Search - Various Artists :: Jamaican Dance Party

Even reggae young buck Anthony B sings a lament to the long-gone joys of the old-time reggae dancehall in "Waan Back," but luckily for lovers of that vintage sound, many indie labels are turning out lovingly remastered CDs that collect, golden track by golden track, these early treasures originally recorded on rudimentary analog equipment. This superb set captures the '60s scene as the music was developing from the slowed-down ska beat known as rock steady into early reggae; it features stars like Dennis Bovell, Dennis Alcapone, King Stitt, and Byron Lee as well as lesser-known lights such as Neville Esson and Cythnia Richards. Jamaican music's heavy debt to American soul and R&B pioneers is obvious in these gently lilting tunes, especially covers like Lascelles Perkins's rock-steady version of "Please Stay." Even George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" gets a sweet rock-steady treatment, "Krishna, Krishna, hari rama" and all. On the other hand, there would be no hip-hop today if it weren't for early mic toasters like I-Roy, performing here his famous "Natty Dread the Lion." Together with Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Sun Is Shining"--an extravagantly original musical coup infused with the genius of legendary deejay-producer Lee "Scratch" Perry at the peak of his considerable form--it augurs the explosion of musical creativity in the '70s that would transform Jamaica from a tropical playground for outsiders into a major voice in the worldwide struggle against "big master." --Elena Oumano