His run at Treasure Isle with Duke Reid gave us foundation cuts like You Don’t Care, Queen Majesty, and Love Is Not A Gamble. But what separated Pat from the pack was his technical understanding of sound itself. He eventually worked the mixing boards at Channel One and King Tubby’s, which meant when he stepped up to the mic, he knew exactly how to marry that smooth American soul sound with Jamaica’s heavy riddim pressure.

Fast forward to 1979. He’s linking with producer Phill Pratt for So Proud, and the sound is full rockers vibes. The Revolutionaries laid down the backing, so you know the quality is there. But Pat never let those massive riddims bury his melodies. He carried that 60s elegance right through into the era of militant basslines, bridging two generations in the process. That’s craftsmanship. He passed away on July 16th, 2019, leaving behind a legacy few can touch.

Now, about this album. So Proud first surfaced in 1978 out of London under the title Talk About Love, then got reissued in ’79 on Burning Rockers with the new name. It’s a beautiful blend of Pat’s originals and soul covers done right. His 1971 hit Talk About Love makes a return, and so does Little Boy Blue—that Curtis Mayfield tune he cut back in ’68 for Bunny Lee. Mayfield’s influence runs deep here. Check I’ve Been Trying and the emotional I’m So Proud for more proof.

Pat’s own compositions stand tall next to those covers. I Don’t Want To Go, originally from 1974, and I’m Coming Home showcase his strengths as both writer and vocalist. Then there’s the closer, Stoned In Love—his take on the Stylistics’ 1972 hit. Pat’s falsetto delivery matches Russell Thompkins Jr.’s distinctive high register note for note. That’s the standard he was working at.