WE NAH LEAVE: JOHN HOLT’S LONG-LOST FIRE RETURNS
John Holt roars back into focus with We Nah Leave, released by VP Records’ 17 North Parade to honour what would have been his 78th birthday. Dug up from deep in the archive and remastered from the original reel-to-reel 1/4″ tape, this defiant track now hits with a heavyweight punch thanks to Billy Polo’s meticulous work.
Originally held back in 1981, We Nah Leave crept out in fragments on Randy’s Jah Guidance and Holt’s own label, later sliding into the 2015 Memories By The Score compilation. Now, the full force drops across all streaming platforms, complete with an instrumental and a sprawling extended mix featuring the mighty Roots Radics.
IT IS A REBEL ANTHEM, AN UNFILTERED CALL TO HOLD YOUR GROUND
Built by the same volcanic crew behind Police In Helicopter, the song pulses with Kingston’s raw energy. Holt’s fierce, soulful cry rides Style Scott’s deep, militant drums and Flabba Holt’s unstoppable bass. It is a rebel anthem, an unfiltered call to hold your ground.
From ska and rocksteady highs to roots and rub-a-dub depths, Holt’s voice shifted reggae’s axis. Crowned with Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, he remains a towering figure. We Nah Leave is a bold reminder that Holt’s legacy will never fade.
ABOUT JOHN HOLT
John Holt moved through ska, rocksteady and reggae with fearless grace, leading The Paragons before soaring as a solo star. His 1973 album 1000 Volts Of Holt lit up the UK, with his cover of Help Me Make It Through The Night storming the charts.
Later, Blondie’s The Tide Is High and Horace Andy’s Quiet Place echoed his lasting influence. From Police In Helicopter to endless classics, Holt’s sound still pulses loud worldwide.
