Sat | Nov 30, 2024
Record Store Day

Special vinyl reissue for Beres Hammond’s ‘Just A Man’

Published:Friday | October 25, 2024 | 12:07 AM
Beres Hammond performing at Reggae Sumfest in July at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, St James.
Beres Hammond performing at Reggae Sumfest in July at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, St James.

VP Records imprint, 17 North Parade and Beres Hammond’s Harmony House will reissue the singer’s Just A Man on November 28, exclusively for Record

Store Day Black Friday. This US-only, limited-edition release will feature a newly

remastered coloured vinyl pressing with the original Rolls Royce cover art, a

prized collectible for fans.

A treasured album on the Rare Groove circuit, Just A Man holds significant value

among collectors, with original copies elusive on the resale market and highly

sought after. Originally released by Joe Gibbs, Just A Man captures Hammond’s

early creative range, venturing beyond reggae into the realms of funk, R&B, and

disco. The production is a collaboration among Hammond, Willie Lindo, and Ivor

Lindo, with each producer lending a unique touch to individual tracks.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Hammond is one of reggae’s most

revered voices, known for enduring hits like Rock Away and They Gonna Talk.

Honoured with the Order of Jamaica and an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, his impact on reggae and lovers rock is profound. Just A Man provides a rare look at his early explorations in sound, capturing his curiosity and adaptability as he ventured into new genres.

Backed by a stellar lineup of musicians – including Val Douglas on bass; Mikey

Chung on guitar; Dean Fraser and Clive Hunt on horns; Harold Butler and Robbie

Lyn on keyboards; and Pam Hall on backing vocals – this remastered edition brings clarity to the album’s rich arrangements, enhancing Hammond’s early vision.