Righteous Reggae Jams (K-Tel International, 1997)

An OK collection of songs centering around Rastafarian messages. An impressive line-up of artists, however, can't save these songs from slipping into a morass of mediocrity. A couple of bona fide classics highlight this compilation -- Dennis Brown's "Here I Come" and the Wailing Souls' spiritually energetic "Jah Jah." Black Uhuru adds the solid "I Love King Selassie," while Tony Rebel and Tenor Saw bring righteousness to dancehall with "Know Jah" and "Who's Gonna Help Me Praise," respectively. However, while Brown's and the Wailing Souls' songs are superior examples of the genre, their familiarity may turn off the seasoned reggae listener, leaving the remaining tracks to sustain the album, which they can barely accomplish. Third World's overrated "Jah, Jah Children Moving Up" and Damian "Junior Gong" Marley's derivative "Keep on Grooving" typify the remaining jellies (not jams).

Track Listing
1. Here I Come (Live Up Rasta Children) -- Dennis Brown
2. Jah, Jah Children Moving Up -- Third World
3. Bone Lies -- Mutabaruka with Dennis Brown, Cocoa Tea, Freddie McGregor
4. Know Jah -- Tony Rebel
5. I Love King Selassie -- Black Uhuru
6. King of Kings -- Terry Ganzie
7. Jah Jah -- Wailing Souls
8. Keep on Grooving -- Damian "Junior Gong" Marley
9. Abbabajanoi -- Sister Carol
10. Selassie Lives -- Screwdriver
11. Who's Gonna Help Me Praise -- Tenor Saw
12. Picture on the Wall -- Naturalites