Junior Byles' friends and musical companions were increasingly worried by the star's behavior as 1975 dawned, his moodiness was sliding into bouts of depression, and his erratic behavior was alienating musicians and producers alike. Their concerns were well founded, because before the year was out Byles suffered a breakdown and was institutionalized. Amazingly though, not a hint of this emotional turmoil can be heard on the joyous Jordan, Byles' second album, released in 1976, but recorded earlier the previous year. On the vivacious Lorna Banana he laughs like a man without a care in the world, cheerily lifting the spirits of a heartbroken friend. With Jah and Selassie still by his side, Byles easily tosses off life's heavy load on the upbeat Mystic Revelation and the envy of the grudging on the title track, while even the sufferer's song I Ain't Got It is filled with hope for the future. On a medley of two recuts of his earlier hits, Byles takes absolute delight in whipping the wicked (Beat Down Babylon), and replaces the wistfulness of Curly Locks, with the conviction that his girl chose correctly. Producer Pete Weston should have quit while ahead though, for Byles' enthusiastic mood just doesn't suit A Place Called Africa. A smarter move was asking the singer to record a couple of covers, with his swaggering take on the Folkes Brothers Oh Carolina resulting in a major Jamaican hit. Byles version of the Temptations' Ain't Too Proud to Beg, on which the singer doesn't so much beg as boast, proved equally popular. And making it a hat trick of hits is Burrie Boy (aka Bury-O-Boy), produced by Lloyd Campbell, and an emotive plea to end the island's violence.

1		A Place Called Africa
2		Medley: Beat Down Babylon/Curly Locks
3		Mystic Revelation
4		Jordan
5		Burrie Boy
6		Lorna Banana
7		I Ain't Got It
8		Oh Carolina
9		Ain't Too Proud to Beg

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