Dancehall Slam (Shanachie, 1996)

Impressive packaging (especially for Shanachie) and an impressive line-up of stars can't save this album from sinking into the sea of pedestrian dancehall compilations out there.  Just about the only thing supporting this dead weight is Beenie Man's classic "Turn Around."  How this song didn't find its way onto a Strictly the Best or Reggae Gold album, I'll never know.  This high-energy romp that utilizes the melody of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is not only probably my favorite Beenie Man tune, but it also is one of my favorite dancehall tracks of all time.  Bounty Killer puts forth an admirable effort in trying to reach that level with "Babylon Drop" and "A Mi She Adore," the DJ version of Marcia Griffiths' classic "Tell Me Now."  The remaining cuts are OK at best -- "Ganja fi Legal" by Jason Sweetness & Roundhead and "Real Rastaman" by Louie Culture & Luciano being the best.

Track Listing
1. Real Rastaman -- Louie Culture & Luciano
2. Why Do We Have to War -- Everton Blender
3. Babylon Drop -- Bounty Killer
4. Turn Around -- Beenie Man
5. A Gal a Chat You -- Mad Cobra
6. Hot inna di Winter -- Spragga Benz
7. She Need Loving -- Daddy Screw & Lukie D
8. A Gal a Lie -- Don Y & Fargo Vice
9. Tink a One Time -- Don Yute
10. Gooda Dan Gold -- Spragga Benz
11. Ganja fi Legal -- Jason Sweetness & Roundhead
12. A Mi She Adore -- Bounty Killer & Marcia Griffiths