Song of the Day 11/14: Willi Williams, “Armagedeon Time”
Prophesies of doom are pretty common in Jamaican music, but they don’t necessarily get all minor-key gloomy about it. Willi Williams’ “Armagedeon Time” talks about people going hungry and needing to fight for justice, but it’s hardly martial music. Maybe it’s the religion, or its well-known sacrament, that makes him sound so matter-of-fact.
The lyrics are sung over what’s probably the island’s most familiar bass-drums-organ pattern, known as the “Real Rock” riddim (rhythm track), after the title of the 1968 instrumental released by producer Coxsone Dodd. Dodd also produced this tune, which was by far Williams’ biggest hit – he still tours as the “Armegedeon Man” – but didn’t release it until 1979, two years after he recorded it. The trombonist is Vin Gordon, probably best known for playing with Bob Marley from the mid-’60s through the “Exodus” LP.
Outside Jamaica, more people know the song from the cover by The Clash, who made it the B-side of “London Calling,” in the process changing the title’s spelling.
