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| The Best of Studio One (Heartbeat, 2006 [orig. released 1983]) For 25 years, Heartbeat has been one of the steadying forces in reggae in the US, providing a steady supply of authentic Jamaican sounds when, in the wake of Bob Marley's passing, many people undoubtedly thought the future of the genre was bleak. 1983's The Best of Studio One was one of the label's earliest releases, and it began a relationship with the legendary Studio One that endures to this day. In celebration of Heartbeat's quarter centennial, they've re-mastered and repackaged the compilation with six extra tracks, so you have no excuse not to discover the brilliance of Studio One. This set was certainly more groundbreaking back in the early '80s than it is now that so many of these tunes have been packaged and repackaged on Studio One compilations galore, but The Best of Studio One was one of the first in America to offer readily available exposure to Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's musical legacy. And, with an additional six songs -- John Holt's "A Love I Can Feel," The Lyrics' "Music Like Dirt," Ken Boothe's "Just Another Girl," Lone Ranger's "The Answer," and The Abyssinians' "Declaration of Rights" -- you get more bang for your buck. Classics abound, the most recognizable being the tunes from Holt, Boothe, and The Abyssinians, along with The Heptones' immortal "Party Time" and Marcia Griffiths' "Melody Life." Of couse, if you've listed to reggae for a little while, you've also likely heard either the originals -- or, more likely, a remake of -- Alton Ellis's "Can I Change My Mind," Sugar Minott's "Oh Mr. D.C.," Michigan & Smiley's "Rub a Dub Style," The Gladiators' "Roots Natty" (AKA "Dreadlocks the Time Is Now," this early version previously unavailable on CD), The Cables' "Baby Why" (used later on The Mighty Diamonds' "Have Mercy"), and Johnny Osbourne's "Jah Promise," a devout roots harmony track that may surprise those used to his dancehall sound. Even for long-time listeners, there may be some stuff here you might not know, like The Termites' "My Last Life" and Judah Tafari Eskender's funky, funky "Rastafari Tell You." |
| Track Listing 1. A Love I Can Feel -- John Holt 2. Music Like Dirt -- The Lyrics 3. Baby Why -- The Cables 4. Can I Change My Mind -- Alton Ellis 5. Just Another Girl -- Ken Boothe 6. The Answer -- Lone Ranger 7. Oh Mr. D.C. -- Sugar Minott 8. Jah Promise -- Johnny Osbourne 9. Declaration of Rights -- The Abyssinians 10. Roots Natty -- The Gladiators 11. Rub a Dub Style -- Michigan & Smiley 12. Party Time -- The Heptones 13. Throw Me Corn -- Larry Marshall 14. Melody Life -- Marcia Griffiths 15. Born to Love -- Slim Smith 16. My Last Life -- The Termites 17. Rastafari Tell You -- Judah Tafari Eskender 18. Row Fisherman Row -- Wailing Souls |
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