Customer Reviews

Reggae Pulse: The Heartbeat of Jamaica

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4 star:		(2)
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This is a nice, if spotty, anthology of reggae (and related) tracks 1964 or so into the 1980s. Most of these were significant hits and are easily found on a number of collections, but not so easily found all together in one place. Essential listening : tracks by Jimmy Cliff, Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Dave and Ansel Collins, Melodians, Toots and the Maytals. Disposable : Big Mountain, Musical Youth. Not in the same league as "The Harder They Come", one of the great albums of all time, but a nice sampler if your interest in the genre only goes as far as the hits.

This is similar, in fact, to some compilations but it has a very generous 24 tracks, usually not found on those others such as something by the Ethiopians, "Train to Skaville" or even Althea and Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" where I read in other parts of amazon, this song receives glorious reviews.

"Pass the Dutchie" people say, pop, but I spent extensive amounts of time in the 3rd world when this came out, "'Ow does it feel when you got no food", it hits the nail on the head, a bit poppy with a higher consciousness.

And any collection is heralded by me, if it includes Millie Small's "My boy lollipop", with unrest & strife in the USA; it still amazes me, this is SKA and it peaked out at #2 on the billboard charts, #1 in the UK; such a fantastic beat, easy going SKA trumpet, SKA on American AM in 1964... an alltime top of the pops great...recorded in London, very polished production, sold over seven million copies worldwide, originally an R & B hit for Barbie Gaye in 1957. that harmonica is purported to be none other than Rod Stewart; Chris Blackwell later promoted Bob Marley in part thanks to the funds that this single brought in for his fledgling company or something like that; copies of the single and extended play discs are now collectors albums, I wonder if she ever made it to any of those dance shows they had back then.

If some of the more recent classics are included, Inner City's well known "Bad Boys" and the great partying song "Montego Bay" by Freddie Notes and the Rudies let alone Ziggy and the Melody Makers fine "Tomorrow People", then Big Mountain's contributions and others should make the grade;

Tosh and Marley's ol' time Wailers songs, "Soul Shakedown" and "Lively Up Yourself" are excellent additions to this collection. That's more Ska like, those who know Bob Marley's Tuff Gong songstry are in for a nice surprise.

In the past, I had to hunt down Toots and the Maytals "Pressure Drop", classic, Clash & Robt. Palmer did it, but it's on this compilation as well as some other perenial classics, "By the rivers of Babylon", "Israelites", Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown sings on this as well as Jimmy Cliff's Wonderful "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" too and of course, on of my personal favourites Third World, what a positive message they have and still at it. A well rounded collection. Often I don't find renditions of American hits to my taste, but Greyhound doing 3 Dog Night's "Black and White" becmes a grand civil rights statement; track 22 from 1974, "Hurt so good", check it out, the opening sounds much like the opening of Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey"; If you don't already have these songs, this one is very well done.

I ordered this looking for old school reggae and some of it is & some isn't. The stuff that is rocks. The other stuff I skip. I'll end up ripp'n the disc & downloading my favs. It was a great deal for the price & the large number of tracks, at least 20. I've been to jamaica twice & this disc brings back some great memories. Bob Marley is and will always be the king of Reggae. No Contest! Great tunes, Ice cold Red Stripe & . . . well you know. Party on mon! Ciao

Even in the snow, where I live, listening to the songs I almost see the Palm trees sway, taste the Rum, and bounce to the beat.

Great selection of oldies but goodies. I can't think of one song that should have been left out of this compilation. Anyone who loves and appreciates good reggae music will enjoy this CD!