On the Road Again (Heartbeat, 1991)

Leonard Dillon's brawny voice and older statesman image are a constant and steadying force in reggae, one of the true living icons in the genre, alongside the likes of Burning Spear, Toot Hibbert, and Bunny Wailer.  On the Road Again finds him in fine form after decades in the biz, without the Ethiopians group but with a similarly folksy appeal.  Tunes like "Cool It Amigo" are indeed reminiscent of the Ethiopians' (and even the Maytals') catchy ska hits.  Slower-tempo cuts like "One Step Forward" and the title track even convey a strangely country feel (although "On the Road Again" is certainly not the Willie Nelson hit), while "Rub a Little Rub" and the interesting falsetto love song "Feed the Fire" round out the best of the lot.  These songs may not be quite as classic as the Ethiopians' past glories, but On the Road Again gives a good idea of why Dillon is such a revered figure.