Reggae Hits 30 (Jet Star, 2002)

Artists and trends come and go, but you can always seem to count on Jet Star's Reggae Hits series for a stellar collection of what's going on in reggae -- whether it be dancehall from Jamaica or roots from the USA or lovers rock from England.  Volume 30 is no exception.  Although it starts a bit slow, it delivers quality tunes like Bounty Killer's uncharacteristically rootsy "Out Cry" and more traditional "Staying Alive" (yes, using that "Staying Alive" melody), Capleton and Luciano's emotionally wrought "Never Want the youth Dem Die," George Nooks gospel-tinged "No Power On Earth," Anthony B's thoughtful "God Above Everything," Sizzla's hit "Karate," the requisite Peter Hunnigale lovers cut "Living Without Your Love," and 3 gems from from 3 little-known (at least, in the US) singers: Easy B's "Black History," Archie Wonder's cover of the Dennis Brown classic "Cheater," and Lloyd Brown's "I Know," which sounds for all the world like a vintage 1977 roots tune.  Exposure to such hard-to-find artists is a large part of what makes the Reggae Hits series so great.  And, on top of this, in celebration of the 30th volume, Jet Star has included a bonus disc that's not a mix of the songs on the first disc (Are you listening, Reggae Gold?).  The second CD is comprised of highlights from each of Reggae Hits' first 20 volumes, so we get old school and not-quite-as-old school landmarks like "Greetings," the hilarious "Maddy Maddy Cry," "Murder She Wrote," "Tour," "Wicked in Bed," "Never Dis the Man," "Big Up," "Under Mi Sensi," and "Tempted to Touch."  Still, as classic as these songs are, chances are you've heard many of them to death, and the ones you haven't aren't that great anyway.

Track Listing
CD 1:
1. Come Away -- Luciano
2. Sad Love Song -- Ambelique
3. Out Cry -- Bounty Killer & Richie Stephens
4. Run Up and Down -- Marcia Griffiths
5. Help the Needy -- Morgan Heritage & Beres Hammond
6. God Above Everything -- Anthony B
7. Love Makes the World Go Round -- Freddie McGregor
8. No Power On Earth -- George Nooks
9. Falla We -- T.O.K.
10. Staying Alive -- Bounty Killer
11. Karate -- Sizzla
12. Living Without Your Love -- Peter Hunnigale
13. Black History -- Easy B
14. Never Want the Youth Dem Die -- Capleton & Luciano
15. I Know -- Lloyd Brown
16. All For You -- Queen Omega
17. Can't Hear Must Feel -- Chezidek
18. Cheater -- Archie Wonder
19. Just Mi Brethren -- Lady G & Queen Afrika
20. Don't Be Cruel -- Chaka Demus & Pliers 

CD 2:
1. Under Mi Sensi -- Barrington Levy
2. Wild Fire -- John Holt & Dennis Brown
3. Greetings -- Half Pint
4. Dangerous -- Conrad Smith
5. Cover Me -- Tinga Stewart & Ninjaman
6. Baby Can I Hold You Tonight -- Sanchez
7. Wicked in Bed -- Shabba Ranks
8. Spirit -- Chaka Demus
9. Tempted to Touch -- Beres Hammond
10. Bandelero -- Pinchers
11. Mellow -- Capleton
12. Murder She Wrote -- Chaka Demus & Pliers
13. Big Up -- Shaggy & Rayvon
14. Work -- Barrington Levy & Jigsy King
15. Harder -- Garnet Silk
16. Tour -- Capleton
17. Born to Love You -- Junior Tucker
18. Flag Flown High -- Cocoa T & Shabba Ranks
19. Stepping Out of Babylon -- Marcia Griffiths
20. Never Dis the Man -- Sanchez
21. Life -- Frighty & Colonel Mite
22. Maddy Maddy Cry -- Papa San