Beres Hammond is one of the most prolific Jamaican musicians, who has touched the world with his soothing melodies. In another article, on kareemsquest.com, Beres Hammond: The Master of Lovers Rock, we looked at his illustrious career, which has spanned several decades.
7. Sweet lies
Release date: 1996
Album: Love from a distance
Favourite line: “maybe in another place and in another time, and under different circumstances, you will find happiness, so i suggest, don’t take foolish chances.”
On this mid-tempo ballad, Hammond sounds like he has either been rejected or is placed in the ‘friend zone’ by his love interest, as he confesses “and even though I try to tell you, that I love you from the bottom of my heart, you had no place for me, it’s all vanity.” Not one to be wooed by sincere words, she leaves him for a flashy man, who is known to us as Jack the Mac.
Playing the antagonist, Jack drives a luxury car and whispers ‘Sweet Lies’ to the gullible female, who later regrets her actions when she is used by him. Kareemsquest.com likes how Hammond articulates this in the line, “now it gives me no pleasure to say, ‘I told you so’, it’s been hard to keep it low, knowing the things I know.”
He has also moved on from her, as he leaves her with the parting words, “maybe in another place and in another time, and under different circumstances, you will find happiness, so I suggest, don’t take foolish chances.”
6. No disturb sign
Release date: 1994
Album: In Control
Favourite line: “A man who don’t sweet treat his woman, is surely wasting a lotta time, she might not say it, but she needs tenderness in her life.”
Two years prior to the release of Sweet Lies, Hammond paints a vivid portrait of how challenging it is for a hard-working blue-collar man to find time to show his lover some affection. He speaks through the lens of the male subject matter, who is overwhelmed with guilt each time he has to leave his woman to go to work, as he laments, “I think I’m gonna have to call in sick now, can’t leave my woman like this.”
Even though he has to work hard to feed his family, kareemsquest.com likes the fact that he does see the importance of tending to the needs of his spouse. Subsequently, he conjures up a fantasy stating, “I hope we never get tired, And I never have to go to work, No one knocking on the door, disrespecting the no disturb sign.”
Hammond uses the vocals of his backup singers extensively, especially in the outro, where they provide an impeccable harmony.
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5. One step ahead
Release date: 1976
Album: Soul Reggae
Favourite line: “One day you won’t hear a sound,And there’ll be no one around, around”
Beres’ introduction to the world as a solo artiste is brought to us with his debut album Soul Reggae. And giving him a solid hit on the charts is the single One Step Ahead, which kareemsquest.com found out was recorded at Aquarius Studio in Half Way Tree. A 21-year-old Hammond, who is still young and impressionable, analyses how fickle life can be, as man’s fortune changes every day. He states this in the first two lines, “One step ahead and you’re up, One step behind and you’re down, you’re down.”
This song comes on the heels of major world crises like the Cold War, as tensions began to reignite between the US and Russia in the late 70’s. He uses an unorthodox bridge, by talking, instead of singing, to address these anomalies, saying, “When the world is full of nothing but wars and lies, And crimes and hatred, And modernisation becomes the mother of civilization, Nations turning against nations.”
In it, kareemsquest.com presumes he is also addressing his own national crisis, as political hostility was at a fever pitch in Jamaica during this period.
For us at kareemsquest.com, this song is his version of Sam Cooke’s 1964 hit, A Change is Gonna Come, as Hammond is both insightful and hopeful that mankind will make a turn for the better.
From a production standpoint, this album is near flawless, as the quality remains consistent on every track. The vocals are both commanding and soothing, and the musical instruments are arranged to perfection by Willie Lindo and Harold Butler. For us, Soul Reggae might be considered his magnum opus.
Video of the week – Ole time Jamaica
4. Double trouble
Release date: 1993
Album: Sweetness
Favourite line: “Should I tell her I had a confrontation with Robin Hood”
Kareemsquest.com feels like the maestro hits very close to home for many men with this one. Hammond, who is in a committed relationship, has just had an affair and is trying to think of an excuse to give his woman, as to why he is coming home late, as he confesses, “I can’t afford to wake her, With lipstick stains, I’ve got to tip toe.”
kareemsQuest.com believes this is perhaps Hammonds most potent display of storytelling, as he uses an ingenious style of soliloquy, where he is both the subject and the adviser.
It’s 2:45 in the morning, he is at an undisclosed location and he is making up some of the most outlandish excuses. “What will my story be? This one better be good, should I tell her I had a confrontation with Robin Hood?”
Regardless of his resolve, there is no way he is going to avoid an argument, as his girlfriend gave him strict instructions, which, ironically, was to be a night of passion for both of them. “Be early she told me, I’ll be waiting for you honey, I’ll make something special for you.”
He keeps his audience captivated with pure suspense, baiting them to feel like he is going to reveal the imminent confrontation. Instead, Hammond takes us right to a closed bedroom door and ends by saying, “Double trouble is waiting, It’s wrapped up in my bed.”
3. Rockaway
Release date: 2001
Album: Music is Life
Favourite line: And you had to hold your woman real close, When Smokey starts to sing, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Spinners all the way, Aretha Franklin
Beres ushers in the new millennium with a song that reminds persons of how simple and fun life used to be. “We danced all night to the songs they played, Weekend come again, do it just the same,” he shares with his listeners.
This reflective piece has Hammond name dropping some of his favourite artistes as he belts out, “Hail John Holt, Alton Ellis, Derloy Wilson, Dennis Brown, hey hey, Big Youth, Josey Wales, Daddy Roy, Would wake the town yeah.”
With the horns being the predominant instruments on the track, they capture a very happy and light vibe. This is in keeping with the same energy that Hammond got from songs of the past that made him Rockaway.
2. Love means never to say that you are sorry
Release date: 1993
Album: Full Attention
Favourite line: When you touch my spine, babe, Ooh, it was heaven divine, It’s hard to tell myself that you’re loving another man.
For us at kareemsQuest.com, this is perhaps the most vulnerable Hammond has ever sounded on a record, as he grapples with being heart broken. “Just the other night, You told me that you love me, Whispered in my ear, Sweet words I long to hear,” states a pensive Hammond.
With a wailing voice and a saxophone following his every note on the chorus, the song shines with very little assistance from any other instrument. We think it’s his most captivating love ballad. In the second verse he reveals the effect of his lover, stating, “When you touch my spine, babe, Ooh, it was heaven divine, It’s hard to tell myself that you’re loving another man.”
Kareemsquest.com believes Hammond shares his soul to the point where he seems partially delusional, as he states in the following verses, “Whisper in my ears, Your sweet little lies, This will, keep me going.”
1. Putting up a resistance
Release date: 1993
Album: Sweetness
Favourite line: “Cause every time I lift my head above water, And try to save myself from drown, There’s an overnight scheme all worked out, Designed to keep ah me down.”
As a solo act, this is his most hard-hitting social commentary and Hammond takes no chances with its delivery. So he draws from Reggae Royalty, the late U Roy, who is widely considered as Jamaica’s first DJ. The production starts with several wind instruments, signifying that there is an important message to be told, as the whispers of ‘Pressure’ is heard in the background.
Hammond eloquently addresses the plight of the trying man in an unfair society, as he is constantly fighting against a ‘system’ that is designed to hold him down. Delivering one of kareemsquest.com favourite verses, “Cause every time I lift my head above water, And try to save myself from drown, There’s an overnight scheme all worked out, Designed to keep ah me down.”
He continues with his frustration, as every move he makes to better himself is met with some form of resistance.
Being the elder statesman, U Roy comes in and tries to calm Hammond down with some words of wisdom. “Ah just the way that the Babylon plan it, for I to fight it everyday…….go down pon yuh knees and pray.”
Recognising he is working himself up into a temper, as he hits a crescendo, Hammond has a ‘Woosah’ moment as he repeats to himself, “Cool me down, blow wind blow.”
The single was a smash hit, as it found favour with conservative reggae listeners and hardcore dancehall fans. It’s evident for kareemsquest.com that the infectious instrumentals and the relatable lyrics are still applicable to this day, as many persons have to be Putting up a Resistance to meet their basic needs.
A quick side note, we at kareemsquest.com got to see a vintage clip of Beres and Dennis Brown performing this song and it was pure magic, with Dennis doing the background harmony.
Honourable mentions: I feel Good, She Loves Me Now, Come Back Home, Can You Play Some More, Falling in Love All Over Again, Step Aside.
If you want to know more about Beres Hammond’s musical journey, check out our article. Beres Hammond: The Master of Lovers Rock
Did we leave any song off our list? If so, tell us in the comment section below.
Mary, Mary.
Oh yes, thats a good one
How about the song ‘Full Attention’? If you have a fairly good playback system you will be amazed by this song. The instrumentations and arrangements are impeccable not to mention the lyrics. Try it and hear for yourself.
very true, it’s a great song
Gotta get away(1976)
thats a beautiful melody from his Soul Reggae Album
Remember when wi used to sidung a chat but nowadays u. Nuh Badda with dat, walk past u fren and u ole time colleagues movin so fast I thought it was breeze.DEM BIG NOW
Angel eyes is one of my favorites!!
Good one
Angel eyes is one of my favorites!!
These are my Favorite Beres songs
1) Tempted to Touch
2) Double Trouble
3) Love from a distance
4) One Dance
5) She loves me now
6) Step Aside
) Stuck on You
This is a nice list too
This is a nice list but you leave out I wish that’s one of my favorite
burn in the morning sun