The Abyssinians: Satta Massagana

This 1993 release, with a quartet of extra tracks, of the 1976 roots reggae classic is probably best known for the title track, which is one of the all-time great songs in the genre.  But this album is full of excellent tunes emphasizing the harmonies of the brothers Donald and Lynford Manning and Bernard Collins and such legendary musicians as the rhythm masters, drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare, along with "Horsemouth" Wallace, another great drummer, guitarists Mikey Chung and "Chinna" Smith. Chung's brother Geoffrey on keyboards and Tyrone Downie on that instrument, among others.

The combination of strong material, all of the pieces written by individual members of the trio except "Satta Massagana," which credits all of them, great playing and the singing of The Abyssinians make Satta Massagana an excellent album all the way through.  To this listener, there isn't a weak tune in the original ten tracks and the four additions to the original CD version, released on Heartbeat Records, are stellar, as well.

The CD was purchased when the edition first came out and it quickly became a favorite, even if The Abyssinians released just one follow-up record and then split up, though there was a reunion some two decades later, and they were not nearly as well-known broadly as Bob Marley and The Wailers, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Culture and other famous roots reggae names.  "Satta Massagana" has been covered countless times and "Declaration of Rights" has also been remade many times.

Donald Manning is quoted extensively in the liner notes about the group's early days and struggles, including bootlegged versions of recordings, losing out on financial rewards and other aspects that are all too familiar.  He did say, though that "everywhere we go people tell us that they never see any other group like we" and that "we are unique doing our thing."  Ruefully, he added, "if we were constant what would really have gone down" because "no one could stop us."  With Satta Massagana, there was nothing to stop The Abyssinians from making one of the all-time greatest of reggae records.