1000 Volts of Holt

by John Holt

Overview

One really doesn't know what to make of a scene whose greatest composers often had their biggest hits covering other peoples' songs. But that was the state of the reggae scene in the first half of the '70s. Island-fying pop hits has a long tradition in Jamaica, dating to the music industry's earliest days, but in the '70s Britain was, if anything, even keener than Jamaica itself on the concept. John Holt, for one, was happy to give the people what they wanted, and while his own compositions still hit, it was the covers that were the smashes. Which explains 1974's Harry Mudie produced Time Is the Master, an album dedicated entirely to covers. The set so impressed Trojan that the label immediately signed Holt and paired him with pop producer Tony Ashfield, with the resultant 1000 Volts of Holt hitting the shops before the year was out. This reissue further fluffs up the set by interspersing six bonus numbers among the original tracks, five of which are inexplicably drawn from 1000 Volts' equally popular follow-up 2000 Volts of Holt. The lavish backings for the album were all recorded at Dynamic Studio in Jamaica, the gentle reggae arrangements illuminated by elegant keyboards and exquisite guitar work, and it was in that unadulterated form that Islanders received the album. Ashfield worked his magic for British fans, lacing the numbers with lush, symphonic overdubs that add further refinement to an already sparkling set. 1000 Volts promptly spawned Holt's sole British hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night," which soared to number six in the U.K. charts that winter. It's a strong number, but the set contained even better ones, including a magnificent take on "Mr. Bojangles," an inspired version of "I'd Love You to Want Me," a glorious "You Baby," and a superb "Too Much Love." The bonus tracks pull much of the best from 2000 Volts as well, but rather than buy this reissue, one would do better to get both complete sets. The superior offerings are the ones that twin the original U.K. and Jamaican sets, allowing listeners to experience the preferred styles from both sides of the Atlantic. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2022
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538691474

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Holt   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals
The Paragons   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Leroy Sibbles   Primary Artist
Joya Landis   Primary Artist
Brian Rogers   Conductor
Joanna Williams   Vocals (Background)
Rosetta Highwater   Vocals (Background)
Doris Troy   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Susan Jacks   Composer
Fats Washington   Composer
Brian Rogers   Arranger
Keith Bonsoir   Producer
Howard Barrett   Composer
Tony Ashfield   Producer,Rhythm Production,Executive Producer,Mixing Supervision
Brian Atkinson   Composer
Shane Sheppard   Composer
Holt Evans   Composer
Elio Cesari   Composer
Roger Argente   Composer
David Ashworth Gates   Composer
Norman Gimble   Composer
Royer   Composer
Ed Waller   Composer
James Arthur Griffin   Composer
John Holt   Composer,Engineer
Trevor Newman   Mixing Supervision
Roland Kent LaVoie   Composer
James A. Griffin   Composer
Vinicius de Moraes   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Robb Royer   Composer
Lou Stallman   Composer
Peter Coleman   Engineer
Nicky Ryan   Engineer
Norman Newell   Composer,Translation
Michael Masser   Composer
Brook Benton   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Barry Gibb   Composer
William Robinson   Composer
Phil Spector   Composer
Tony Renis   Composer
Hal David   Composer
The Isley Brothers   Composer
Kris Kristofferson   Composer
Chris Jasper   Composer
Antonio Carlos Jobim   Composer
James Griffin   Composer
Barry Mann   Composer
Ferdinand Washington   Composer
Terry Jacks   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Kent LaVoie   Composer
Billy Joel   Composer
Joseph Broussard   Composer
Clyde Otis   Composer
Larry Williams   Composer
Barbara Acklin   Composer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Fred Foster   Composer
Belford Hendricks   Composer
Joe Shapiro   Composer
Carlton Lee   Engineer
David Gates   Composer
Mac Davis   Composer
Don Robey   Composer
Gene Thomas   Composer
Ernie Isley   Composer
James Sheppard   Composer
Eugene Record   Composer
Tyrone Evans   Composer
Charles Fox   Composer
Lobo   Composer
Ron Miller   Composer
Robin Gibb   Composer
Jerry Jeff Walker   Composer
Maurice Gibb   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Alberto Testa   Composer
Norman Gimbel   Composer,Translation
G. Thomas   Composer