THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

789-Junior Murvin-Police and Thieves.

1976-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1980, when reaching Number 23.

Best Bit-At 3.45. The songs producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was known for his eccentric, and superstitious behaviour. Before an artist played, he would often ‘bless’ his recording equipment with mystical invocations, he would blow ganja smoke on to his tapes while recording, and surround himself with burning candles, and incense.It is said he would also spray tapes with urine, blood, and whiskey, to enhance their spiritual properties.

Junior Murvin was born Murvin Junior Smith around 1946 in Saint James,Jamaica, he died on December 2nd, 2013, from diabetes.In 1976 he auditioned his own song ‘Police and Thieves’ for the legendary Reggae music producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, (born in 1946, in Kendal, Jamaica) who added his own ideas to the song, and recorded several alternative versions for release.

‘Police and Thieves’is a song about gang war, and police brutality, and although not a hit in the UK in 1976, became an anthem, as the Notting Hill Carnival erupted in to a riot.Joe Strummer, and Paul Simonon who had just formed the Clash were caught up in the rioting (see also best songs 867-638 and 294,) which inspired them to cover the song on their self titled debut Album in 1977, in a style that they called ‘Punk Reggae,’ not ‘White Reggae.’On first hearing the Clash version, Junior Murvin said,’They have destroyed Jah work.’

Murvin’s version finally became a hit in the UK in 1980 when featured in the film ‘Rockers. It was also brought to the attention of a new generation when used again in the 1998 movie,’Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

‘All the crimes committed day by day,no one try to stop it in any way.’