Like a Bolt

Released in 1973, Like a Bolt gathered recordings the great Jamaican singer John Holt had made for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label over the previous five years. At the time it received a very limited UK release on vinyl and then a brief issue on CD in the 90s. This fine reissue gathers the original album plus ten more tunes Holt cut for Reid across that time. There are also extensive sleeve notes, all adding up to a definitive reissue of an album that has been very hard (and pricey) to obtain for far too long.

Holt is a gifted singer who can shift from crooning love songs (his 1000 Volts of Holt LP, cut in the UK, was a huge crossover success on Trojan in 1973) to singing tough roots anthems – his later ‘Police in Helicopter’ is one of the great reggae protest songs. Like a Bolt is largely Holt as a crooner with ‘I See Your Face’ and ‘Tonight’ being tunes that likely helped keep the island's birth rate high. Among the extra tracks is a 12” mix of ‘Ali Baba’, a lovely slice of cod-Eastern mysticism that benefits from a dub rhythm.