Total Togetherness Volume 8 (VP, 1998)

This album caught me somewhat off-guard.  The Total Togetherness series, though having lasted for several years, has consistently been a step behind VP's other mega-series Strictly the Best and Reggae Gold in both quality and popularity, but this one outshines most of the volumes of both of those collections.   Except for 3 songs -- Beenie Man's gimmicky mix of gospel and dancehall on "Gospel Time," Lukie D's sappy "Where Would You Go," and Tanya Stephens' "One Style" -- which utilizes the melody from "Rock Around the Clock" (!) -- all of the tracks on Volume 8 are solid.  Unlike many dancehall collections, nothing here sounds generic; even the 3 sub-par songs are unique (perhaps too much so).  The most unique may be Sanchez & Beenie Man's "Call Us Refugee" (AKA "Refugee"), which usurps the harmonica from Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" and the melody from the '80s Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream" (also taken by Pras and Mya for "Ghetto Superstar"), but this is probably the weakest of the decent cuts on this album.   The best are Mr. Vegas' "Big Things a Gwaan," Sizzla's rootsy, old-fashioned "Juvenile," Serial Kid & Elephant Man's "Wicked Tonight," General B's slow, funky, righteous "Tell Him fi Leave," and the great roots melody of Dennis Brown's "Don't Dis the Father."  The rest is just about as enjoyable, though never really spectacular.