Best Of Reggae Vol.1, The (Roots & Toots) - Various Artists

Advantages: some classic reggae tracks including Rivers of babylon
Disadvantages: 2 tracks are repeated

...legendary combo in 70's Jamaica. Calypso influenced Reggae song about a tragedy waiting to happen called Johnny. Good sing-along stuff. *8-007 (Shanty Town)* Sung by Desmond Dekker of 'Israelites' fame. Better in my humble opinion. What is this obsession the Jamaicans have got with 007? *9-Pressure Drop* Toots and the Maytals again. Probably the song they're best known for. *10-Sitting in Limbo* Jimmy Cliff singing the most commercial song on the CD. It's ok but nothing to write home about. Every CD has to have one. *11-You Can Get It If You Really Want* *12-Harder They Come* These are my main complaint with this album. They aren't the same as the previous versions, but almost. The only difference is that they include protracted instrumentals. As I said, this a soundtrack CD which is able to stand alone as an album. It could be a Reggae... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent covers of some old reggae standrads
Disadvantages: Sometimes a bit too slick

...The creation of entire albums of music from other artists is nothing new. It has been done to great effect by David Bowie, Bryan Ferry and many more. When UB40 followed up their first 2 albums which contained their own material with an album drawn from favourite reggae songs from their youth. Having established themselves as the conscience of 80s youth with their socially aware lyrics about unemployment and social injustice it could have been seen a s a commercial sell-out and perhaps ultimately it was. It was also, however, a very fine album. That it must have been a labour of love can be heard in the loving way the songs are crafted and every track reproduces the excellence of the original. As a lover of real reggae I do have to make one minor criticism and that is that the album is too good. There is far more added production... Read review

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Advantages: A good mixture of covers
Disadvantages: Not enough songs!

...Madness in the their latter years somewhat lost touch, and lost their connection with their roots. Everything that made them who they were in the late part of the 70's had all but gone by as early as 1981. But 2005 saw Madness take a welcomed return to those roots we all missed. However it wasn't with new writings or recordings. It was covers of those bands that helped create them. The Dangermen Sessions - Volume 1. From the soulfulness of The Supremes - You Keep Me Hanging On to the roots reggae of Bob Marleys' - So Much Trouble In The World. Not to mention covers of The Kinks, Desmond Dekker and of course, probably the man who played the biggest influence on Madness. . . . Prince Buster. This CD is a must have for any Madness fan.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful