One, Two gets another run
One, Two, Sister Nancy’s groundbreaking 1982 album, will be re-released on April 12 by VPAL Music.
That company, in a statement, said it is the 10-song set’s “first-ever UK press”, having been previously released only in Jamaica.
The album, which contains the resilient single Bam Bam, is being released on Record Store Day, which is held twice a year — April 12 and November 28 — to acknowledge the impact of independent record stores.
One, Two was produced by Winston Riley for Techniques Records, one of the leading figures in Jamaican music during the 1980s. It marked the rise of the female deejay — a rarity 43 years ago — and set the pace for acts like Lady G, Sister Charmaine, Shelly Thunder, and Lady Saw.
“The re-issue of One, Two vinyl is a celebration of Sister Nancy’s enduring legacy, the significance of Jamaican music, and the timeless appeal of this classic reggae album,” said Donovan Williams of VPAL Music.
Sister Nancy, now based in New Jersey, is the younger sister of Brigadier Jerry, one of the most influential deejays in dancehall music. She got her start on sound systems before starting her recording career with Riley, a former member of The Techniques, a successful harmony trio from the rocksteady era.
During the 1980s Riley also help launch the careers of Tenor Saw, Flourgon, Red Dragon, and Sanchez. He produced
Boops, the 1985 song that was Super Cat’s first #1.
Bam Bam’s remarkable resurgence began in 1998, one year after Sister Nancy migrated to the United States. It was featured in the hit movie Belly, then in 2007 found an audience among skateboarders when it was used in Skate, a popular video game.
Since then Bam Bam has appeared in a Reebok television commercial, movies like The Interview and Ozark, the hit Netflix series.
The song has been sampled by Jay Z, Kanye West, and Lizzo.
— Howard Campbell