THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

683-Max Romeo-Wet Dream.

1969-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1.52. A rough guide to ‘The birds and the bees.’

Max Romeo was born Maxwell Livingston Smith on November 24th, 1944, in St. D’Acre, St. Ann, Jamaica. He first found success as one third of the Jamaican trio ‘The Emotions,’ alongside Lloyd Shakespear, and Kenneth Knight, they had hits locally between 1965-1968, until he left to start a solo career. From 1969 to the present day he has released 28 studio Albums, and 73 singles, of which ‘Wet Dream’ is his only international hit. His subject matter over the years has covered sexual, political, and religion.

‘Wet Dream’ was one of the very first Reggae songs to come to the attention of the wider general public. Max Romeo who wrote the lyrics, initially offered them to the Jamaican artist Derrick Morgan, but he shied away from their suggestive nature, as did John Holt, and Slim Smith. Morgan using different lyrics released the track ‘Hold You Jack,’ while Romeo using the same melody (riddim) was persuaded by the songs producers Harry Robinson, and Junior Smith to record the song himself, only Romeo is officially credited with writing the song.

‘Wet Dream’ was banned by the media due to it’s explicit sexual nature. When Radio 1 were doing the chart countdown the DJ’s were instructed to refer to the song as ‘A record by Max Romeo,’ with no mention of the songs title. Initially in order to try to get the song played Romeo said the song was about ‘A leaky roof,’ but in 2007 he claimed to have started a ‘sexual revolution,’ asked why he wrote the song he replied,’The devil made me do it.’

‘You in your small corner, I stand in mine.Throw all the punch you want to, I can take them all.’