Trojan Lovers Box Set (Trojan, 1999)

This isn't the best of Trojan's box sets -- it has a ways to go to reach the Roots Box Set  -- but there's still plenty of good stuff to be found (With 50 tracks, there better be.).  Although Britain was to become known for the sub-genre lovers rock in the mid-'70s and although Trojan is a British label, this set focuses on Jamaican love songs of the late '60s and early '70s.  As such, the dominant sound is rock steady and early reggae.  Trojan's seemingly endless vaults once again score with tunes that even the most veteran reggae listeners may not have or even know.  The second CD is the most consistent, although my two favorite tracks -- Jackie Edwards' "In Paradise" and The Heptones' version of "Our Day Will Come" -- are on the first, along with Delroy Wilson's "Living in the Footsteps," Dennis Brown's "Lips of Wine," Gregory Isaacs' "All I Have Is Love," and The Fab Five, Inc.'s (say who?) "Love Me for a Reason."  High points of Disc 2 include Slim Smith's "Turning Point," Horace Andy's "Riding for a Fall," Larry Marshall's "Please Stay," The Gaylads' "My Jamaican Girl," and Toots & The Maytals' "It Must Be True Love."  The third disc is certainly the weakest, but it does contain Jackie Edwards' "Your Eyes Are Dreaming" and Dennis Brown's "Silhouette."