Best Of Gregory Isaacs, Vol. 1 CD

Gregory Isaacs had been haunting the Kingston studios since 1968, but it wasn't until 1973 that the singer notched up a hit, and another year before he finally topped the chart. That first number one, "Love Is Overdue," was produced by Alvin Ranglin, one of a slew of sensational songs Isaacs cut for the former Maytone in the mid-'70s. Like many singers turned producers, Ranglin had a fabulous ear for melody, and he made it the centerpiece of all his productions. Even during this period, when adamant rhythms were de rigueur, Ranglin softened their effect by lacing arrangements with warm, cheery brass alongside glowing organ and sparkling piano, courtesy of Winston Wright and Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson, respectively. Recorded at Channel One studio, these types of glorious riddims were the backbone of The Best of Gregory Isaacs, the singer's third album. Contrary to its suggestive title, this was not a compilation of hits at all, at least not yet. A couple of numbers had already seen success as singles, including "Look Before You Leap" and "My Number One," but the rest of the record was all new. Many of these songs, however, would swiftly become Isaacs' standards, including the seductive "Special Guest," the aching "Tear Drops" (with exquisite backing from the Tamlins, who offered up harmonies across the set), the cultural classic "No Speech," and his emotive cover of Hortense Ellis' "Willow Tree." Equally worthy of note are a soulful cover of the Ellis siblings' "Breaking Up" and the incredibly haunting "Cool You." Then again, every song on this set is a standout. So, when is a best-of set without a host of hits still a best-of set? The answer is simple: when -- like this best-of -- it showcases the artist at his very best. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Jamaican producers seemed determined to tempt fate by titling albums in particularly misleading fashion. The most infamous, of course, was the Wailers' 1971 debut album, which like this Gregory Isaacs set was also brashly entitled Best Of. Neither quite lived up to its claims, nor were they even compilations -- both featured mostly new material with a few recent singles thrown in for good measure. In Isaacs' case, there were a mere two hits to be found within -- "Look Before You Leap" and the mighty "My Number One" -- and everything else was new. But then everything about this set was unexpected, including the productions. Producer Alvin Ranglin was renowned for his gentle, rural-flavored riddims, but with the Revolutionaries in tow, Ranglin went into Channel One Studio and had them lay down one of his toughest-sounding sets. Of course, by the band's own standard it's pretty laid-back, but there's an edginess to the riddims that cuts through the sweetness of the melodies and the rather lavish arrangements. Isaacs recorded a slew of excellent songs for Ranglin during the mid-'70s, and these truthfully are indeed many of the best. There's the seductive "Special Guest," the rootsy perfection of "No Speech," the exquisite pain of "Tear Drops," the gorgeous Motown-flavored "Breaking Up," a sublime cover of "Willow Tree," and the splendidly indignant "Double Attack," with the Tamlins providing sublime harmonies across the set. Best of all is the haunting "Cool You," the riddim dread in delivery but swept away by its exotic Far East flavors. In fact, there's not a song on the record that didn't deserve single status. And indeed four more hits would be born from this set. It's still not a career-spanning best-of comp for Isaacs, but it's certainly some of the best he cut for Ranglin during this period. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Producers include: Alvin "G.G." Ranglin.

Recording information: Channel One, Kingston, Jamaica.