Sufferer

by Steve LeggettThe Kingstonians' only album, Sufferer, was originally released on LP in 1970. Produced by Derrick Harriott, it remains a marvelous example of the Jamaican vocal trio's approach to rocksteady and early roots reggae. Harriott and Kingstonians leader Jackie Bernard co-wrote most of the songs on the album, with two of them, "Singer Man" and the bubbly (but melancholy) "Sufferer," becoming sizeable hits in Jamaica. Fans of reggae vocal trios will love this reissue from Attack Records, and while the Kingstonians broke up almost immediately after its original release, the album and its key track, "Sufferer," have had an impact that far outweighs the brief life span of the group.