Max Romeo
Max Romeo (born Maxwell Livingston Smith, 22 November 1947, St. D'Acre, St.… Read Full Bio ↴Max Romeo (born Maxwell Livingston Smith, 22 November 1947, St. D'Acre, St. Ann, Jamaica), is a reggae and roots reggae recording artist who has achieved chart success in his home country, and in the UK. The singer who put the rude in rude boy, Max Romeo was responsible for launching an entirely new sub-genre of reggae, whose overtly suggestive lyrics caused an outcry but took a massive hold of the music scene regardless. Yet innuendo was the least of the singer's stylings, previous to the release of his infamous "Wet Dream," Romeo had garnered a string of sweet hits with the vocal trio the Emotions. And once the nocturnal naughtiness faded, the singer established himself as one of the most important figures in the roots scene.
He left home at the age of 14 and worked on a sugar plantation outside Clarendon, cleaning out irrigation ditches, before winning a local talent competition when he was 18; prompting a move to the capital, Kingston, in order to achieve a successful musical career.
In 1965 he joined up with Kenneth Knight and Lloyd Shakespeare in The Emotions, whilst also working as a record plugger for Ken Lack's Caltone label. The group were unsuccessful in auditions for other producers, but Lack offered them an audition after overhearing Smith singing to himself as he worked one day. In 1966, the group had their first hit, with the Lack-produced, "Buy You a Rainbow". The Emotions went on to have several hit singles and by 1968, the singer, by this point known as Max Romeo, felt confident enough to launch a solo career. Working with producer Bunny Lee, the young star recorded a number of pop songs, mainly love ballads, but they failed to be popular and so he returned to The Emotions, now recording for Phil Pratt. During this time he began work as a sales representative for Bunny Lee and did some recording with The Hippy Boys, which would later became The Upsetters.
Later on in 1968, Romeo wrote new lyrics for the rhythm track of Derrick Morgan's "Hold You Jack" and handed them over to Lee. Morgan, who was due to add his vocals to the track, ultimately gave it a miss, as did several other vocalists (including John Holt and Slim Smith), leading the producer to turn to Romeo to sing the lyrics he had written. The result, "Wet Dream", was an instant hit in Jamaica, although in the UK it was met with a BBC Radio ban, despite Romeo's somewhat-disingenuous claim that the song was actually about a roof that has a leak. Still, the ban only made it more popular and the single charted in the Top Ten, in the UK Singles Chart, spending almost six months therein, before featuring on his LP, A Dream, which included several follow-up singles in a similar vein, such as "Mini Skirt Version", "Fish in the Pot", "Belly Woman", and "Wine Her Goosie". A UK tour also met with Romeo being banned from performing at several venues, although many allowed him to play, the singer staying in the UK for eighteen months.
In 1970, Romeo returned to Jamaica and set-up Romax, an unsuccessful record label and sound system. Following which, he recorded several singles, mainly with old producer Bunny Lee, before going on to work a host of other producers including Niney Holness. This was followed by a period of which saw the release of a series of politically charged singles, most advocating the democratic socialist People's National Party (PNP), which chose his song, "Let The Power Fall On I", as their campaign theme for the 1972 Jamaican general election. Romeo joined the PNP Musical Bandwagon, travelling around Jamaica, playing on the back of a truck. After this, Romeo recorded a number of religious songs, until he worked with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, producing the classic singles "Three Blind Mice" (an adaptation of the nursery rhyme with lyrics about a police raid on a party), "Sipple Out Deh", and "Chase the Devil". A remixed version of "Sipple Out Deh", entitled "War Ina Babylon", was another popular track in the UK, the first fruits of his deal with Island Records, and was followed by an album of the same name, and a follow-up single "One Step Forward". Shortly after this the pair fell out, leaving Romeo to self-produce his follow-up album, Reconstruction, which could not match the success of its predecessor. Perry's animosity towards Romeo was demonstrated by his single "White Belly Rat", with Perry also writing the word 'Judas' over a photograph of Romeo on the wall of his Black Ark studio.
He moved to New York City in 1978, where he co-wrote (with Hair producer Michael Butler) the musical, Reggae, which he also starred in. In 1980 he appeared as a backing vocalist on "Dance" on The Rolling Stones album Emotional Rescue. In 1981, the favour was returned when Keith Richards (of The Rolling Stones) co-produced and played on Romeo's album, Holding Out My Love to You. The rest of his output during the decade went practically unnoticed, with Romeo finding work at a New York electronics store. He returned to Jamaica in 1990, and began touring and recording more regularly.
He visited the UK again in 1992, recording the albums Far I Captain of My Ship and Our Rights with Jah Shaka. In 1995 he recorded Cross of the Gun with Tappa Zukie, and he joined up with UK rhythm section/production team Mafia & Fluxy in 1999 for the album Selassie I Forever.
His music has been sampled by other artists; The Prodigy sampled his track "Chase the Devil" for their 1992 UK Top Ten hit "Out of Space". Kanye West has also used samples from it to produce Jay-Z's hit song "Lucifer", which appeared on Jay-Z's 2003 release - The Black Album.
"Chase the Devil" is featured on the reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in a popular videogame Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, released in October 2004. Romeo's single "Sipple Out Deh" appeared in John Peel's Record Box.
- Albums:
A Dream (1970) Trojan
Let The Power Fall (1972) Dynamic
Revelation Time (1975) Black World
War Ina Babylon (1976) Island
Reconstruction (1979) Island
I Love My Music (1979) Wackies
Rondos (1980) King Kong
Holding Out My Love to You (1981) Shanachie
Transition (1989) Rohit
Fari - Captain of My Ship (1992) Jah Shaka
Our Rights (1992) Jah Shaka
Cross or the Gun (1995) Tappa Zukie
Selassie I Forever (1999) Mafia & Fluxy
Love Message (1999) Warriors
Something is Wrong (1999) Warriors
In This Time (2001) 3D (Max Romeo & Tribu Acustica)
Pocomania Songs (2007) Ariwa Sounds
- Compilations:
Max Romeo Meets Owen Gray At King Tubby's Studio (1984) Culture Press (with Owen Gray)
Max Romeo and the Upsetters (1989)
Wet Dream (1993) Crocodisc
McCabee Version (1995) Sonic Sounds
Open The Iron Gate (1999) Blood & Fire
The Many Moods of Max Romeo (1999) Jamaican Gold
Pray For Me: The Best of Max Romeo 1967-73 (2000) Trojan Records
Perilous Times (2000) Charmax
On The Beach (2001) Culture Press
The Coming of Jah (2002) Trojan
Ultimate Collection (2003) (compiled by David Katz)
Holy Zion (2003) Burning Bush
Wet Dream: The Best of Max Romeo (2004) Trojan
Crazy World of Dub (2005) Jamaican Recordings
One of Jamaica's most provocative lyricists, a singer who gave us such enduring songs as 'Chase The Devil' (which was sampled in the song 'Out of Space' by The Prodigy and the song 'Lucifer' by Jay-Z), 'Public Enemy Number One', 'One Step Forward' and 'Three Blind Mice'. It was Romeo who first introduced Britain to the concept of rude reggae with 'Wet Dream', which, despite a total radio ban, reached number 10 in the UK charts in May 1969.
In 1972 Romeo began working with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. 'Babylon Burning', 'Three Blind Mice' and 'The Coming Of Jah' all maintained his star status in Jamaica between 1972 and 1975. Revelation Time was one of the best albums of 1975, and 1976's War Ina Babylon was hailed by the rock press as an all-time classic reggae album. Two outstanding contributions that will remain classic recordings from the so-called ‘golden age’ of Jamaican reggae music.
He left home at the age of 14 and worked on a sugar plantation outside Clarendon, cleaning out irrigation ditches, before winning a local talent competition when he was 18; prompting a move to the capital, Kingston, in order to achieve a successful musical career.
In 1965 he joined up with Kenneth Knight and Lloyd Shakespeare in The Emotions, whilst also working as a record plugger for Ken Lack's Caltone label. The group were unsuccessful in auditions for other producers, but Lack offered them an audition after overhearing Smith singing to himself as he worked one day. In 1966, the group had their first hit, with the Lack-produced, "Buy You a Rainbow". The Emotions went on to have several hit singles and by 1968, the singer, by this point known as Max Romeo, felt confident enough to launch a solo career. Working with producer Bunny Lee, the young star recorded a number of pop songs, mainly love ballads, but they failed to be popular and so he returned to The Emotions, now recording for Phil Pratt. During this time he began work as a sales representative for Bunny Lee and did some recording with The Hippy Boys, which would later became The Upsetters.
Later on in 1968, Romeo wrote new lyrics for the rhythm track of Derrick Morgan's "Hold You Jack" and handed them over to Lee. Morgan, who was due to add his vocals to the track, ultimately gave it a miss, as did several other vocalists (including John Holt and Slim Smith), leading the producer to turn to Romeo to sing the lyrics he had written. The result, "Wet Dream", was an instant hit in Jamaica, although in the UK it was met with a BBC Radio ban, despite Romeo's somewhat-disingenuous claim that the song was actually about a roof that has a leak. Still, the ban only made it more popular and the single charted in the Top Ten, in the UK Singles Chart, spending almost six months therein, before featuring on his LP, A Dream, which included several follow-up singles in a similar vein, such as "Mini Skirt Version", "Fish in the Pot", "Belly Woman", and "Wine Her Goosie". A UK tour also met with Romeo being banned from performing at several venues, although many allowed him to play, the singer staying in the UK for eighteen months.
In 1970, Romeo returned to Jamaica and set-up Romax, an unsuccessful record label and sound system. Following which, he recorded several singles, mainly with old producer Bunny Lee, before going on to work a host of other producers including Niney Holness. This was followed by a period of which saw the release of a series of politically charged singles, most advocating the democratic socialist People's National Party (PNP), which chose his song, "Let The Power Fall On I", as their campaign theme for the 1972 Jamaican general election. Romeo joined the PNP Musical Bandwagon, travelling around Jamaica, playing on the back of a truck. After this, Romeo recorded a number of religious songs, until he worked with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, producing the classic singles "Three Blind Mice" (an adaptation of the nursery rhyme with lyrics about a police raid on a party), "Sipple Out Deh", and "Chase the Devil". A remixed version of "Sipple Out Deh", entitled "War Ina Babylon", was another popular track in the UK, the first fruits of his deal with Island Records, and was followed by an album of the same name, and a follow-up single "One Step Forward". Shortly after this the pair fell out, leaving Romeo to self-produce his follow-up album, Reconstruction, which could not match the success of its predecessor. Perry's animosity towards Romeo was demonstrated by his single "White Belly Rat", with Perry also writing the word 'Judas' over a photograph of Romeo on the wall of his Black Ark studio.
He moved to New York City in 1978, where he co-wrote (with Hair producer Michael Butler) the musical, Reggae, which he also starred in. In 1980 he appeared as a backing vocalist on "Dance" on The Rolling Stones album Emotional Rescue. In 1981, the favour was returned when Keith Richards (of The Rolling Stones) co-produced and played on Romeo's album, Holding Out My Love to You. The rest of his output during the decade went practically unnoticed, with Romeo finding work at a New York electronics store. He returned to Jamaica in 1990, and began touring and recording more regularly.
He visited the UK again in 1992, recording the albums Far I Captain of My Ship and Our Rights with Jah Shaka. In 1995 he recorded Cross of the Gun with Tappa Zukie, and he joined up with UK rhythm section/production team Mafia & Fluxy in 1999 for the album Selassie I Forever.
His music has been sampled by other artists; The Prodigy sampled his track "Chase the Devil" for their 1992 UK Top Ten hit "Out of Space". Kanye West has also used samples from it to produce Jay-Z's hit song "Lucifer", which appeared on Jay-Z's 2003 release - The Black Album.
"Chase the Devil" is featured on the reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in a popular videogame Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, released in October 2004. Romeo's single "Sipple Out Deh" appeared in John Peel's Record Box.
- Albums:
A Dream (1970) Trojan
Let The Power Fall (1972) Dynamic
Revelation Time (1975) Black World
War Ina Babylon (1976) Island
Reconstruction (1979) Island
I Love My Music (1979) Wackies
Rondos (1980) King Kong
Holding Out My Love to You (1981) Shanachie
Transition (1989) Rohit
Fari - Captain of My Ship (1992) Jah Shaka
Our Rights (1992) Jah Shaka
Cross or the Gun (1995) Tappa Zukie
Selassie I Forever (1999) Mafia & Fluxy
Love Message (1999) Warriors
Something is Wrong (1999) Warriors
In This Time (2001) 3D (Max Romeo & Tribu Acustica)
Pocomania Songs (2007) Ariwa Sounds
- Compilations:
Max Romeo Meets Owen Gray At King Tubby's Studio (1984) Culture Press (with Owen Gray)
Max Romeo and the Upsetters (1989)
Wet Dream (1993) Crocodisc
McCabee Version (1995) Sonic Sounds
Open The Iron Gate (1999) Blood & Fire
The Many Moods of Max Romeo (1999) Jamaican Gold
Pray For Me: The Best of Max Romeo 1967-73 (2000) Trojan Records
Perilous Times (2000) Charmax
On The Beach (2001) Culture Press
The Coming of Jah (2002) Trojan
Ultimate Collection (2003) (compiled by David Katz)
Holy Zion (2003) Burning Bush
Wet Dream: The Best of Max Romeo (2004) Trojan
Crazy World of Dub (2005) Jamaican Recordings
One of Jamaica's most provocative lyricists, a singer who gave us such enduring songs as 'Chase The Devil' (which was sampled in the song 'Out of Space' by The Prodigy and the song 'Lucifer' by Jay-Z), 'Public Enemy Number One', 'One Step Forward' and 'Three Blind Mice'. It was Romeo who first introduced Britain to the concept of rude reggae with 'Wet Dream', which, despite a total radio ban, reached number 10 in the UK charts in May 1969.
In 1972 Romeo began working with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. 'Babylon Burning', 'Three Blind Mice' and 'The Coming Of Jah' all maintained his star status in Jamaica between 1972 and 1975. Revelation Time was one of the best albums of 1975, and 1976's War Ina Babylon was hailed by the rock press as an all-time classic reggae album. Two outstanding contributions that will remain classic recordings from the so-called ‘golden age’ of Jamaican reggae music.
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Max Romeo Lyrics
04. War Ina Babylon It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon …
1 Step Forward Ooh yeah ooh yeah Na na na na na na Ooh yeah…
3_I chase the devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
4 War Ina Babylon It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon …
A Fi We Country A fi we country Mek we live it up, alright A fi…
A Quarter Pound Just a quarter pound of I'cense To make I'man irie A quarter…
Babylon It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon …
Babylon Don't Like Me Ooh, la la la la la Uh, ooh yeah Walking down the…
Beardman Feast It was saintmas in the east There some bearded men keep…
Before the Next Teardrop Falls If she brings you happiness Then I wish you both the…
Black Equality How long will it take? Oh, for right For your children…
Blood Of The Prophet Rachel mourns for her children They have killed the prophet …
Blowin' In the Wind How many road must a man walk down Before they call…
Bun Dem Up Max Romeo - Babylon Burning This lyric contains biblical re…
Bush Dont You Weep Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't…
Careless Hands I let my heart fall into careless hands Careless hands that…
Chase de Devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
Chi Chi Bud Loca (Loca) Loca Dance or die Loca (Loca) She′s playin' dum…
Children Don't You Weep Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't…
Every Man Ought To Know Every man ought to know (every man ought to know) Every…
Everybody Watching Everybody I will never sell myself for vanity, baby Because of a…
Fire Fe the Vatican Fire for the Vatican. - Look at that! Blood for the poor…
Ginalship Ginalship mash up the country Ginalship mash up the country …
Hola Zion what's up baby it's max here i'm not just an…
Holla Zion what's up baby it's max here i'm not just another man c'mon…
Hotel California On a dark desert highway Cool wind in my hair Warm smell…
I One step forward, two steps backward Down inna Babylon One s…
I Been Looking Back I've been looking back over my life I can see it,…
I Chase The Devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
I Don Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't…
I Man A African I man a African, don't call I Jamaican I man a…
I Woke Up In Love Last night, I turned out the light, lay down and thought…
I've Been Looking Back I've been looking back over my life I can see it,…
In This Time Last night, I turned out the light, lay down and thought…
Indeed I Love You Wee, ooh, wee, ooh wee, ooh, wah Wee, ooh, wee, ooh…
Israelites Tampangnya rambo hati romeo Kata orang penampilan yang utam…
i_man_a_african I man a African, don't call I Jamaican I man a…
Jordan River I saw Selassie I stretch forth His hand to take…
Let The Power Fall Let the power fall on I Oh let the power from…
Let the Power Fall (On I) Oh let the power fall on I, Far I Let the…
Let the Power Fall On I Oh, let the power fall on I, far I Let the…
Love Last night, I turned out the light, lay down and thought…
Love Oh Love Love, oh, it's a feeling you can't resist Make you feel…
Macabee You gave I King James Version King James was a white…
Man In Me You say I'm cold You'd better come warm me girl You say…
Melt Away A smoke has been driven, so drive them away. As wax…
Michael (Reprise d′un spiritual traditionnel, chanson d'esclaves) M…
Milk and Honey Jah Jah bring forth honey, don't stop Jah Jah bring forth…
My Jamaica Collie I-man forward all over the world And I-man smoked many diffe…
My One Girl I'm so proud Of having you As the one girl that I…
No Bodys Child I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day And stopped…
No Joshua No No, Joshua, no No, Joshua, no No, Joshua, no No, Joshua, no …
No Peace If I only knew how you feel I would give my…
No Use to Cry Yesterday, I told you I was leaving Baby, you cry Today, I…
Nobody I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day And stopped…
norman Norman the gambler Rides around in a rambler Diamonds and pe…
One Step Dub One step forward, two steps backward Down inna Babylon One s…
One Step Foreward Ooh yeah ooh yeah Na na na na na na Ooh yeah…
One Step Forward One step forward, two steps backward Down inna Babylon One s…
Play With Your Pussy Bee Gees Miscellaneous Fanny (be Tender With Your Love) Firs…
Poor Man's Life Is there any hope for them? is there any hope…
Pray for Me Pray for me Pray for me In this troubled, sickened world …
Public Enemy #1 Satan is public enemy number one Wanted dead or alive for…
Put Me In The Mode You say I'm cold You'd better come warm me girl You say…
Rasta Band Wagon This is a message from JAH To all the imitation Rastaman Pe…
Reconstruction Hmmm The smell of breakfast woke me up this morning I can…
Rent Man A who dat a knock so early, sir? A me, "Nine-finger…
Revelation Dub It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon…
Revelation Time Revelation time, la la la la Father help I to be…
Reverend Oh yeah Uhm, uhm. Oh, oh. Run-run, run-run, run-run, run, r…
River Jordan I saw Selassie I stretch forth His hand to take…
Sexy Sadie Sexy Sadie, I don't mean to be rude, oh, no Sexy…
She's But A Little Girl She′s but a little girl She's but a little girl She′s but…
Smile Out A Style Don't blame the children Blame the teachers - they taught…
Smokey Room (?)dem burning bright and the ashes is white You feel the…
Socialism Is Love You're asking, "What is Socialism, and what it really means?…
Soulful Music Sounds like music in my ears Soulful music fills my eyes…
Stealing In The Name Of Jah Stealing stealing stealing Stealing stealing Stealing in the…
Tacko Dem say Rasta confused Him no know wha fe do Dem say…
Thank You Lord Thank You, Lord, for what You've done for me Thank You,…
Thanks I was down on my luck and I couldn't find…
The Coming Of Jah Every knee shall bow And every tongue confess Every tongue c…
Three Blind Mice I went to a party, last Saturday night When I reached…
Two Face People You sat at my table and eat Just like you were…
Two Faced People You sat at my table and eat Just like you were…
Two In One Last night, I turned out the light, lay down and thought…
Uptown Babies See the little lad, selling kisko? Shouting, "Kisko pops, ki…
Uptown Babies Don't Cry See the little lad, selling Kiss - cup? Shouting; Kiss ca-po…
Valley Of Jehosaphat Yeah! Red hot! Red hot! Red hot! Red hot! Hear what I…
War In A Babylon It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon …
We Love Jamaica The hills has come alive With the rays of the morning…
Wet Dream Every night me go to sleep, me have wet dreams Every…
Where Is the Love My people where is the love, show me Where is the…
Words Of Wisdom Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't want to let Don't…