Red Pond & Chaplin Chant (Tamoki Wambesi, 1991)

Some of Charlie Chaplin's earliest hits are found on this economical double album (Red Pond being his debut), many of which -- like "Mother in Law" and "Naw Leave Me Chalwa" -- established him in the early '80s as a DJ to be reckoned with.  However, although some of the tracks on these two albums are nice -- especially the driving bass and tinkling piano of the classic "Diet Rock" (also on Reggae's Greatest Hits Volume 2) -- too much of the material sounds like standard ho-hum early '80s DJ stuff.  Both the music and the vocals are un-distinctive.  Indeed, the best cuts are the ones (like "Diet Rock") that have a distinguishable sound.  "Skanky Producer," for instance, has a catchy sing-songy melody, while "Unity Is Strength" utilizes the gorgeous music and melody that producer Roy Cousins also used on Ken Bob's "In Danger."   "Jamaican Collie," "Chaplin Chant," and the stripped-down "What Kind of World" are also fine, but they are few and far between.

Red Pond:

Chaplin Chant:

Red Pond & Chaplin Chant: