Mighty Diamonds are a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. was formed in 1969 and remains together as of 2012. They are best known for their 1976 debut albumRight Time produced by Joseph Hoo Kim and the 1979 release Deeper Roots.
History
Formed in 1969 in the Trenchtown area of Kingston, the group comprises lead vocalist Donald "Tabby" Shaw, and harmony vocalists Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson. They had become friends at school in the mid-1960s, and were originally called The Limelight, adopting 'The Mighty Diamonds' after Shaw's mother started referring to them as "the diamonds". Their smooth harmonies and choreographed stage show were inspired by Motownvocal groups of the 1960s, with Shaw listing The Temptations, The Stylistics, The Impressions, and The Delfonics as influences as well as Jamaican rocksteady artists such as John Holt and Ken Boothe.
Their early recordings were produced by Pat Francis, Stranger Cole ("Girl You Are Too Young" (1970), "Oh No Baby"),Derrick Harriott ("Mash Up"), Bunny Lee ("Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks", "Carefree Girl"), Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Talk About It"), and Rupie Edwards, but it was in 1973 that they had their first hit single with the Francis-produced "Shame and Pride", recorded at the Dynamic Sounds studio. It was their mid-1970s work with producer Joseph Hoo Kim that gave them their real breakthrough. "Country Living" and "Hey Girl", were recorded and released by the Channel One label. "Right Time" followed, on Hoo Kim's Well Charge label, and cemented their status as one of the top Jamaican groups of the time.
Virgin Records signed them and the group's debut album, Right Time, was released in 1976, including most of their early Channel One hits. The album was an international success and for the follow-up, Virgin sent them to work with Allen Toussaint in New Orleans, with local musicians providing the backing. The resulting Ice on Fire album sold poorly, the production not appealing to reggae fans, and the album later described as "an attempt by New Orleans soul musicians to play reggae".
Back in Jamaica, they continued to record for Channel One, with the Stand Up to Your Judgment album released in 1978, and continued to produce a string of hit singles. They also released records on their own 'Bad Gong' label. The group'sDeeper Roots, released in 1979, was their next big album success, again released by Virgin, on its Front Line label.
In the early 1980s they recorded with producer Gussie Clarke, largely using old Studio One tracks as the basis for their recordings, and dubplates of these sessions became popular on sound systems in Jamaica, New York, and London, particularly "Pass the Kouchie", recorded on the "Full Up" riddim.Their work with Clarke produced the 1981 albumChanges.
"Pass the Koutchie", written by Ferguson and Simpson, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1982 album Changes) and again when it was covered by Musical Youth with altered lyric to remove the drug references, and released as "Pass the Dutchie".
Their performance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1982 was released on an album later that year, paired with the performance from Mutabaruka.
The group continued to release albums regularly, adapting successfully to the prevailing digital rhythms of the 1980s and beyond. Tabby, Bunny and Judge have produced over forty albums in their long career.
Discography
Studio albums
Right Time (1976), Well Charge/Virgin - also issued under the title When The Right Time Come (I Need A Roof)
Ice On Fire (1977), Virgin
Planet Mars Dub (1978), Front Line - The Icebreakers and the Diamonds, dub version of Planet Earth
Stand Up To Your Judgment (1978), Channel One
Tell Me What's Wrong (1978), Hit Bound
Planet Earth (1978), Virgin
Deeper Roots (1979), Front Line
Deeper Roots Dub (1979)
Changes (1981), Music Works
Dubwise (1981), Music Works - six dub versions from Changes and four other dubs
Reggae Street (1981), Shanachie
The Roots Is There (1982), Music Works/Shanachie
Indestructible (1982), Alligator
Heads Of Government (1982), Jah Guidance
Leaders Of Black Countrys (Showcase Album) (1983), Mobiliser
Backstage (1983), Music Works
Kouchie Vibes (1984), Burning Sounds
Pass The Kouchie (1985), Bad Gong - singles issued on Bad Gong records in the early eighties plus new material
Struggling (1985), Live & Learn
If You Looking For Trouble (1986), Live & Learn
The Real Enemy (1987), Greensleeves
Never Get Weary (1988), Live & Learn
Get Ready (1988), Rohit International/Greensleeves
Jam Session (1990), Live & Learn
Tour The World (1991) - contains five new songs and five old songs
Patience (1991), Tassa
The Moment Of Truth (1992), Mango
Bust Out (1993), Greensleeves/VP
Speak The Truth (1994), RAS
Thugs In The Streets (2006), Nocturne
Inna De Yard (2008), Makasound - acoustic versions of classic songs performed with nyabinghi drums
Collaborations and split albums
Vital Dub Strictly Rockers (aka: Vital Dub – Well Charged) (1976) - includes five dub versions from the Right Time album
Trinity Meet The Mighty Diamonds (1979), Gorgon
Disco Showcase (1979), Gussie Roots Sounds - Leroy Smart feat. The Mighty Diamonds
Right Time Rockers (The Lost Album) (1998) - recorded in 1976, U-Roy deejaying on the riddims from the Right Timealbum
Compilations
Vital Selection (1981), Virgin - 1976-1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material
Ebony And Ivory (1983), Woorell - Japanese compilation of Augustus Clark productions
Diamonds Are Forever (1984) - Japan exclusive
Ready For The World (1989) - Japan exclusive
Go Seek Your Rights (1990), Front Line - 1976-1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material
Mighty Diamonds Meet Don Carlos & Gold at Channel One Studios (1993), Channel One - includes the complete Right Time album
Paint It Red (1993), RAS - compilation of singles from 1985-1990, overdubbed with new instruments
Works (1994), JVC/Victor - 1981-1988 Augustus Clarke material
From The Foundation (1996), Gone Clear - The Mighty Diamonds & The Tamlins, 1978-1981 Augustus Clarke material
Heads Of Government (1996), Germain - Donovan Germain-produced material, different to the 1983 album
Maximum Replay (1997) - 1981-1988 Augustus Clarke material
The Best Of The Mighty Diamonds: 20 Hits (1997) - contains two full albums: Stand Up To Your Judgment and Tell Me What's Wrong
RAS Portrait (1997), RAS - recordings from 1993-1994
Right Time Come (1998) - includes the complete Right Time album and nine songs from 1978
Indestructible: Anthology Volume 1 (1999)
Natural Natty Reggae (2000), Simon - compilation of singles produced by Bunny Diamonds between 1976 and 1997
The Classics Recordings Of Jamaica's Finest Vocal Trio (2000), Music Club
Gold Collection (2000), Grayland
Everlasting: 30th Anniversary (2000), D-3
Rise Up (2001), Jet Star
Unconquerable (2003), Reggae Road
Revolution (2003), NYC Music
The Best Of The Mighty Diamonds (2004), Seymour - features two albums: Pass The Kouchie and Tour The World
Back2Back: Tamlins & Mighty Diamonds (2007)
Reggae Legends (2008), VP - 4-CD boxset that contains the four albums issued on Greensleeves: The Real Enemy, Get Ready, Live In Europe and Bust Out
Kings Of Reggae (2009), Nocturne - material issued on RAS records in 1993-1994
Leaders of Black Countries (2011), Kingston Sounds
Live albums
Live In Tokyo (1985)
Live In Europe (1989)
Live At Reggae Sunsplash (1992), Genes - recorded in August 1982, eight songs from Mighty Diamonds and seven songs from Mutabaruka
The Best Of Reggae Live (2001) - Frankie Paul & Mighty Diamonds
Live In Europe: Nice, France (2002) - recorded in 1997
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