The partnership between engineer
Errol Thompson and producer
Joe Gibbs began in 1975, and over the next eight years
the Mighty Two unleashed some of the most celebrated music of the roots era. The term "producer" is used loosely in Jamaica, as the money man behind any recording session is automatically granted that title. In most cases, it's the engineers who actually produce, while the so-called producers finance the records. But it's a bit more complicated than that, because most producers know what they like, and it's up to the engineer to ensure that it's captured on tape. Thus, there's no more important relationship than that between engineer and producer, and few more feted than
the Mighty Two. Neither man was a studio novice when
the Mighty Two joined forces.
Gibbs, a former electronic engineer, produced his first single, and hit, in 1968 --
Roy Shirley's "Hold Them" -- with many more to follow. That same year,
Thompson engineered his first recording, and hit,
Max Romeo's "Wet Dream," at Studio One.
Personality clashes with
Sylvan Morris led
Thompson to leave Studio One for Randy's studio, run by the
Chin family, and it was there that the engineer initially started working with
Gibbs. The partnership came into its own, however, only after
Gibbs sold his first studio (to
Bunny Lee), opened a new 16-track one at Retirement Crescent, and promptly brought
Thompson in to run it. Uniquely,
Gibbs now chose to no longer credit just himself on disc; instead, all the pair's releases were credited to
the Mighty Two. And the records flooded from the studio: marvelous music from
Jacob Miller,
Sylford Walker,
Culture,
Gregory Isaacs,
Junior Byles,
Junior Delgado,
the Mighty Diamonds, Cornel Campbell,
Earl 16, and arguably best of all,
Dennis Brown.
Brown recorded three crucial albums for
the Two,
Visions,
Words of Wisdom, and
Joseph's Coat of Many Colours;
Culture unleashed the seminal
Two Sevens Clash; and
Prince Far I the mighty
Under Heavy Manners.
Far I was among a clutch of heavy-hitting toasters
the Two oversaw; others include
Ranking Joe,
Clint Eastwood, and
Jah Thomas.
Trinity cut
Three Piece Suit for the pair, with
the Two providing their own sharp riposte via
Althea & Donna's U.K. chart-topper "Uptown Top Ranking."
These releases, however, barely scratched the surface, for beyond the cultural classics was a stream of strong romantic hits from the likes of
Wayne Wade,
Marcia Aitken, and
Ruddy Thomas, as well as scintillating instrumentals from
the Two's studio band,
the Professionals, not to mention
Thompson's myriad inspired dubs. This flood of phenomenal music continued in the new decade, with more hits coming from
Dennis Brown,
Don Carlos,
Barrington Levy,
Cornell Campbell,
Freddie McGregor,
Barry Brown, and -- arriving from out of left field --
Eek-A-Mouse. To the regret of reggae fans worldwide, a young
J.C. Lodge inadvertently brought this gilded era to an end;
Gibbs was chased virtually into bankruptcy over underpaid royalties for her cover of
Charley Pride's "Someone Love You Honey." The producer subsequently relocated to Miami, the partnership split, and
the Mighty Two, responsible for so many roots masterpieces, were no more.
–
Jo-Ann Greene, Rovi