12" Of Pleasure

Though infamous for being the most salacious DJ of the Rub-a-Dub era, General Echo was also among the most talented. His quick-witted improvisations, measured use of repetition, and unerring sense of rhythm let him maintain a near-constant stream of rhymes that looked forward to the dancehall's more frenetic pace while sacrificing none of the poetic flair of roots-era DJs like I Roy and Jah Stitch. Early in his career he collaborated with roots-minded producer Dudley Swaby, who gave General Echo’s debut, Rocking and Swing, a decidedly retro feel. To match the fantastic innuendos that General Echo delivered on 12” of Pleasure, a more modern approach was in order. Dancehall luminaries Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Winston Riley, and Scientist succeed in giving General Echo a set of minimal, space age–sounding rhythms. The biggest draw here, though, is General Echo himself. He delivers a set of wickedly lascivious rhymes that would profoundly influence an entire generation of dancehall DJs.