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.
Put Me In The Mode
Max Romeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd better come warm me girl
You say I'm cold
You'd better come warm me girl
Put me in the mood
And make me feel so rude
I beg you simmer down
I can't stand the vibration
I'm gettin' too hot
You'd better come cool me down
I'm gettin' too hot
You'd better come cool me down
You put me in the mood
And make me feel so rude
You'd better simmer down
You'd better simmer down
I can't stand this vibration
Jah
You're cold, I check you out
Jah
Now I'm getting too hot
You'd better cool me down
Said, I'm getting too hot
You'd better cool me down
You put me in the mood
And make me feel so rude
You'd better simmer down
I beg you simmer down
I can't stand you're vibration
Jah
Well, don't know
Max Romeo's "Put Me In the Mood" is a sensual and suggestive song that speaks to the physical and emotional desire between two lovers. The opening lines "You say I'm cold, You'd better come warm me girl" set the tone for the song as Romeo expresses his desire to be ignited by his lover's warmth. He goes on to ask his lover to put him in the mood and make him feel rudely passionate.
Throughout the song, Romeo employs a variety of metaphors to describe his arousal, such as "I can't stand this vibration" and "Now I'm getting too hot." These lyrics suggest that Romeo is physically and emotionally overwhelmed by his desire, and that his lover is the only one who can satisfy his cravings.
The chorus of the song, which features the repetition of the phrase "You put me in the mood and make me feel so rude," is particularly significant, as it speaks to the transformative power of desire. By suggesting that his lover's touch makes him feel "rude," Romeo is acknowledging that desire has a power to change the way we perceive ourselves and our place in the world.
Overall, "Put Me In the Mood" is a passionate and sexually charged song that speaks to the compelling force of desire and the way it can transform our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You say I'm cold
The singer is being accused of lacking warmth or affection.
You'd better come warm me girl
The singer is inviting the listener to provide them with affection and warmth.
Put me in the mood
The singer is requesting the listener to create a certain atmosphere or emotional state.
And make me feel so rude
The listener is expected to create a feeling of excitement or boldness in the artist.
I beg you simmer down
The artist is asking the listener to calm down their behavior or energy level.
I can't stand the vibration
The singer is expressing discomfort with a certain type of energy or emotion.
I'm gettin' too hot
The singer is becoming overwhelmed or agitated by a certain situation or emotion.
You'd better come cool me down
The artist is asking the listener to help them calm down and reduce their stress or discomfort.
Jah
This is a reference to the Rastafarian god, and is used to express a sense of spiritual or religious belief.
You're cold, I check you out
The artist is assessing the listener's emotional state, and is possibly making a judgment or decision based on this assessment.
Now I'm getting too hot
The singer is continuing to express feelings of agitation or discomfort.
Said, I'm getting too hot
This is a repetition of the previous line, and emphasizes the artist's emotional state.
Well, don't know
This is an expression of uncertainty or confusion.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: MAXIE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
karaline77
i so love Max, all of it.
NoodyHolder
yes, another big hit on your channel! one curiosity: this riddim is original from Lloyd & The Groovers´ Do It To Me Baby, if you listen this song with a good EQ, you can hear in low frequence the sentences "shock it to me baby, do it to me babyyy!" at start.
TheRickynow
@NoodyHolder Thank you! I never knew that.
TheRickynow
@MrMLD72MLD Thank you Michel-Louis!
TheRickynow
@ossiepowers Thank you!
TheRickynow
@karaline77 Me too!!!