When reflecting on the large number of reggae stars who enjoyed substantial success in the UK singles charts from around 1993-95, it’s a surprise to me that Tiger (Norman Washington Jackson) never managed to get a slice of that action. He’d put in the work, having recorded since the late 1970s and enjoying considerable success in Jamaica by the end of the 80s. John Peel gave his records airplay and the major labels clearly felt that if the early 90s were going to be the era that reggae artists started getting exposure on MTV and the like, then Tiger needed showcasing.
This led to the release of Claws of the Cat, Tiger’s 15th album since 1986, and his first with any kind of major label backing behind it - via an imprint of Columbia Records called Chaos Recordings. It should have been a perfect calling card record which showed off his chameleonic vocal abilities across a mix of pure, dancehall ragga tracks combined with more daytime radio-friendly fare. There was no global hit on the record in the manner of Shaggy’s Oh Carolina, but it’s not beyond the realms of imagination that a follow-up to Claws of the Cat would have been tooled for mass-mainstream appeal.
Sadly, the whole issue became irrelevant after Jackson was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in January 1994. Although he survived, Jackson’s recording career ground to a halt and it would be nearly a decade before he sang live again.
In the circumstances, it would be tasteless to see Beep Beep - also known as Beep Beep, Move Over on some single pressings - as predictive of Tiger’s fate. For me, there are several potential readings of the track’s meaning:
1) The literal meaning in which Tiger is burning up the road and wants dawdlers to get out of his way. Unfortunately, his speed on the road alerts the police who threaten to take him into jail.
2) The song could be directed to a reluctant wannabe lover who is procrastinating over committing to a girl and as a result finds themselves being given a subtle warning. “If you’re not going to do anything about this, then get out of the way and let me take my chance.”
3) At street level, the track could be announcing the presence of a new King of the Street in the middle of a turf war, hence why the police may be making their presence felt. But this is by no means certain, and indeed, the flow on the track is so quick that it’s entirely possible that none of the interpretations I’ve put forward are correct. Nevertheless, the track is great entertainment from start to finish.
Video courtesy of Eldorado Sounds
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