Search - Various Artists :: From Dubplate to Download: The Best Of Greensleeves Records

WICKED WICKED WICKED!!

A. Watkins | Atlanta, GA | 09/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wanted to be the first to review these 2cd compilation just to big up Greensleeves records and to tell everyone how wicked this set is. 40 wicked tunes, all in the top 10 on the charts during their time, no fillers on this album. Big Up Greensleeves for providing this 1979-1982 set of when dancehall was in its purest form. Hit's like 'Shine Eye Gal', 'Firehouse Rock', 'Another One Bits the Dust', 'Gunman', 'Look How Me Sexy', 'Spar Wit Me' and that's just the first cd! If you're a fan of 80's dancehall or lover's rock don't hesitate to pick this one up. And it's only the price of a regular cd! Respect to Greensleeves!"

Nice it up. REAL nice

Jingleballs | Baltimore, MD USA | 05/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Awesome compilation. Really nice tracks here that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Mellow and grooving Reggae, from the best years of Reggae when the sound was unique and refined, before it became influenced by electronic, rap, and hip-hop. I wouldn't normally consider this Dancehall, since it sounds nothing like the aggressive, Nazi Reggae dancehall of today. I guess this what they played in the dancehall, when dance was nice, and dancehall was synonymous with reggae. This is really good stuff, and accessable for those who are new to Reggae and want something besides Bob, Wailers, Steel Pulse...etc. You don't need to be a reggae aficionado to appreciate this one."

Five stars

Dries | 01/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A superb collection of early "dancehall"/late roots rock. The dancehall aspect is more in the production (emphasis on drum and bass) than in the music, which is still very much 1970s roots reggae.

I bought this a year ago, and I still enjoy it as much as the first day I listened to it. All these songs were hit records in the late seventies/early eighties in the Kingston and London reggae scene. Most of them are Henry 'Junjo' Lawes productions (that's him on the cover) at Channel One with the Roots Radics, but there are also some great Linval Thompson productions.

A lot of Wailing Souls, Barrington Levy, Yellowman and a lot of dj tunes. Michael Prophet's "Gunman" is followed by Toyan's version "How The West Was Won". There are four versions of "I'm Not Getting Crazy" by Don Carlos. Jr Delgado's "Love Tickles Like Magic" borrows Black Uhuru's "Satan Army Band" riddim.

All tracks are great and you will recognize many riddims, perhaps the most heavy of all: the heavenless riddim given the Junjo treatment on Triston Palmer's "Entertainment" (extended with an answer version of Jah Thomas & Toyan").

I hate to be one of these people that urges you to "buy this" but this one you will not regret buying."