Black Uhuru, Grace Jones, Steel Pulse make Rolling Stone mag’s 200 best songs of the 80s list
Veteran reggae singer Mykal Rose recalls the 1981 song Youth of Eglinton which he recorded with the group Black Uhuru. It came about as a result of a personal loss.
“I found the strength to compose a song that celebrates life – a tribute to the soul whose invitation echoes in every chord. This was based on an invitation to a party I was unable to attend in which a friend lost their life,” Rose shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer‘s Splash on Thursday.
Youth of Eglinton was yesterday ranked #89 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 200 Best Songs of the 1980s list.
Rose said the song was an outlet for people who had lost loved ones.
“Well, there were many killings going on in England and Birmingham around that time, and the song was an outlet for many. It is a song that many could relate to,” said Rose.
Asked how he felt about this accolade by the respected American music magazine, Rose said: “The legacy of my dedicated efforts will endure eternally, a testament to the enduring impact that transcends the sight of those who may not recognise the magnitude of my contributions.”
Youth of Eglinton is included on Black Uhuru’s 1981 album Red, released by Mango/Island/Warner Records. It was produced by Sly and Robbie.
Red was ranked #3 among the top 10 Albums of the Year for 1981 by NME magazine.
Also making the Rolling Stone magazine list is the song Chant a Psalm (#178) by British reggae band Steel Pulse. The song, which is included on the group’s True Democracy album, was released in 1982.
True Democracy was a song of hope at a time of personal and political conflict for the UK reggae stalwarts from Birmingham.
Jamaican singer, model and actress Grace Jones is featured on the Rolling Stone magazine list at #19 with her massive club hit Nipple to the Bottle.
Nipple to the Bottle was the lead singer from Jones’ sixth studio album Living My Life and it was co-written by Sly and Robbie, with Island Records boss’S Chris Blackwell listed as producer.
The song was performed by Grace Jones in Julien Temple’s 1983 film It’s All True, made for BBC Arena series.
Nipple to the Bottle reached #17 on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart, #2 on the Dance Club Songs chart, and it made the Top 10 in New Zealand, Belgium and in the Netherlands.
Some of the other popular songs that made the list include My Prerogative by Bobby Brown (#197), the club banger Lookout Weekend by Debbie Deb (#193), Rock Me Amadeus by Falco (#190), Faith by George Michael (#79), Smooth Operator by Sade (#15), Nasty by Janet Jackson (#11), How Will I Know by Whitney Houston (#6), and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (#4).
Kiss by Prince ranks at #1.
