Prison Oval Rock

One night back in the early 1980s, Isaiah Laing of Sting promoters Supreme Promotions kept a dance at Spanish Town Prison Oval, a stone’s throw from Spanish Town Adult Correctional Centre, featuring the now legendary Jamaican producer Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes’ soundsystem, Volcano Sound. To be one of the top Sounds on the island, Junjo and his crew had to walk with some serious music, exclusive dubplates, one-away specials and an exceptional set of DJs.

Ahead of this particular dance, one of Jamaica’s biggest stars, Barrington Levy, had recorded something particularly special on acetate for the Volcano crew, the ensuing recording became known as “Prison Oval Rock”, famously licked over in recent years by Chronixx as “Spanish Town Rocking” in 2016. Laing recalled to The Gleaner in 2003, "The prisoners came out and started dancing on the roof; they were lighting newspapers, and Barrington Levy was just singing," he said,

his eyes lighting up at the memory.” Levy also had fond memories of the night too, "Da dance deh was a huge dance over Prison Oval, Believe you me, my Lord, it shot!"