Wayne McGhie & Sounds Of Joy
Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

2004 repress in shrink. Released in 1970, the self-titled album by Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy stands as a rare artifact in the landscape of Canadian soul, funk, and reggae. Wayne McGhie, a Jamaican-born musician who immigrated to Toronto in the late 1960s, crafted an album that seamlessly blended Caribbean influences with North American R&B and funk. The group’s sound was heavily shaped by Toronto’s vibrant West Indian community, and the record features a mix of original tunes and covers reinterpreted through McGhie’s unique lens. Despite its innovative approach and infectious grooves, the album was largely overlooked upon release, partly due to limited distribution and a warehouse fire that destroyed unsold copies.

In the decades following its release, the album achieved cult status among collectors and DJs, revered for its warm production, punchy horn arrangements, and tight rhythm section. Tracks like “Dirty Funk” and “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” became crate-digging treasures, sampled and cited by contemporary artists seeking authentic vintage sounds. A reissue in the early 2000s by Light in the Attic Records brought renewed attention to McGhie’s work, highlighting its importance as a bridge between Jamaica’s musical heritage and Canada’s burgeoning soul scene. Today, the record is appreciated not only for its rarity but also for its role in documenting an overlooked chapter in the evolution of North American soul and funk.