Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm (Striker Lee, 1975)

Cornell Campbell's sweet falsetto carries the listener through this light, enjoyable -- although perhaps a tad overrated -- album, generally considered the singer's best.  While I wouldn't call it a classic, Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm provides some very nice moments, particularly the rock steady/early reggae sounds and old-fashioned R&B melodies of his covers of "Duke of Earl," "I Am Just a Country Boy," and "Why Did You Leave Me To Cry."  Perhaps the best track here, however, is the supple, whispered classic "The Sun," which Frankie Paul would remake into a hit some two decades later (see Strictly the Best Volume 10).   "Lost in a Dream" and "Girl of My Dreams" further showcase Campbell's subtle yet solid songwriting talents.  Although the two "Greenwich Farm" songs were both hits, I didn't find either as appealing as the tender love songs that dominate this album.