No doubt many long-time reggae fans will be delighted with the DVD release of "Word, Sound And Power".
The latter had its Premiere at the 1980 San Francisco International Film Festival and since then spawned a devout following and a growing reputation among
reggae lovers who passed around worn-out VHS dubs. This truly worthwhile documentary about Reggae and the Soul Syndicate Band was filmed in Jamaica in 1979.
For much of the 1970s, one of the leading show and recording bands in Jamaica was the Soul Syndicate Band. It was a top-notch unit that included Drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis,
Bass Player George "Fully" Fullwood, guitarists Earl "Chinna" Smith and Tony Chin, Keyboardist Jamacca, Percussionist Goldfinger and Sax Player Enroy "Tenor" Grant.
The Soul Syndicate Band played on several of Dennis Brown's hits for Winston "Niney" Holness, including "Westbound Train" and "Cassandra". As their reputation grew,
so did the demand for them to play for other acts including Ken Boothe's "Silver Words"; Johnny Clarke's "Move Outa Babylon"; "My Heart Is Gone" by John Holt; "Green Bay Killing"
by Big Youth and "Uptown Top Ranking", a smash hit in Jamaica and the United Kingdom in 1977 for Althea & Donna. These tunes are the top of the iceberg as the Soul Syndicate Band
not always were credited under their own name.
