Gregory Isaacs Love Is Overdue CD

Lover's rock mainstay Gregory Isaacs released some of his finest material in the 1970s (though he continued to record quality albums in the '80s, '90s, and 2000s), and LOVE IS OVERDUE, a collection of recordings Isaacs made in the mid-to-late '70s with producer Alvin Ranglin, is nicely representative of that work. Interestingly, Isaacs is more emotive as a vocalist, and is working in a more straight roots style than he would later when he became known as "the Cool Ruler."

Also of note is Heartbeat Records' choice to remix the original recordings. On the assumption, supposedly, that contemporary production would heighten the appeal of this reissued material, the tracks are given a sheen more appropriate to reggae of the '90s and 2000s. While this might upset genre purists, it is hard to deny the basic power of this stirring, soulful, and passionate material. Original toaster U-Roy lends his voice to a couple of tracks here, further solidifying the classic status of these recordings.

Live RecordingQ (6/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...shows off the singer's astonishingly plaintive voice before the ravages of time, herbal substances and generally being a bit mad virtually laid it to waste."