Appointment with His Majesty explained

Appointment With His Majesty
Type:	studio
Artist:	Burning Spear
Cover:	Majesty_500x500.jpg
Released:	1997
Recorded:	1997
Genre:	Reggae
Length:	57:54
Label:	Heartbeat Records^[1]
Producer:	Burning Music Production
Prev Title:	Living Dub Vol. 3
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	Living Dub Vol. 4
Next Year:	1999

Appointment With His Majesty is a studio album by the Jamaican reggae singer Burning Spear.^{[2] [3]} It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 40th Grammy Awards, in 1998.

The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboards Reggae Albums chart.^[4]

Production

The title track is thought to be a polemic about the rise of dancehall music.^[5] "Play Jerry" is a tribute to Jerry Garcia.^[6]

Critical reception

The Washington Post wrote that "the reggae ... is typically swirling and hypnotic, but this is first and foremost message music."^[7] The Boston Globe thought that "the formula is simple: mesmerizing bass lines, snappy horns and Spear's own time-worn voice, reflecting conscious themes and Pan-African concerns."^[8] Stereo Review concluded that Spear "remains a quietly persuasive singer with often overlooked knacks for melody and topical bite; 'Commercial Development' and 'Don't Sell Out' strike back at the industrialization of both Jamaica and reggae."^[9]

Track listing

• All songs written and arranged by Winston Rodney.

1. "The Future (Clean It Up)" – 4:47
2. "Appointment With His Majesty" – 4:20
3. "Play Jerry" – 4:39
4. "Reggae Physician" – 4:25
5. "Glory Be to Jah" – 5:04
6. "Don't Sell Out" – 4:33
7. "Come in Peace" – 4:23
8. "African Jamaican" – 5:02
9. "My Island" – 4:54
10. "Commercial Development" – 5:21
11. "Music" – 4:54
12. "Loving You" – 4:57

Credits

• Published by Burning Spear Publishing, ASCAP.
• Executive producer – Sonia Rodney
• Recorded at Grove Recording Studio, Ocho Rios, St. Ann's.
• Edited by Barry O'Hare
• Mixed by Barry O'Hare and Winston Rodney.
• Assistant engineer – Bobby Hawthorne
• Project Coordinator for Heartbeat - Garret Vandermolen
• Sequencing - Chris Wilson
• Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital Recording, Southborough, MA.
• Photography by Dana Siles
• Design by Jean-Pierre LeGuillou

Musicians

• Winston Rodney - vocals, congas, percussion, background vocals
• Nelson Miller - drums
• James Smith - trumpet
• Lenval Jarrett - rhythm guitar
• Num H.S. Amun’Tehu - percussion, background vocals
• Steven Stewart - keyboards
• Rupert Bent - lead guitar
• Ronald "Nambo" Robinson - trombone
• Howard Messam - saxophone
• Barry O'Hare - keyboard
• Carol "Passion" Nelson - background vocals
• Edna Rodney - background vocals
• Rachell Bradshaw - background vocals
• Yvonne Patrick - background vocals
• Sharon Gordon - background vocals

Additional Musicians

• Tony Williams - drums
• Trevor McKenzie - bass
• Collin Elliot - bass
• Robbie Lyn - keyboard, background vocals
• Ian "Beezy" Coleman - rhythm, lead guitar ("Play Jerry")
• Junior "Chico" Chin - trumpet ("Play Jerry")
• Uziah "Sticky" Thompson - percussion ("Play Jerry")
• Tony Green - saxophone ("Play Jerry")

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin. Larkin. May 27, 2011. Omnibus Press. Google Books.
2. Web site: Burning Spear Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
3. Web site: Contemporary World Musicians. Clifford. Thompson. October 7, 2020. Routledge. Google Books.
4. Web site: Burning Spear. Billboard.
5. Web site: Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Jamaican Music. Anand. Prahlad. November 9, 2001. Univ. Press of Mississippi. Google Books.
6. Nightlife . New York . Sep 22, 1997 . 30 . 36 . 119.
7. Web site: BURNING SPEAR . The Washington Post . 9 November 2021.
8. News: Cawley . Jimmy . BURNING SPEAR APPOINTMENT WITH HIS MAJESTY . The Boston Globe . 11 Sep 1997 . Calendar . 35.
9. Milano . Brett . Appointment with His Majesty . Stereo Review . Jan 1998 . 63 . 1 . 94.