Interview: Reggae Legend Don Carlos Talks ‘Pass Me The Lazer Beam,’ Touring At 71 And More

VP Records has honored Reggae and Dancehall legend Don Carlos with a reissue of his seminal 1983 LP, Pass Me The Lazer Beam, just in time for Record Store Day.

Produced by the legendary Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee and featuring the backing band The Aggrovators and a mix by engineer Hopeton “Scientist” Brown, the album is considered a prime example of the early 80s Dancehall sound. It was the perfect foundation for Don’s vocal stylings on songs such as the title track Lazer Beam, Spread Out, and Jonnie Big Mouth. The reissue boasts remastered audio, restored artwork, liner notes, and a rare Beth Lesser photo in its packaging.

Carlos, 71, whose 50-year career also produced solo hits such as Mr. Sun, Young Girl, Money & Woman, and Time, affirmed that the updated mastering enhances the album while preserving its classic vibe.

“It has a better mastering now because I don’t think dem redo any portions of remix because people always love the original sound inno so I think a just mostly the mastering because a technology inno allow dem now fi maybe gi it a better mastering,” the Jamaican singer, whose real name is Euvin Spencer, told DancehallMag in a recent interview. “The vocals already good so it wouldn’t make sense (to voice over tracks) unless me ago do a collab with somebody then me woulda put on a different vocal fi match it but like how it’s just a re release and the vocals already good so I wouldn’t change anything.”

The impetus for the reissue came from Chris Chin at VP Records, who was approached by Bunny Lee’s son with a selection of albums for potential re-release, including Pass Me The Lazer Beam. “Chris called me and told me that they are going to release it and asked me if I was kool with it and I agreed,” Carlos shared.

Interestingly, the album found international success before gaining traction in Carlos’ native Jamaica. “It was a big hit inna dancehall until it released inna Europe because Europe was the first place it took off inna England,” he reflected. “It go everywhere else inna Europe and Africa and then America and Jamaica a the two last places it come but it was out internationally before it reach back.”

He noted that two tracks from the LP were well received by Dancehall core listeners. “Songs Like Lazer Beam and Jonnie Big Mouth, those were two dancehall hits even though the record never released but soundman did have dem on dubplates so those were playing on dubplates before the album come a Jamaica,” he said.

The singer also attributed the LP’s seminal success in the UK to his distinct sound. “The sound that I came with was a sound that the people tek on to and appreciated, so it blast off because when I came, my sound was different from everybody else,” he said.

This unique sound, Carlos insisted, is integral to his identity as an artist, something that cannot be replicated. “Everybody did almost sound alike but my sound was different from everyone. My sound was more like an African more like a West African sound, that described the sounds that I made, no one else had that. You haffi really listen my songs to understand, when you listen the songs and then listen other people’s songs then you will hear that Don Carlos really sounds different from everyone because so far mi no have anyone who can imitate my sound. My sound is my sound. If me have a new record out and a man hear it for the first time, him ago say yes a Don Carlos that.”

He was quick to point out that his sound is not to be mistaken for his voice. “No really the voice mi a talk bout but how mi use mi voice really, the sound weh mi use mi voice and mek..Nuff people tell me say my voice smooth and silky but that anno really weh me use in developing the sound. I mean the way mi use my voice and how my turn it,” he said.

Carlos praised the Most High for his natural-born talent.  “A just Jah. Jah just mek me get a sound and hear it and like it and tell myself say mi ago improve pon this. Mi never go no music school or nothing, a just an inborn thing you know,” he reasoned.

European audiences were so intrigued by his sound and music that it fostered a tour of the continent following the release of the Lazer Beam LP.

“Me and Sugar Minott toured all over Europe and Junior Reid was there too and the band was a band we put together. Horse mouth was the drummer, Professor Larry was the base player and Simon was one of the guitarist and Tonic was one of the guitarists. Gold was there to. I don’t remember weh the tour did name but it was in 1983 and it was just in Europe at that time and lasted 6 weeks. After that mi come back a Jamaica to do Sunsplash in Montego Bay at Jarrett Park,” he recalled.

Carlos has since relocated to California, where he spends most of his time, but he still visits Jamaica regularly. Despite his age, he told DancehallMag that he still performs live and plays a lot of shows in the Golden State.

“Me have a special group who mi always go pon the road with name Slightly Stoopid. Dem a one of the hottest Californian band. The Marley family love play with them because a pear stadium dem sell out and fi dem audience a from baby to adult so most times I’m on the road with them you know so mi always get new fans. Sometimes mi deh pon the road and people come up to me and say ‘boy it’s the first I’m hearing you but mi a fan from now on’. Even babies mi hear  a call out sometimes, ‘Don Carlos I love you’ so mi always a get new fans,” he shared.

“Mi pass through at least three generations already because the first time me come a foreign in 1983 and mi come see youths come have kids and dem still a come a mi concerts same way so dem kids a listen to me and certain parts of t he world where consciousness stands out you know the people dem always have me inna dem house as a conscious reggae artist so mi get played in their houses and kids listen to me,” he added.

“Mi a one a dem artist deh, mi no haffi call people fi get work, people always a call me. When mi go out deh, people get dem monies worth so people always calling me. Sometimes when I’m on stage, I let the people select weh dem waah me sing and dem love dem thing deh,” he said.

Although he still embraces live performances, he admitted that he chooses which gigs to accept carefully.

“Mi a 71 so mi no too eager fi go pon the road cause a mostly festival mi do and me do one and two clubs like clubs weh me used to, people weh mi used to, mi have certain clubs weh mi go weh just sell out especially in California weh mi based.Mi can work just California year to year and no go nowhere else because California so big. A just California, mi hardly go outside unless mi a go Europe. Only when me go wid Slighlty Stoopid dem mi will go outside a California and go New York and other places but me cyaah too keep up wid dem youth deh, dem too fresh,” he said.

Don Carlos, who was one of the original members of the reggae group Black Uhuru, alongside other founding members, Garth Dennis and Derrick Ducky Simpson, said he has no imminent plans to retire from a career that began in 1973.

“The only time mi ago stop doing this work is when mi cant do it no more. I know there will be a time when me haffi sit down but when tha time deh come we talk about it,” he joked.

“If mi haffi be seated mi no think mi wudda still a perform because the people dem love see my dancing that a one a the thing dem weh draw the crowd to me because mi no walk and stabd up pon stage, mi move and give dem all skanks weh dem never see before…mi haffi have that, that a part of my performance,” he revealed.

He said when he returns to the studio to make new music it will be a family affair as he will be collaborating with his sons.

“Me have some sons weh inna the music. A dem me a wait pon now fi get ready fi do an album with them. Dem start record man. If you check out the site ReggaeGoneViral that a one a me son dem, tha one deh name Geo, him have a song out now named Ackee Tree. A four a we. Me have two other sons one name Carlos and the other name Don Wolwaz,” he said.