Your Next Reggae Purchase
Ralph Quirino | Keswick, Ontario Canada | 10/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For many, Island Records was "the" reggae label. And, admittedly, Virgin were a little late coming to the party when they launched Front Line back in the middle of the seventies. Yet they made up the lost ground in a big way, signing and releasing albums by reggae's most well known and respected acts (even if virtually no one outside of Jamaica had ever heard of them). The label was soon responsible for some of the finest releases from groups like Culture, The Abyssinians, U Roy, Poet And The Roots (aka Linton Kwesi Johnson), I Roy, Johnny Clarke, The Mighty Diamonds and Tapper (aka Tappa) Zukie. This 19 cut collection rights that wrong and serves as an incredible sampler of the genre and its superstar acts. Add it to any Marley, Toots and Island collections you already have and you've got a superb history of reggae. And any collection with Althea & Donna's sublime "Uptown Top Ranking" and Gregory Isaacs' "Native Woman" can't be beat! Totally recommended. And...at a great price!"