This 1984 album from
Barry Brown comes at the end of a prolific run for the reggae singer, one that began in the late '70s with producer
Bunny Lee.
Right Now, on the other hand, is produced by the underappreciated
Jah Screw, and it's unique for other reasons too, like being a rather sweet and cool album and in contrast to his two other 1984 releases -- the upbeat clash album
Showdown, Vol. 1 with DJ
Little John, and
Roots & Culture, the aptly titled throwback album he recorded with "Armageddon Time" singer
Willie Williams. Add that year's playful and sexy lovers rock single "Belly Move" -- with swagger borrowed from both
Yellowman and
Dennis Brown -- and you've got the full
Barry Brown picture with the humble and almost hitless
Right Now being the rich, rewarding, and dank anchor. That dank bit comes from
Screw's reverb-heavy, always echoing production, which on the opening dancehall stepper "Sister Magling" goes beyond the usual dub tropes as its horn section seems to wave in the breeze, occasionally being carried away by the stronger gusts. Convincing heartache from
Brown and speaker-cutting lick shots from
Screw make "Lonely Girl" a standout, then "I Give My Love" kicks off three easy romantic numbers, all of them prime showcases for the singer's youthful voice and smooth croon. "Mister Minister" and the rest of the original LP's side two are right in the modern Rasta vein of
the Mighty Diamonds and are sure to make
Sublime fans feel at home, but
Right Now exits without that signature hit or standout songwriting, even if
Brown's commitment to the B+ material elevates it all. With
Brown taking a break soon after its release,
Right Now fell into obscurity until 2012 when the
Greensleeves label rescued the album and polished it into a true gem with eight extra tracks of dubs, plus a DJ "version" from
Triston Palma. The reissue is a great score for reggae enthusiasts, but even without all the extras, this forgotten album is a must for
Brown's fans, and
Screw's as well. ~ David Jeffries
![Exodus: The Movement Continues [40th Anniversary Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602557591545_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Exodus: The Movement Continues [40th Anniversary Edition]")
![Catch a Fire [50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602455659835_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Catch a Fire [50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]")
![The Harder They Come [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0731458615828_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "The Harder They Come [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]")