Icho Candy & Friends – Pressure Them
The debut album from Poor Man’s Friend Records
We at Poor Man’s Friend Records are proud to present our first full-length release:Icho Candy & Friends – Pressure Them. This project is deeply personal for us. As longtime listeners and collectors, we’ve always felt that Icho Candy’s immense talent has been overlooked in the broader narrative of reggae music.
Icho first emerged under the guidance of legendary producer and soundman Jack Ruby, but it was his haunting rendition of Cat Stevens’ “Where Do the Children Play?”—featured in a BBC documentary—that introduced his voice to the world beyond Jamaica. Equal parts soulful and haunting, Icho’s voice echoes the spirit of a bygone era, reminding us of the roots and depth of classic Jamaican music.
A mysterious figure from reggae’s golden era, Icho Candy has always stood apart. A devout Rastafarian with a gift for prophetic songwriting, he joins forces here with some of his closest musical allies. Prince Alla appears on the title track “Pressure Them” and contributes two solo performances, while the legendary Viceroys collaborate on “Pave the Way” and “King of Kings.”
This album is a tribute to Icho Candy’s legacy. He and Prince Alla first recorded together in 1976, andPressure Themseeks to fill a long-standing gap in Icho’s discography. Although he was active throughout the mid-to-late 1970s, many of his recordings were never fully released, lost to time in the archives of Jamaica’s most iconic studios.
Pressure Themis more than just an album—it’s a restoration and a celebration of one of reggae’s most powerful yet under-recognized voices.
