Remastered from original tapes, first time on CD & Digital.

In late 1967, Junior Byles formed the vocal group, The Versatiles recording under the supervision of Lee “Scrach” Perry and Joe Gibbs, scoring the minor hit, “Children Get Ready.” During this same era, The Versatiles also worked with the producer, Niney The Observer, who would be instrumental later in Byles’ career in his affiliation with Nighthawk. When The Versatiles split up in 1970, Byles continued to record solo for Perry, scoring a minor hit, “What’s The World Coming To” released under the name King Chubby, Byles’ nickname. Between 1968 & 1974, Perry and Byles collaborated in the production of over 40 titles including all-time classics like “Curly Locks,” “Rasta No Pickpocket,” “Place Called Africa,” “Beat Down Babylon,” “Cutting Razor” and “Long Way.” Lee Perry considers Junior Byles one of the top vocalists he ever worked with, and has continued respect for Junior’s character, combining equal parts of fierce and defiant Rastafarian devotion with a personality described by his contemporaries as profoundly humble.

By the mid-’70s, Junior was a major star in Jamaica poised for international exposure, but he was acquiring a reputation for mental instability. Byles was in and out of sanitariums during the latter part of the decade, but still managed to make a few great recordings. One of which, “Heart & Soul” was cut with the biggest producer in Jamaica at the time, his friend, Joe Gibbs, and was a huge hit, but he recorded only a few tracks thereafter, unable to capitalize on the momentum of “Heart & Soul.” The Junior Byles Nighthawk session was planned with the assistance of long-time associate, Niney The Observer. His long history with Byles was most likely a plus in helping get the session arranged. Rasta No Pickpocket was released in 1986 and was his last album release, only a few single sides followed.

This new edition marks the CD/Digital debut of Rasta No Pickpocket. It has been remastered from the original tapes, includes new notes and previously unseen photos by producer Leroy Jodie Pierson and adds five bonus tracks, among them, two previously unissued Versions of “Press Along” and “Thanks And Praise,” plus “Bur Boy” from the 1983 Nighthawk compilation, Knotty Vision.

“I am a person who scorn and scoff at suffering—don’t like to see it. I personally desire to see righteousness cover the eart’ as the way it should be. So then, most of my writing is just based in that channel, you know—to see that these t-ings come to be a reality.”
 

—Junior Byles

CD / Digital Track List:

Disc 1:

1. Thanks And Praise
2. Rasta No Pickpocket
3. Press Along
4. I No Got It
5. Cally Weed
6. I Don’t Know

Bonus Tracks:

7. This Feeling*
8. Bur Boy
9. Weeping
10. Press Along Version*
11. Thanks And Praise Version*

* Previously unissued.

LP Track List:

Side 1:

1. Thanks And Praise
2. Rasta No Pickpocket
3. Press Along

Side 2:

1. I No Got It
2. Cally Weed
3. I Don’t Know