THREE THE HARD WAY: Ernie Smith (left), Lloyd Parkes and Pluto Shervington (playing bass) sing Bob Marley's One Love, at Saturday night's Heineken Startime, at the Mas Camp, Oxford Road. (Photo: Joseph Willington)

SOME of the dusty pages of Jamaica's great songbooks were opened at the special Emancipation treat for fans of Heineken Startime at the Mas Camp Village on Saturday night.

The vintage concert series chalked up yet another hit, though it turned out to be a bit of an up-and-down affair, in terms of the performances.

Easily the pick of the litter was headliner Ernie Smith who "mashed up" the place with a memorable showing.

This show was dubbed "Life is Just For Living", named after one of Smith's signature tunes, and featured a stellar line-up which also included Pluto Shervington, Festival Song winners Stanley Beckford, Roy Rayon and Eric Donaldson, along with The Abyssinians and Shenley Duffus. All were backed by the inimitable Lloyd Parkes and We The People band.

Roy Rayon, the first of three grand masters of the Festival Song contest was like a raging fire. Real hot! In terms of showmanship alone, he had no equal that night.

He came after Shenley Duffus, veteran of the ska era who the majority of the fans were seeing for the first time.

Coming after Duffus made his startime debut with Rukumbine, Bet You Don't Know, Babylon, Million Dollar Baby, To Be Your Lover and Have Some Mercy, Rayon came with a level of vitality that was unmatched.

When the three time Festival Song winner invited the crowd with his 1991 Joan Davis-composed winning festival song, to Come Rock, they immediately obeyed. With his 1985 top Festival song penned by Grub Cooper, Love Fever, the temperature went up a notch or two.

And by the time he delivered, nay, performed his own 1987 Festival-winning composition, Give Thanks and Praises, the crowd became frantic. Even when he ventured outside of his own material he was no less devastating.

Others tried to follow his blazing trail, but only achieved measured success. Stanley Beckford, no pushover and himself a Festival Song heayweight, was off to a promising start.

But although he created a stir with Kisiloo and Sawdering; his still uncomprehended 1986 Festival winner written by trombonist, Calvin Cameron Dem A Fi Squirm; and his latest festival success, Fi Wi Island A Boom (last year's winner), those sparks were short-lived.

In contrast, Festival Song contest king, seven-time winner Eric Donaldson, gradually gained some momentum after a not too impressive start.

However, by the time he got into Blue Boot, Love of the Common People, his festival winners -- Sweet Jamaica, Land Of My Birth and of course, the all-time top seller, Cherry Oh Baby which he wrote in 1971, his unequivocal stamp of quality was in evidence.

Pluto Shervington was cool, too cool. Cool to the point of being low-keyed even with such favourites as the comforting This Hard Time Can't Last, Rasta Ossie, Ram Goat Liver and I Man Born Yah.

Ironically, he may have been away for too long, thus losing the touch to deliver the goods.

The Abbyssinians, while far from being explosive, with passsion and spirituality brought a sense of sober reflection with Forward Unto Zion, Let My Day Be Long, Declaration Of Rights, Yim Mas Gan and the evergreen Satta Massa Gana.

The hit-making social commentary giant, Ernie Smith, who fittingly closed the show, provided lubricant for the souls of the frantic gathering.

For his musical brilliance, the singer with the richly modulated baritone voice was presented with a Heineken Startime Living Legend Award by Shervingon and Keith Brown of MKB -- promoters of the Startime series.

A duly deserved recognition which he further justified with spirited performances of Pitta Patta, Bend Down, Sammy, I Can't Take It, the powerful Power And The Glory, All For Jesus, Play Di Music (the festival winner he wrote in 1974 for Tinga Stewart), the signature tune Life Is Just For Living, One Dream , Duppy Gunman with assistance from Pluto Shervington. Together they also did Bob Marley's One Love.

Smith was called back on stage by the crowd for a well-deserved encore.

Among the stars of the show, were the fans themselves, a near capacity crowd in the large Oxford Road facility, who made it an entertaining experience by their accommodating and understanding responses despite some technical flaws.

They made a party out of the whole affair, even when at times the offerings were lacking the verve and energy to which they have been so accustomed.

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