Cobra Style (Heartbeat, 1999)

As the album states, Aston "Familyman" Barrett was The Wailers' musical director, writing, arranging, playing bass, and leading the band through the group's most successful times.  The Wailers as a band are often overshadowed by Bob Marley, but Cobra Style is a top-notch showcase for Barrett's musical skills, featuring tracks he produced from the '70s to the '90s.  He puts forth a group of songs that truly grab the listener; they assault your ears with a full-blooded cornucopia of sound and a flood of high-caliber musicianship.  Typical is the title cut, an instrumental jam featuring power trumpets and trombones, a saxophone, African drums, an organ and piano, a guitar, and of course, Barrett's bass.  It shakes and rattles with a pure energy that compels you to move.  Other similarly strong instrumentals include the imperial "Distant Drums" and the jazzy duo "Eastern Memphis" and "Well Pleased."  The musicality doesn't stop with the instrumental songs, though; the vocal tracks are just as good, as the music is complimented by strong melodies, the best being Brimstone's catchy "Back Weh" and "Babylon," Jimmy Riley's gospel-infused "We're Gonna Make It," Senya's haunting "Children of the Ghetto," and Ashantiwah's funky "Elegant Shape."  The crisp sound of Cobra Style rivals -- dare I say it -- the work he did with The Wailers; it's a shame that these tunes didn't get the exposure they deserved at the time of their release.