Reissue of the superb album by Vivian Weathers, for Black Story Campaign 2023. Released in 1978 on Virgin Records spin-off reggae label – Front Line, sadly the only album made by this gifted singer-songwriter, who played bass on Linton Kwesi Johnson’s albums. Remastered at Abbey Road and featuring enhanced artwork and period photos, as well as a bonus 12″ mix of single ‘Hip Hug’. Long out of print on vinyl! “Vivian was a talented singer-songwriter who never realised his full potential. Leroy Smart’s popular ‘Pride and Ambition’ was written by Vivian, but he was not even credited on the record. When I decided to make reggae recordings of my poetry, it was Vivian who showed me how to go about it. He played bass on my first three albums, Dread Beat An Blood, Forces of Victory and Bass Culture. I introduced him to Virgin Records and he recorded his first album, Bad Weathers, which was released in 1978. When I moved to Island Records, I also secured a deal for him to record an album with them. Two singles were released by Island but the album, which I had helped to produce, was never put out. Vivian never got the break he deserved in the music business.” – Linton Kwesi Johnson
