AL CAMPBELL’S 80S CUT OF ‘DECLARATION OF RIGHTS’ DIGITALLY RESTORED
In the early 80s, reggae was changing fast. Studios embraced sharper sounds, and producers pushed for bigger, bolder textures. Amid this shift, Al Campbell stepped into the booth with George Phang and the unstoppable Sly & Robbie to cut his version of The Abyssinians’ anthem Declaration Of Rights. Digitally remastered from the original tapes, that powerful session returns through VP’s high-definition master tape series.
Declaration of Rights was written by Bernard Collins and first recorded at Studio One in 1970. Its words carried so much force, inspiring Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Get Up Stand Up.
By the time Campbell reimagined it, reggae’s tone had evolved. Phang’s production and the Riddim Twins’ precision rhythm framed Campbell’s unmistakable voice, bringing new fire to the composition while keeping its defiant message intact.
CAMPBELL’S UNMISTAKABLE VOICE BRINGS NEW FIRE TO THE COMPOSITION
Campbell’s version illustrates how a classic adapts across decades without losing impact. His vocal delivery carries both reverence for the past and urgency for the present. The result is a recording that bridges eras while staying rooted in truth.
This reissue shines light on a striking moment in reggae’s story. It celebrates the collaboration of Campbell, Phang, and Sly & Robbie, and it amplifies a song whose demand for rights and justice still feels fiercely alive today.
ABOUT AL CAMPBELL
Al Campbell’s journey starts in Kingston church halls, where he sang to raise funds for his preacher father. By the late 60s, he was recording with The Thrillers at Studio One, before moving into harmony groups and then solo work.
Through the 70s and 80s, he worked with Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs and Lee Perry, delivering both roots statements and lovers ballads. His catalogue mirrors reggae’s shifting sound while holding to quiet consistency.
