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Showcase Vol. 1 (Wackies, 2004 [orig. released 1982])

*GUEST REVIEW*
Sometimes there is no justice. Singers such as Sidney Devine, Daniel O'Donnell, and Cliff Richard sell albums by the shedload.  However, a roots vocalist such as Wayne Jarrett remains relatively unknown, even too many reggae fans.  This is one of the Wackies reissues that makes us thankful for the success of the Basic Channel imprint.  Showcase Vol. 1 is essentially three Jarrett tracks, two Lloyd Barnes tracks, and a Horace Andy number all presented in the showcase style.  The showcase style is the vocal track with the dub track mixed onto the end.  The tracks are all very well voiced in a manner that hints at Horace Andy without copying him.  Owners of Wackies compilations should recognise a recycled riddim or two, but Bullwackies managed to make an original fresh sounding roots album.  Guitar solos and a strong jazz influence make this an even more interesting album.  This is one of the best releases I’ve heard from Wackies and is an essential album for all roots fans.  Was there ever a Showcase Vol. 2?  Note: Also released as Bubble Up.

- ragudave

Track Listing
1. Brimstone and Fire 
2. Every Tongue Shall Tell 
3. Magic in the Air 
4. Bubble Up 
5. Darling Your Eyes 
6. Holy Mount Zion
Showcase Vol. 1
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Chip In (Greensleeves 2007 [orig. released 1982])

*GUEST REVIEW*
The Greensleeves label is celebrating 30 years in business, and because of that anniversary, they're also re-releasing some albums from their vaults. Chip In is certainly one of the most desired, because it was out of print for a while. Wayne Jarrett is not the most original stylist around; you could easily mistake him for Horacy Andy (or Barry Brown or Rod Taylor...).Good news for us reggae fans is he can not only imitate Andy's vocal, but he is also able to rival him in quality of his output. That said, Chip In is a nice album. Looking in the liner notes, you may expect an archetypical early dancehall sound (I mean, producer Junjo Lawes, backing band Roots Radics...), and you won't be wrong. It's really a dancehall cook book: emphasis on drum and bass, revisited vintage riddims, easygoing style. Granted, this sound could get dull easily, but Chip In is not the case. Maybe not every single song is absolutely classic, but the majority of them are. From "Love in a Mi Heart" (aka "Bubble Up"; a different mix appears on the album of the same name), "Skank and Come In," "Got To Be Sure," "Why Must Babylon" to "Money Problems," Chip In is an obvious choice for any reggae collector. Maybe a little bit expected in some of its aspects, but nice. Note: this CD release adds four bonus tracks: extended mixes of "You Were on My Mind," "Got to Be Sure," "Chip In," and "Saturday Night Jamboree."

- Sir Marvin

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Track Listing
1. Love in a Mi Heart
2. Skank and Come In
3. True Love
4. Ranny and Lou
5. Got to Be Sure
6. Chip In
7. Jah Jah I
8. Why Must Babylon
9. Saturday Night Jamboree
10. Money Problems
Chip In
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