Smile Riddim – Studio One 1968-200x

Leaning on a late-’60s Studio One pattern that’s been carried forward and recut into the 2000s, this one centres on the song rather than any flashy revamp. The lineup is a tidy cross-section of roots voices and later-generation singers: Willie Williams on “Jah Righteous Plan, ” Glen Washington on “Wages Of Sin, ” Rod Taylor on “Want Your Loving, ” with Alpheus, The Blackstones, The Jays and The Silvertones all circling the same melody in their own style. It’s the kind of riddim that sits in Studio One’s old-school pocket, with a firm one-drop feel, clipped guitar, and a bassline that does most of the talking while the vocals stay close and unhurried. The title cut, “Smile, ” is the anchor, but the whole set hangs on that steady, low-slung groove and the plainspoken vocal approach.