Enter Into His Gates - Single

Having had less than satisfactory experiences working with Clancy Eccles and Rupie Edwards, in 1974 Johnny Clarke finally got his break through another artist's misfortune. Earl Zero originally voiced "Enter into His Gates with Praise," but producer Bunny Lee was less than thrilled, and thus Clarke, who'd provided backing vocals, was given the lead vocal go-ahead himself. The result was seismic, and one of the most incredible partnerships in reggae history was born. By the following year, Clarke had recorded so many songs (a slew of hits among them) that Lee had enough for two albums by the singer — Enter into His Gates with Praise and Put It On, both of which were released in 1975. Supporting the singer were the Aggrovators, whose phenomenal backings fired up the rockers era, with their cymbal-led rhythms giving Lee his "Striker" nickname. And to complete the studio triumvirate was King Tubby, who engineered and mixed both of Clarke's albums. In Britain, it was the most dread of the numbers that excited the lion's share of attention, but as Enter into His Gates makes clear, Clarke didn't work exclusively in the cultural realm; over half the set was given over to matters of the heart, an area where the singer equally excelled. Needless to say, the first four tracks are all cultural masterpieces, but sublime romantic covers like "Left with a Broken Heart," "If You Should Love Me," and "My Desire" are equally enticing for lovers. Clarke's emotive vocals, but clipped delivery, would eventually become de rigueur in the dancehalls in the following decade, but in his time they were a startling innovation. This set featured a trio of masters at work, and remains one of the most impressive debut albums in Jamaican history. Lee, Tubby, Clarke, and the Aggrovators — what more could anyone want? How about more? The CD reissue tosses in another handful of exquisite delights aimed straight at the romantic crowd.