| Appointment With His Majesty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Burning Spear | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 57:54 | |||
| Label | Heartbeat Records | |||
| Producer | Burning Music Production | |||
| Burning Spear chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Burning Music release | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
Appointment With His Majesty is a studio album by the Jamaican reggae singer Burning Spear. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 40th Grammy Awards, in 1998.
The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Reggae Albums chart.
Production
The title track is thought to be a polemic about the rise of dancehall music. "Play Jerry" is a tribute to Jerry Garcia.
Critical reception
The Washington Post wrote that "the reggae ... is typically swirling and hypnotic, but this is first and foremost message music." The Boston Globe thought that "the formula is simple: mesmerizing bass lines, snappy horns and Spear's own time-worn voice, reflecting conscious themes and Pan-African concerns." Stereo Review concluded that Spear "remains a quietly persuasive singer with often overlooked knacks for melody and topical bite; 'Commercial Development' and 'Don't Sell Out' strike back at the industrialization of both Jamaica and reggae."
Track listing
- All songs written and arranged by Winston Rodney.
- "The Future (Clean It Up)" – 4:47
- "Appointment With His Majesty" – 4:20
- "Play Jerry" – 4:39
- "Reggae Physician" – 4:25
- "Glory Be to Jah" – 5:04
- "Don't Sell Out" – 4:33
- "Come in Peace" – 4:23
- "African Jamaican" – 5:02
- "My Island" – 4:54
- "Commercial Development" – 5:21
- "Music" – 4:54
- "Loving You" – 4:57
Credits
- Published by Burning Spear Publishing, ASCAP.
- Executive producer – Sonia Rodney
- Recorded at Grove Recording Studio, Ocho Rios, St. Ann's.
- Edited by Barry O'Hare
- Mixed by Barry O'Hare and Winston Rodney.
- Assistant engineer – Bobby Hawthorne
- Project Coordinator for Heartbeat - Garret Vandermolen
- Sequencing - Chris Wilson
- Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital Recording, Southborough, MA.
- Photography by Dana Siles
- Design by Jean-Pierre LeGuillou
Musicians
- Winston Rodney - vocals, congas, percussion, background vocals
- Nelson Miller - drums
- James Smith - trumpet
- Lenval Jarrett - rhythm guitar
- Num H.S. Amun’Tehu - percussion, background vocals
- Steven Stewart - keyboards
- Rupert Bent - lead guitar
- Ronald "Nambo" Robinson - trombone
- Howard Messam - saxophone
- Barry O'Hare - keyboard
- Carol "Passion" Nelson - background vocals
- Edna Rodney - background vocals
- Rachell Bradshaw - background vocals
- Yvonne Patrick - background vocals
- Sharon Gordon - background vocals
Additional Musicians
- Tony Williams - drums
- Trevor McKenzie - bass
- Collin Elliot - bass
- Robbie Lyn - keyboard, background vocals
- Ian "Beezy" Coleman - rhythm, lead guitar ("Play Jerry")
- Junior "Chico" Chin - trumpet ("Play Jerry")
- Uziah "Sticky" Thompson - percussion ("Play Jerry")
- Tony Green - saxophone ("Play Jerry")
References
- ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
- "Appointment With His Majesty - Burning Spear | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Burning Spear Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
- "Burning Spear". Billboard.
- Prahlad, Anand (November 9, 2001). "Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Jamaican Music". Univ. Press of Mississippi – via Google Books.
- "Nightlife". New York. 30 (36): 119. Sep 22, 1997.
- "BURNING SPEAR". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- Cawley, Jimmy (11 Sep 1997). "BURNING SPEAR APPOINTMENT WITH HIS MAJESTY". The Boston Globe. Calendar. p. 35.
- Milano, Brett (Jan 1998). "Appointment with His Majesty". Stereo Review. 63 (1): 94.