email: info@joegibbsmusic.com
www.joegibbsmusic.com

(p)&(c) 2000, Joe Gibbs Enterprises, Inc.