Today’s Oldies Sunday selection comes from the duo of Jamaican Icons Hopeton Lewis and U-Roy. We get to hear the classic, “Tom Drunk“! Produced by Duke Reid and featuring Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, this was released in 1971 through the Treasure Isle Label. The track features the duo calling out a lying and cheating person who thinks their ways will always be beneficial to them. They also warn that there are consequences for those actions, and they throw in a few proverbs throughout like “Tom drunk, but Tom nuh fool“, and “Play fool to catch wise“. The song turned out to be a hit for the Artists, and its wicked production becomes infectious after every listen. The song was featured on U Roy’s 1978 album, “Jah Son Of Africa“.
Over the years, “Tom Drunk” has been covered by The Specials, its Instrumental has been featured on fellow legendary Artist Stranger Cole’s “Crying Every Night” track, and it has been sampled by Hip Hop Artists Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, Mos Def, and Mr. Man on the classic, “Fortified Live“. U-Roy is still active in the music as he continues to perform his classics worldwide, while Hopeton Lewis made more hits until his passing in September 2014.
THANK YOU Hopeton Lewis & U-Roy for this classic!
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Continue reading “OLDIES SUNDAY: Hopeton Lewis & U-Roy – Tom Drunk (1971)”
