Throwback 45s: Prince Far I & Errol Holt – Musical History

ARTIST: Prince Far I & Errol Holt
TITLE: Musical History
LABEL: Cry Tuff
YEAR: 1979

If you’re into deep, heavy roots reggae, Musical History by Prince Far I and Errol “Flabba” Holt is a tune that deserves your attention. Released in Jamaica in 1979 on Prince Far I’s own Cry Tuff imprint, this is a powerful slice of reggae history from a time when the music was moving into darker, heavier territory.

Prince Far I was one of reggae’s truly original voices. Known as the “Voice of Thunder,” he called himself a chanter rather than a toaster, and that distinction suited him. His deep, gravelly delivery had the weight of a sermon, while his Cry Tuff label gave him the space to develop his own vision of roots and dub.

On Musical History, he joins forces with bassist/vocalist Errol “Flabba” Holt, one of the founding members of the Roots Radics. The combination makes perfect sense. The Radics were closely associated with Prince Far I’s Cry Tuff productions, often credited as The Arabs, and Holt’s massive basslines provided the perfect foundation for Far I’s booming chants.

The riddim is heavy but never cluttered. “Flabba“ Holt lays down a slow, hypnotic bassline while Lincoln “Style” Scott’s drumming brings a tough combination of kick drum and sharp rimshots. You can hear reggae moving from the late-’70s rockers sound towards the slower, sparser rub-a-dub style that would become so important in the early ’80s.

Prince Far I reflects on the roots of sound system culture and the power of music in difficult times. In his iconic, gravelly style, he chants down all slackness and gimmicks in the music to the ground. As always, he delivers his message with that unmistakable authority.

And then there’s the B-side, The Geography. This dub version strips things back and lets the riddim section take control. Echoing snares, spacious effects and those heavy bass drops reveal just how much power was hiding inside the original groove. The Geography gives the listener a great example of the raw Cry Tuff sound.

The original 1979 Cry Tuff 7″ single remains a highly desirable piece of vinyl, but more than that, Musical History still sounds heavy today. Put it on a good sound system and you’ll understand why Prince Far I’s music continues to command respect.