Downpressor Man

Description

Downpressor Man is a four-track 45RPM 12-inch vinyl EP by the Nigerian-born, British based singer and songwriter Ben Okafor, independently released in the UK on Crimson Flame in 1986. All songs written by Ben Okafor except the title track which is a cover of a song written by Peter Tosh.

Hold on a minute, this EP was released in 1986, isn’t this a bit late for a review? Yes, well, you see it’s been re-released hasn’t it, by Ben’s current label, the cuddly chaps at Plankton Records. The title track is a cover of a Peter Tosh song and this version can also be found on Ben’s ‘Nkiru’ album. When I was a kid we used to sing «Oh Sinner Man» from Youth Praise in Sunday School and this is basically the same song with a cool reggae groove and a deep sweeping bass undercurrent. The other three tracks are pretty representative of Ben’s work from this period, a light pop tinged reggae which is curiously infectious. The whole EP clocks in at well over twenty minutes, which makes it good value in my book, so if you’re old-fashioned enough to still own a record player this would be a good buy. If not, pick up his new album ‘Generation‘ – 10 and a half quid on CD from the same address. [Andy Long, Cross Rhythms, August 1993]

12-inch vinyl EP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Downpressor Man”
A2. “20th Century Wailing”

Side Two
B1. “Jah Love”
B2. “Pray Children”