Larry Marshall was one of the linchpins of the Studio One label during the early reggae era. A phenomenal songwriter who penned numerous songs for others as well as himself, an adept arranger, and extraordinarily emotive singer,
Marshall was equally integral behind the console, where he acted as engineer
Sylvan Morris' assistant, and as a selector of dubs for
Coxsone Dodd's sound system.
Marshall is also oftentimes credited with unleashing the first reggae record. And although that's in dispute, there's no argument that his "Nanny Goat" was a groundbreaking number. In the U.K., the single was credited to Larry & Alvin, and Alvin Lewis provided excellent backing for most of
Marshall's Studio One recordings. The singer cut a clutch of classic hits for the label, many of which
Dodd bundled up in 1973 as
Presenting Larry Marshall, which was subsequently reissued on CD by Heartbeat. In the interim,
Presenting Larry Marshall's reputation has only grown; as the years passed, the album's rhythms reached classic status, and "Throw Me Corn" in particular has been versioned on countless occasions. Led by the stellar drum and bass team of
Bunny Williams and
Leroy Sibbles, the rhythm-heavy arrangements still sound stunning today, while the rest of the session men created a musical backing that just couldn't be bettered. But that only tells half the story, for the real glory of this album is
Marshall and his songs. At his best, which is found across this entire record, the singer creates an incredibly intimate atmosphere.
The Melodians had a similar talent, but
Marshall took it a step further by writing more personal songs. Numbers like the superb "Thelma," "Mean Girl," "Set Me Free," and "How Can I Go On" are all pure expressions of emotion, extraordinary excursions into one man's heart and personal relationships. The duets like "Nanny Goat," "Corn," and "Wonderful World," which paired
Marshall with the soulful
Alton Ellis, tackle broader themes to equal effect, while the gorgeous "Keep on Pushing" is a powerful lesson in fortitude. Each one of the 14 songs is a perfectly cut flawless diamond; on every level, this album is a masterpiece whose brilliance has not been dulled by time.