Who Say Jah No Dread : Jacob Miller

This disc shows us some great tracks from Jacob Miller alternating with the instrumental/dub track featuring Augustus Pablo and King Tubby. This is a great disc to have in your catalog because it serves a dual purpose. Not only do you get 6 Jacob Miller classics, but you get the complementary dub sides to these gems. This is a Jamaican production through and through. All material came from Dynamic, Randy's, and King Tubby's. Many of the usual suspects are present in the line-up: Bobby Ellis, Sly & Robbie, Chinna, and others. These classic mid-seventies sounds were compiled and released by Greensleeves in 1992, the sound quality is excellent and the set list is solid. My favorites on this one are: #3 (False Rasta), #4 (Hungry Town Scank), #7 (Who Say Jah No Dread), and #8 (Jah Dread). Even is you have some of this material on other discs - these tracks are set up nicely and it's a pleasure when listened to straight through.

Repatriation : U-Brown

This is a greatest hits disc representing the legendary U-Brown. You get a solid 18 tracks of roots and culture dj from the 70's. From what I can see there are only 10 tracks on the original LP release. The extra eight tracks you get on the CD are dub tracks and alternates, so it creates a nice listening package. My favorites on this disc are: #9 (Reggae dub), #12 (Set Jah Jah), #13 (Give the People), and #14 (The People Dub). All the tracks on Repatriation are about 3 minutes, except the first song wich is an extended disco mix. This is a solid production with the Revolutionaries as the backing band at Channel One in Kingston, JA. There's another U-Brown compilation by Blood & Fire (1997) called Train to Zion. It covers more seventies material ('75-'78) and between these two discs you'll have a great cross-section of U-Brown's best material.

Far East : Barry Brown

This is known to be one of the more popular albums in the Barry Brown archives. Far East was recorded and mixed in 1982 at Channel One in Kingston, JA. This one's got 13 tracks total. The vocals are backed by some of the usual suspects : Tommy McCook, Sly & Robbie, Bobby Ellis, and Ansel Collins plus many more. My favorites on this one are: #7 (Forward On), #8 (Run Wicked Man), and #9 ( So Jah Jah Sey). A lot of people like the title track "Far East", but for me "Run Wicked Man) is the crucial track on this one. Unfortunately, Barry Brown passed away in 2004, taking with him the conscious message of roots reggae and a sweet youthman voice comparable to other legends like Linval Thompson and Johnny Clarke.