The
Songs for Reggae Lovers
series continues into its third volume with this budget-priced, two-disc, 30-track collection of recent and vintage romantically themed reggae music. As usual, the artists represent a mix of legendary talents (
Sugar Minott
,
Freddie McGregor
Gregory Isaacs
Cocoa Tea
) and younger, less established artists (
Ziggi
Gappy Ranks
), and the songs are something of a mixed bag as well:
Tarrus Riley'
s
"She's Royal"
is a gently, quietly perfect tribute to an apparently perfect woman, while the great crooner
Sanchez
teams up with
Cynthia Schloss
for a slick but nicely rocking version of the Memphis soul classic
"I'm Your Puppet,"
and
gives a stirring performance on
"One Away Woman"
(assisted by an unusually funky rhythm provided by
Henry "Junjo" Lawes
). On the less exciting side are a strangely bloodless and generic contribution from
Ini Kamoze
(
"Girl 'E'"
), a phoned-in performance by
John Holt
on
"Ghetto Queen,"
and a slightly embarrassing attempt at lovers rock by
Half Pint
"Substitute Lover"
), whose voice is much better suited to party-time dancehall anthems. The two-for one pricing means that even with its uneven distribution of killer and filler material, though, this volume in the
remains a solid value. ~ Rick Anderson