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| 50 of the Very Best of Reggae (Intersound, 2006) The vague title of this even vaguer album should be the first warning sign. Fifty what? Songs? Artists? States in the union? And if you're gonna promote your greatness, why not go all the way and say The 50 Best of Reggae? How non-committal. The half-assed nature of the title is appropriate, however, as the material included is equally half-assed. Over half of the songs were already featured on the budget Prestige/Classic Sound/House of Reggae series of releases (including the Serious Reggae Album compilations and strong albums from Roland Burrell, The Paragons, Alton Ellis, The Heptones, Jackie Edwards, and Audrey Scott) from the '90s, while most of the rest seem like an excuse to build on the recent (well, a few years ago) crossover success of Wayne Wonder. Almost a whole album's worth (8 songs) of early, throwaway Wonder material is included, which will find favor with only the biggest of his fans. Several equally disposable early Chaka Demus & Pliers (or just Pliers) cuts are included as well. Not that these CDs are full of junk -- certainly, there's strong work like George Faith's emotional "Please Stay," The Heptones' sultry twosome of "Beggie Beggie" and "Between the Sheets," John Holt's "Stick By Me," and Dave & Ansel Collins' classic "Double Barrel" -- but it's all so old and recycled. Been there, done that. If you haven't heard the Prestige/Classic Sound/House of Reggae releases, you'll of course find these tracks fresher than I do, but there's still so much filler -- all of the Gregory Isaacs and Yellowman tracks, for instance -- that you'll be left wondering why this album isn't called 15 of the Very Best of Reggae. |
| Track Listing CD 1: 1. She Is Out of My Life -- Wayne Wonder 2. Pliers on the Mike Again -- Pliers 3. I Won't Cry -- George Faith 4. Drift Away -- The Heptones 5. Double Barrel -- Dave & Ansel Collins 6. Turn to the Father -- Gregory Isaacs 7. You Won't See Me -- Dennis Brown 8. Stick By Me -- John Holt 9. You Me and She -- Wayne Wonder 10. You've Lost That Loving Feeling -- Sugar Minott 11. Someone Ring My Bell -- Pliers 12. Is It Me You're Loving -- Dennis Brown 13. Let Me Rock You -- Yellowman & The Paragons 14. Too Late Gonna Be Your Cry -- Gregory Isaacs 15. Me or Him -- Thriller U 16. What's Going On -- Delroy Wilson 17. Head on Straight -- The Heptones CD 2: 1. You Are My Woman -- Wayne Wonder 2. Please Stay -- George Faith 3. Maximum Respect -- Gregory Isaacs 4. Spanish Harlem -- Delroy Wilson 5. In the Midnight Hour -- John Holt 6. Dedicated to You -- Yellowman & The Paragons 7. Weeping and Moaning -- Dennis Brown 8. If You Don't Know Me By Now -- Jackie Edwards 9. Beggie, Beggie -- The Heptones 10. In the Heart of the City -- Gregory Isaacs 11. All I Want Is Your Love -- Wayne Wonder 12. Sea Shore -- Dennis Brown 13. She Gives Me Loving -- Pliers 14. If Loving You Is Wrong -- George Faith 15. Make It With You -- Sugar Minott 16. Release Me -- John Holt 17. I Know Just How to Cry -- Wayne Wonder CD 3: 1. Forever -- Wayne Wonder 2. Promise to Be True -- Gregory Isaacs 3. Take a Stand -- Dennis Brown 4. I'm Not Going to Give You Up -- John Holt 5. Between the Sheets -- The Heptones 6. Come Home to Me -- Wayne Wonder 7. Brothers Don't Give Up -- Gregory Isaacs 8. Trouble and War -- Chaka Demus & Pliers 9. Miss You Nights -- Bunny Melody 10. Have You Ever Been in Love -- Dennis Brown 11. Do That to Me One More Time -- Delroy Wilson 12. The Way You Make Me Do -- Wayne Wonder 13. Dance With Pliers Tonight -- Pliers 14. Good Thing Going -- Sugar Minott 15. I'll Be Lonely -- John Holt 16. On Broadway -- Dave & Ansel Collins |
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