Marcia Griffiths Shining Time CD

Personnel: Marcia Griffiths (background vocals); Marcia Griffiths (vocals); Hopeton Lindo (vocals, background vocals); Cutty Ranks, Annette Brissett, Shaggy, Beres Hammond (vocals); Dwight Pinkney, Winston Bo Pee Bowen, Robert "Billy" Johnson (guitar); Robert Lyn (harmonica, keyboards); Jon Williams (keyboards); Donald Dennis, Michael Fletcher (bass guitar); Kirk Bennett (drums, percussion); Fluxy, George Miller , Lowell Dunbar, Sly Dunbar (drums); Sticky Thompson (percussion); Chevelle Franklyn, Althea Layne Hamilton, Hugh Beresford Hammond, Connie Campbell, Melanie Lynch, Peter "Mann" Gayle, Maria Smith, Michelle Gordon, Nadine Sutherland, Pam Hall, Tony Gold, Cherine Anderson, Brian Gold (background vocals); Paul "Wrong Move" Crossdale (guitar, keyboards); Dean Fraser (saxophone).
Audio Mixers: Jason Sterling; Lynford "Fatta" Marshall; Anthony Graham; Solgie Hamilton; Steven Stanley; Syl Gordon.
Liner Note Author: Roger Steffens.
Recording information: AB Recording Studio; Almond Production; Anchor Recording Studio; Big Yard Studio, Jamaica; Cell Block Recording Studio; Greystone Studio; Itek Recording Studio; Jasfer Recording Studio; Sound Mixers Recording Studio; Tuff Gong Studio.
Arranger: Cherine Anderson.
For legendary reggae singer Marcia Griffiths, this 2005 album constituted a look back on a career that had spanned over 40 years -- a career during which she had served as a backup singer for reggae music's most legendary figures as well as achieving significant success as a solo artist and (with Bob Andy) as half of a popular vocal duo. But Shining Time isn't a compilation of vintage Marcia Griffiths recordings -- instead, it's a collection of new songs, some of which look back in time explicitly either in theme ("Back in the Days," "Shining Time") or by implication (her cover version of Bob Marley's "Crazy Baldhead," for example). The rhythms are provided by a variety of producers and mostly hark back to the glory days of roots reggae (note, for example, how "Back in the Days" makes brilliant use of the "Tune In" rhythm), but the album's sound has a crisp and modern sheen throughout. Several A-list guest vocalists join her for duets -- they include the bouncy "Harmony" (featuring Shaggy) and the lovely "Live Life to the Fullest" (featuring Hopeton Lindo, who also produces several tracks). There are a couple of clunkers, most notably the unfortunately album-opening "My Heartbeat," which sounds wan and regretful rather than warm and romantic, but overall this album is a triumph. ~ Rick Anderson