Named after two different political figures, Nkrumah Manley Thomas eventually copped the name Jah Thomas as he entered the Kingston music rat race, at once announcing his political and religious sympathies to listeners. Being born in ’55 found Thomas coming to the recording industry a bit late in the ‘70s, but on the strength of his work on the mic and behind the boards he quickly became an integral part of the ever shifting reggae scene on the island. Not too removed from the other deejays ripping up Studio One styled versions, Jah Thomas was able to single himself out solely through his consistent tone and pleasant cadence.

I think that the “Satta” rhythm is probably the most recycled JA backing track in music’s history. But coming in a close second is Horace Andy’s “Skylarking.” And if for nothing else, Stop Yu Loafing is an inviting listen as a result of beginning with the title track that borrows the rhythm from that Horace Andy effort. Of course, that one track doesn’t make the album a success, but the spate of properly selected rhythms, set down at Channel One, is able to create a non stop reggae party for a half an hour. So, if you’re not prepared for such sparse, celebratory toasting, please exit to the left.

Engineered by Ernest Hoo Kim with a band featuring the inimitable Sly and Robbie along with Sticky and Ansel Collins, Jah Thomas couldn’t have hope for a stronger, more experienced group of players behind him. And while the disc doesn’t do too much that other singers, deejays and toasters had accomplished by ’78, the competence and constant delivery of tunes sets Stop Yu Loafing apart from it’s cohort of albums. What’s interesting, though, is that considering the late date that this deejay set was released, there aren’t, for the most part, the same kind of secular concerns discussed herein as on other discs of this vintage. Instead, the political and spiritual life of JA residents gets a going over courtesy of Jah Thomas.

In a brief regression, “Send Me the Pillow” gets into some interpersonal stuffs. But in the hands of such an adept performer, the track doesn’t end up being some X-rated, proto-dancehall workout. Jah Thomas talks about dreams and how sugar and spice are so nice - true. There might be better love songs out there, but the concept of asking for a good dream from a lover seems pretty entertaining.

Stop Yu Loafing works over a cursory listen and even upon countless revisits. That doesn’t mean that this disc is the high water mark in the genre, but it’s more competent that a great deal of other second tier deejay workouts. And again, the fact that Jah Thomas doesn’t devolve into some sort of sex crazed, endlessly partying performer helps matters. It’s odd that this disc hasn’t seen more exposure – and really, the fact that these tracks are available as straight dubs is kinda surprising. The disc deserves its due deference – and know you know.