|
The Best Reggae Album in the World. . . Ever! (Virgin, 1994) The title is a hyperbole, to be sure, but with 44 tracks, this ambitious British collection is certain to have something to strike everyone's fancy. TBRAITWE is organized into 4 distinct sections: the first contains commercially successful, pop-tinged '90s reggae, with cuts such as "Mr. Loverman" by Shabba Ranks, "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" by Inner Circle, "Informer" by Snow, and some songs that were more popular in the UK than in the US. The second part comes in with classic early reggae/rock steady/ska hits like "Red Red Wine" by Tony Tribe, "Everything I Own" by Ken Boothe, and "Money in My Pocket" by Dennis Brown. The third section returns to '90s hits like the irresistibly funky version of The S.O.S. Band's "Just Be Good to Me," (here called "Dub Be Good to Me") intermingled with late '70s/early '80s British ska/punk songs by Madness, The Specials, and Bad Manners. Finally, the compilation ends with a selection of slightly less "poppy" reggae, including all-time favorites "Up Town Top Ranking" by Althea & Donna, "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash, and "Good Thing Going" by Sugar Minott. As you can see, TBRAITWE covers a wide range of the reggae diaspora, but it gets bogged down in too much "lightweight sound." Reggae is more popular in the UK than here in the US, and the most popular reggae is, well, by definition "poppy." This tendency is evident in this collection, which contains artists little known in the US, like Louchie Lou & Michie One, CJ Lewis, and SL2. Some of this music is so pop that it ceases to be reggae, as with Ace of Base's "All That She Wants," but if you're just getting into reggae, there are gems here to uncover. And, even if you're a veteran fan, a rare find like Black Slate's "Amigo" and solid lovers rock from British star Bitty McLean will bring a smile to lips pursed by Snow. |
| Track Listing CD 1: 1. Mr. Loverman -- Shabba Ranks 2. Sweat (A La La La La Long) -- Inner Circle 3. Sweets for My Sweet -- CJ Lewis 4. Dedicated to the One I Love -- Bitty McLean 5. Informer -- Snow 6. Close to You -- Maxi Priest 7. Oh Carolina -- Shaggy 8. Riddim -- US3 featuring Yukka Toot 9. Love You Like Crazy -- Chaka Demus & Pliers 10. Dancehall Mood -- Aswad 11. Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love) -- Third World 12. Wonderful World Beautiful People -- Jimmy Cliff 13. Love of the Common People -- Nicky Thomas 14. Young Gifted and Black -- Bob & Marcia 15. Small Axe -- Bob Marley & The Wailers 16. Israelites -- Desmond Dekker & The Aces 17. Double Barrel -- Dave & Ansel Collins 18. Red Red Wine -- Tony Tribe 19. Return of Django -- The Upsetters 20. I'm in the Mood for Ska -- Lord Tanamo 21. Money in My Pocket -- Dennis Brown 22. Everything I Own -- Ken Boothe 23. Rivers of Babylon -- The Melodians CD 2: 1. It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes) -- Bitty McLean 2. All That She Wants -- Ace of Base 3. Dub Be Good to Me -- Beats International 4. On a Ragga Tip -- SL2 5. Too Much Too Young -- The Specials 6. One Step Beyond -- Madness 7. Shout (It Out) -- Louchie Lou & Michie One 8. Lip Up Fatty -- Bad Manners 9. On My Radio -- The Selector 10. The Bed's Too Big Without You -- The Police 11. Silly Games -- Lindy Layton featuring Janet Kay 12. Good Thing Going (We've Got a Good Thing Going) -- Sugar Minott 13. I Don't Wanna Dance -- Eddy Grant 14. Just Don't Want to Be Lonely -- Freddie McGregor 15. I Can See Clearly Now -- Johnny Nash 16. Up Town Top Ranking -- Althea & Donna 17. Amigo -- Black Slate 18. (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back -- Peter Tosh 19. Tomorrow People -- Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers 20. Jamaican in New York -- Shinehead 21. I Want to Wake up with You -- Boris Gardiner |
|
 |