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| Six the Hard Way (Heartbeat, 2006) Although Heartbeat Records is starting to morph into a Trojan-like approach to their catalogue, re-releasing their material over and over, they find an inventive format in Six the Hard Way. The formula is simple but smart: take six Studio One acts, and for each one, package three of their best Coxsone Dodd recordings into one set. Six the Hard Way is a great opportunity for listeners to get a taste of these classic acts without buying six separate albums. Unfortunately, this particular taste needs a bit more spice. There are a few landmark tunes -- "Armagideon Time," "Nanny Goat," "Ya Ho," "Rougher Yet," "You Don't Care" -- but they're all available on, like, 20 other albums. Most of the rest are bland and if you haven't heard of them, there's good reason. The selections from The Termites and The Cables especially drop the ball. Although the Termites tunes represent some of their most popular (yet still underwhelming) hits, Cables smashes like "What Kind of World" and "Baby Why" are nowhere to be found. Still, the appeal of legendary figures like Slim Smith, Larry Marshall, Willie Williams, and The Viceroys is apparent, particularly in the latter's harmonic roots gem, "Slogan on the Wall." Although Six the Hard Way feasibly prevents you from having to buy six albums, you may be better off doing so, as you don't get the extent of these acts' greatness from this one CD. All of the tracks here are available on other Heartbeat releases: Born to Love (Smith), Do the Rock Steady (Termites), What Kind of World (Cables), Presenting (Marshall), Ya Ho (Viceroys), and Armagideon Time (Williams). |
| Track Listing 1. Born to Love -- Slim Smith 2. You Don't Care -- Slim Smith & The Gaylads 3. Rougher Yet -- Slim Smith 4. Have Mercy Mr. Percy [Original Single Mix] -- The Termites 5. Do the Rock Steady -- The Termites 6. It Takes Two to Make Love [Original Single Mix] -- The Termites 7. No New Love -- The Cables 8. Love is a Pleasure -- The Cables 9. Cheer Up -- The Cables 10. Nanny Goat -- Larry Marshall 11. Thelma -- Larry Marshall 12. How Can I Go On [Extended Mix] -- Larry Marshall 13. Love and Unity -- The Viceroys 14. Slogan on the Wall -- The Viceroys 15. Ya Ho -- The Viceroys 16. Armagideon Time -- Willie Williams 17. Master Plan -- Willie Williams 18. See You When I Get There -- Willie Williams |
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