Too Many Boundaries (RAS, 1995)

Veteran crooner Winston Jarrett has been around for a long time.  He was an integral part of Alton Ellis' Flames in the '60s (when he wrote Ellis' hit "Sunday Coming"), formed and headed The Righteous Flames (later confusingly re-named The Flames) from the late '60s through the '70s, went solo in the '80s, and though not forging a spectacular career, has managed to endure with solid periodic releases.  Too Many Boundaries is in some ways a celebration of his early reggae roots -- in particular his fondness of The Wailers -- as he covers several tunes written by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer.  Luckily, Jarrett doesn't go for the standard Wailers tracks -- "Get Up Stand Up," "No Woman No Cry," etc. -- but instead re-creates less ubiquitous tunes like "I Made a Mistake," "Dancing Shoes," "Downpressor Man" (here titled "Judgement"), "Come Back My Young Lady," "I Stand Alone," "African Herbsman," and "Haile Selassie Is the Chapel," the latter two he covered as part of his re-teaming with The Righteous Flames in 1994 on Sings Tribute to Bob Marley.  Jarrett even re-visits Rose Royce's R&B groove "Golden Touch," imbuing it with a deft lovers vibe.  If, however, he is going to include so many remakes on an album, I think I'd prefer he go all the way and make it some sort of tribute album.  Otherwise, when you sprinkle it with a couple of originals, it makes the covers seem all the more unoriginal.

Survival Is the Game (Young Tree, 2005)

Although he's been a mainstay in the reggae game for over 30 years, Winston Jarrett hasn't really received the attention and acclaim he's due. One listen to Survival Is the Game could change that, however. A deserving two-disc "best of" compilation, this set is a vivid representation of the great work that Jarrett and The Righteous Flames have released over the years. Listening to this career-spanning double album, it's apparent why Jarrett may have been so overlooked; he's a chameleon of sots. That is, listening to a song like "No War," you may think he sounds like Burning Spear, while "Your Love Is Heaven" pegs him as more of a Gregory Isaacs type, but "Come Down Zaachius" has more of a righteous, Culture vibe, and "Must Be a Revolution" is more of a soulful Heptones track. And to top it off, several tunes have overt Wailers influences (not surprising, since the band is featured on 6 tracks), including covers of "Downpressor Man," "Selassie Is the Chapel," and "Sun Is Shining". (The latter remake, "Do You Hear I," is almost like "Sun Is Shining Part 2," as it includes new lyrics and a modified melody that bring out a quirk funk.) Jarrett's shifting style is less of a complaint than it is an attempt to explain his lack of exposure. Indeed, his style is the last thing you'll be thinking of when you listen to Survival Is the Game; you'll be too busy grooving. This set is packed to the gills with great music, beginning with Jarrett's early ska/rock steady days, spending most of the time in his '70s and early '80s roots period, and ending in his modern, slightly dancehall-colored '90s roots sound. There are some true classics here, from "Up Park Camp" (later covered by John Holt) to the ganja anthem "Ishen Galore" to the airy "Sleeping in the Park" to the roots harmony of "Wiseman" to "No War," "True Born African," and "Humble Yourself," the latter three of which are amazingly making their debuts on CD. Uncovering lost gems like these makes you wonder what other greatness remains to be dug up in the reggae vaults. Get it and other outstanding releases at www.youngtreerecords.com.