'Not another reggae compilation', you cry. And you couldn't be blamed because there is an absolute shit load of them out there. But 'Reggae: I Am King' is different. No honestly! Fifteen tracks of pure rockers bliss - all killers and strictly no fillers!
The album has been put together to celebrate classics from the rockers era, which took place from around 1975 to 1979. By this time Bob Marley had been keenly marketed by Island Records as a rock act, had achieved global success and was awakening the world to the laid back grooves of reggae music. But he wasn't the only one. All over Jamaica new forms of the musical style, such as dub, flyers and steppers, and the influence of Rastafari were keeping it fresh and exciting.
Meanwhile, on British soil some of this good stuff was slipping through. Punks loved it and bands like The Clash and The Members gleaned from it what they could. Even Paul McCartney and Robert Palmer made visits to the Caribbean island in an attempt to soak up some of its unique vibes. It was The Clash's version of Junior Murvin's stirring anthem 'Police & Thieves', the first track presented to us on this collection, which caused the song to be re-released and become a hit in 1978.
This long-player serves the prime acts of that time up on a plate. A fine combination of Jamaican musicians that were stirring loins all over Kingston town and in the hills beyond, along with their UK counterparts such as Aswad and Steel Pulse, who now more than 20 years on are just as crucial.
Picking a stand out track from 'Reggae: I Am King' is an impossible mission with the likes of Gregory Isaacs' 'Night Nurse', Dennis Brown's 'Man Next Door' and Dillinger's outrageous 'Cocaine In My Brain' to chose from. A song that still sets disco dance floors blazing is 'Uptown Top Ranking', which was a one-off International hit for young duo Althea and Donna. This is a rare find and still a brilliant, witty slice of melodica. Full of wavy synth backing and thick brutal bass licks. Tremendous. And it's followed by a gritty, clavinet-heavy dub version of the tune by Mighty Two. A real treat!
'Baby I Love You So' by Jacob Miller, who sang with the inspirational Inner Circle, perfectly captures the feel and sound of a rough-around-the-edges downtown Kingston recording studio, complete with hisses and crackles. Backed by the timeless 'Cassava Piece' by producer extraordinaire Augustus Pablo, this tune packs a skanking punch for rockers and lovers rock fans alike and stands in at only two and a half fantastic minutes.
Last but not least, The Jolly Brothers' 'Conscious Man' is probably one of the less well-known songs on the album but should definitely not be overlooked. Unmistakeably the work of Lee Perry's fingers behind the mixing desk, it's just about as loose, lush and liquid as reggae music gets.
