Negril (album)

Session and first release

Negril was recorded at the Harry J Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. It was originally released in Jamaica by Micron Music Ltd., whose co-owner was executive producer Michael Johnston, and in the UK by Klik Records. Paul Douglas, drummer on the Negril album, has mentioned that Gale and company recorded some material that did not make it onto the album. Gale was under contract with CTI Records, so the album could not identify him as the session leader. CTI's founder, Creed Taylor, obviously approved of Gale's participation because the cover lists him "courtesy of C.T.I." and publishing credit is listed on the label as "Creede (sic) Taylor Inc," The Micron release lists drummer Sparrow Martin as "session leader," but he was clearly just a session participant. Songwriting on the original release is miscredited to "Eric Gayle."

Subsequent re-releases

In 1992, a CD of Negril was released by the French company, France's Concert Records (aka Esoldun), founded by recording mogul Enzo Hamilton. The CD insert says, "Licensed from Bunny Lee by Enzo Hamilton." However, in 2008 Michael Johnston claimed that European releases of the album were unauthorized. In 2003 it was issued as a CD by Roving Spirits (Japan).

The album is now being sold as a CD on the House of Reggae label whose cover boldly indicates that the artists are "Peter Tosh & Friends," leading some to incorrectly assume that Tosh is the primary artist rather than one of the session musicians. Eric Gale is given much smaller billing on the cover. A 2008 article about the album in the Jamaica Gleaner, "Revisiting Eric Gale's Negril," which is based on an interview with Johnston, mentions only that Tosh played rhythm guitar on one track, I Shot the Sheriff, though rhythm guitar is audible on other tracks.

The album is also offered by Charly Records through major download and streaming providers. It is renamed Negril's Red Ground Funk, by "Negril," though the original release bore no such band name and Gale is given no credit.

Negril has no connection with a Brazilian band of that name, though that group's album is sometimes erroneously listed as additional work by the same artist.

Critical reception

A review on the reggae site Zinc Fence says of Negril that "listeners with tastes limited to heavy dub were never likely to find anything to tickle their palettes here, yet anyone looking for a mellow, superbly-played mid-1970s instrumental reggae album could do far worse than seek this out." Black Music (magazine) called Gale’s playing on Negril “sensitive, subtle, and graceful.” Author and music critic John Masouri calls the album “a delightful hybrid of reggae, nyahbinghi, soul, and jazz, with just a touch of calypso added for good measure.” Masouri notes that Peter Tosh’s “most telling contribution is the scything wah wah that underpins Gale’s lead guitar on I Shot the Sheriff." “Further traces of Tosh are less distinct,” Masouri observes.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Eric Gale; except where noted. Track order is for original LP release by Micron.

Side one

1. "Lighthouse" 6:05
2. "East Side, West Side" 4:53
3. "Honey Coral Rock" 3:45
4. "Negril" 3:52

Side two

1. "Red Ground Funk" 5:17
2. "Rasta" 5:30
3. "Negril Sea Sunset" 5:38
4. "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) 5:00

Personnel

As listed on original Micron LP release:

In an interview for a 2008 article in the Jamaica Gleaner, Micron owner Michael Johnston claims to have been the album's producer, though the original Micron release credits Eric Gale. Johnston may have been referring to his role as executive producer.

The Klik release has Tosh listed as playing lead and rhythm guitar. However, the cover of the original Micron release and its reprint both list Tosh as playing only rhythm guitar.