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| Here's Allen "Jahsana" Johnson aka P. Allen holding a rare photo of his session at Aquarius Studios. Shella's reissue of "Fisherman" is out now. |
P. Allen's "Fisherman" is a low-fi proto digital reggae scorcher which predates the release of King Jammy’s "Sleng Teng" by a full year. Allen "Jahsana" Johnson released only one tune as "P. Allen," recorded at Aquarius Studio in Kingston, Jamaica in 1984.
Allen recorded an album's worth of material with his backing band Food Clothes and Shelter before emigrating to Canada. Unfortunately "Fisherman" is the only track that survived after a basement flood in Toronto tragically destroyed his other master tapes.
In 1986 he self-released Fisherman in his new home Toronto on his Ponko Dread label, hand distributing it to local record stores and sound systems.
Perhaps it was too ahead of its time -- or too unusual, with its dirge-like synth and deep roots lyrics -- but Fisherman was largely overlooked until a few copies emerged around 5 years ago, becoming coveted grails by European digi collectors with deep pockets.
Shella Records located Allen who lives east of Toronto where he drives a school bus and still loves to sing. Check out "Fisherman" below followed by his earlier track "Time To Remember" credited to Allen Jahsana and produced by Mikey Chung back in 1977 and one other track "Oh Jah O" credited to Jah Sana and issued on the Food Clothes & Shelter label.
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