Holding On To My Girlfriend Riddim – Greensleeves Records

Holding On To My Girlfriend Riddim sits right in that early-’80s sweet spot where reggae was getting leaner and tougher, with the kind of crisp, rolling backbeat that still leaves room for melody and wordplay. Greensleeves put together a compact three-cut set here, and the title tune from Linval Thompson is the anchor, while Barrington Levy’s “This Little Boy” brings a sharper youthful edge and Nicodemus’ “Wife And Sweetheart” adds a sly, conversational turn to the sides. The riddim is linked to Linval Thompson and the Roots Radics, and sources around the catalogue note that the foundation later turned up in dub context as well, which makes sense given how sturdy and reusable the groove feels. It’s a small 1981 package, but the tracklist is clean: Barrington Levy, Linval Thompson, and Nicodemus, three voices over one deep cut of a rhythm.