Lady Ann was in her mid-teens when she first picked up a mic and started toasting in the Jamaican sound systems. It was the late '70s, and for the first time, women were muscling into what had previously been a thoroughly male preserve. A few singles followed, but it wasn't until the early '80s that Lady Ann's easygoing party style really caught on, and her popularity rocketed. In response, producer Alvin Ranglin scooped her up and recorded her debut 1983 Vanity album. As a freshman effort, the best that could be said about the set is that it was an excellent learning experience. Only some of the excitement of her live performances trickles onto this disc, although the opening Sattap captures the ease with which she rides a riddim. On Crazy Boy, however, she finally hits her stride, fending off the unwanted advances of a particularly inept young man. What this Lady wants is a punctual irie Little Filly, for "how can a woman be happy with a miserable man" that can't understand that the best things in life are free. The love of her life is Tony, but as he's gone abroad, it's open season for Ann, who goes gunning for every other woman's man in the neighborhood. This kind of rustling is later condemned in A1 Class, where she pledges her troth to Tony yet again. But contradictions were part of the DJ game, and Ann gamely shoots down Bragging youthman on one number, while boasting up a storm elsewhere. Lord Oh Lord, it's no wonder men are left scratching their heads in confusion. But this Lady's no fool, she knows what she's worth, and it's a lot more than the $10 her boops is trying to pawn her off with. Only Chalice to Chalice suggests that Lady Ann isn't totally boy mad. As an opening salvo it was a fair challenge, but much better was to come later in the year, as Ann unleashed the smash Informer single and the seminal Joe Gibbs produced full-length of the same title. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, Rovi

1		Sattap
2		Vanity
3		Let Off
4		Chalice to Chalice
5		Crazy Boy
6		Little Filly
7		Tony Gone
8		A1 Class
9		Bragging
10		Lord Oh

	Like us on Facebook
	@SoundHound	Follow