Stamina Riddim – Turbo Crew 1989

Turbo Crew’s 1989 Stamina cut lands from the rougher end of late-’80s dancehall, with a tight, straight-ahead rhythm that leaves plenty of room for the voices to do the talking. Buju Banton’s “Ruler” and Johnny P’s “Stamina” are the obvious anchors here, while Pliers gets a smoother turn with “Romance Queen” and Wickerman comes in sharper on “Badminded People”; Clement Irie, Craig Barnett, Henkel Irie, and the John Mouse/Vicious Hartical combination round out a nine-track set that keeps the energy moving without overcomplicating the formula. There’s also a full riddim instrumental tucked in at the end, which lets the production breathe on its own and underlines the spare, hard-edged feel of the session.