Don’t Do Nothing Wrong Riddim – I & I Records

With only two cuts on the board, Don’t Do Nothing Wrong Riddim keeps the focus tight on Barry Brown and Lone Ranger, which is exactly why it works like a little time capsule from mid-’80s reggae. Barry Brown’s title tune has that stern, rootsy warning-song feel he handled so well, while Lone Ranger’s “Travelling Man” brings a lighter, more talkative edge that gives the riddim some movement. I and I Records produced it in 1986, right in that period when reggae was shifting into a leaner sound but still carrying plenty of the old message and confidence. It’s a small set, but the pairing tells you a lot about where the music was at that moment.