Ram Dance Master – Harry J Records

Carl Meeks cuts straight to the heart of Ram Dance Master, and his title cut is the hook that pulls the whole Harry J set into focus. The 1985/86-era compilation sits in that sweet spot where dancehall was getting sharper and more vocal, with Carl’s delivery rubbing shoulders against Charlie Chaplin’s sly “Nice And Slow, ” Frankie Paul’s “One Wheely Wheely, ” and Little John’s “Lemon Fi Dem. ” Big J’s hand on the riddim keeps it tough but nimble, the kind of drum-and-bass pressure that leaves room for the deejays to work the crowd without crowding each other. You can hear the sound system logic in the run of cuts, especially when Michael Marsh’s “Tennament Yard” comes in and the whole thing feels like a dance in motion, with Ugliman’s “History” tacked on at the end.