Up Till Now (RAS, 1987)

Why Chalice didn't gain more international popularity than it did is beyond me.   The band's freewheeling, fun style seems tailor-made for mainstream success, and indeed one of its founding members would later join Third World.  Unfortunately, Chalice's fan base was largely confined to Jamaica during its height in the '80s.  As an '80s group, synthesizers were an inevitable part of their sound -- apparent in "Can't Dub," for instance -- accentuating an infectious party vibe that dares you to keep still.  Most of the tracks on Up Till Now, the band's greatest hits of 1980-87, additionally feature invigorating dancehall bass lines and/or rhythms -- as exemplified in the vigorous "Doctor Doctor" -- separating them from bands that stuck more closely to the roots stylee.  This dancehall sound at least partly explains Chalice's popularity in Jamaica during the '80s, a time when roots gave way to dancehall as the dominant style.  Probably a greater reason behind their success, however, is the sheer catchiness of their songs.  They manage to come up with music and melodies with a universal appeal without sounding too pop or watered down, and for all of their fun stylings, Chalice manages to deal with serious issues on songs like "Peter Botha," the emotional "Stand Up," and the righteous "Good to Be There," one of the group's more rootsy tunes.  Other great cuts include "I'm Trying," "Dangerous Disturbances," and "Wicked Intention."  It's too bad that Chalice hasn't done much since Up Till Now, but this "best of" collection leaves a great legacy for all to enjoy.