Released in 1979 on Clocktower Records, Pure Ranking captures Horace Andy—one of Jamaica’s most distinctive voices—at a pivotal moment in his career. Andy, nicknamed Sleepy for his ethereal falsetto, was already known for Studio One classics like Skylarking (1972) and his haunting cut of Ain’t No Sunshine. With Pure Ranking, he carried his roots style into the late 1970s, a period defined by militant basslines, dub experimentation, and socially conscious lyrics.
Clocktower Records played a crucial role in the transatlantic circulation of reggae during this era. While the label operated outside Jamaica, it specialized in licensing and issuing heavyweight roots albums that catered to the growing sound system culture in North America, the UK, and Canada. For overseas reggae fans in the late 1970s, pressings like Pure Ranking offered access to the Jamaican soundscape at a time when original island issues were hard to find.
Musically, Pure Ranking is steeped in the roots reggae tradition, featuring the one-drop rhythms and dub-ready arrangements that made it a favorite among selectors and collectors. Tracks like the title cut Pure Ranking stand out for their meditative groove and Andy’s unmistakable falsetto, which lent an almost spiritual quality to the militant edge of late-’70s roots.
For collectors today, this LP is prized not only for its musical depth but also for its role in reggae’s global spread—representing how independent labels in New York helped bring Kingston’s roots sound to international audiences at the height of the genre’s cultural influence.
