Reggae Gold 2001

                          This 2 CD compilation brings together some of the best reggae hits of the past                                year. Opening with Ain't It Good To Know by two of the hottest artists on the                              scene today, Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, the stage is set for one of the                                finest collections of reggae hits on the streets. Next up is Ce'Cile's smash hit                                   Changez, one of the biggest hits of the 2000-2001 period. Elephant Man                                       responds to Changez on the same "Chiney Gal" riddim with Wrong Application. Mega-stars including Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sanchez, Morgan Heritage, Sizzla and Capleton all appear on this best of the best CDs.

The four-man Jamaican group TOK delivers two tracks. There is the entertaining Shake Your Bam Bam on Richard "Shams" Browne's "Juice" riddim. There's also the notoriously controversial
Chi-Chi Man, a Tony Kelly produced hit that was adopted by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for political mudslinging. For those of you not familiar with Jamaican slang, "chi-chi man" is a reference to a homosexual. The song advocates violence in the worst way towards the gay community. If a white racist group came out with a song whose chorus chanted "burn all the niggers," there would be outrage. Yet this group of homophobic young men glorifies the same kind of violence and it becomes their ticket to fame and success. Go figure. Music is a tool that can be used to uplift or destroy. It's a shame to see reggae used in such a destructive way.

On the other hand, Peace Cry provides positive vibes. While wearing his producer's hat, Richie Stevens assembled a list of artists that reads like a Who's-Who list of reggae stars to record Peace
Cry. Performed on the "Jamdown" riddim, this tune about unity and peace is one of the finest tracks on the CD.

Another bright gem on the CD is Morgan Heritage's Take Up Your Cross, a superb song that gives honor to Jesus Christ. Produced by Dean "Cannon" Fraser, Take Up Your Cross is Morgan Heritage at their very best. Dean Fraser also produced Sanchez's bit hit Pretty Girl. Those of you old enough to remember Ben E. King's classic hit Spanish Harlem will immediately recognize the sample used on Capleton's Gimmi The Woman. Good tune.

Saving the best for last, the CD ends with George Nooks' number one reggae-gospel hit God Is Standing By. Outstanding quality music like this can only help to elevate the status of reggae music.
God Is Standing By is the perfect way to close an already great CD.

Also included is a bonus second CD containing remixes of 17 of the 18 tunes on Reggae Gold 2001.
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Reggae Gold 2001
Track Listing
Disc 1

1. Ain't It Good To Know -Beres Hammond & Buju Banton
2. Changez - Ce'Cile
3. Son Of A B!t@h - Lady Saw & Marsha
4 Chi-Chi Man - TOK
5. Wrong Application - Elephant Man
6. All Out War - Bounty Killer
7. Man & Man - Baby Cham
8. Shake Your Bam Bam - TOK
9. Girls Dem Sugar (Remix) - Beenie Man Feat. Mya
10. Pretty Girl - Sanchez
11. Take Up Your Cross - Morgan Heritage
12. Taking Over - Sizzla
13. Peace Cry - Various Artists
14. Boom Draw - Jr. Kelly
15. Kushungpeng - Shabba Ranks & Mikey Spice
16. Spy - Lexxus (Feat. Zavia)
17. Gimmi The Woman - Capleton
18. God Is Standing By - George Nooks
Overall Rating: 5/4

Visitors since July 7, 2001
Rating Scale:
6: Off-the-Scale!!!
5: Excellent
4: Very Good
3: Good
2: Fair
1: Poor
Reggae Gold 2000

This 2 CD compilation features some of Y2K's biggest reggae hits. The mix of dancehall, roots and culture, and lover's rock is sure to have something to please every reggae music fan. Standout tracks include Beres Hammond's number-one single They Gonna Talk, Hot Gal Today by dancehall superstars Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas, Down By The River performed by Morgan Heritage, Buju Banton's Psalms 23, and Back At One by Sanchez.

The opening track is Bounty Killer's Look, a song that was banned in Jamaica. Listen to the lyrics and it's easy to see why. On the same riddim is Wayne Wonder's booty call song Keep Them Coming. Hot and talented newcomers Lexxus, Delly Ranks and Rik Rock keep the hits coming. Lexxus performs his hit Cook, while Delly Ranks & Rik Rock give us What Ah Gal. Glen Washington provides positive vibes with One Of These Days. With selections that cover the full spectrum of the genre, Reggae Gold 2000 has something for every reggae music lover.

Included is a bonus second CD containing remixes of the Reggae 2000 tracks mixed by the Jamaican sound system Adonai.

Track Listing - Disc 1
1. Look - Bounty Killer
2. Good In Her Clothes - Capleton
3. Cook - Lexxus
4. Hot Gal Today - Sean Paul & Mr. Vegas
5. What Ah Gal - Delly Ranks & Rik Rock
6. Satan Strong - Professor Nuts
7. Magnet - Richie Stephens feat. Bounty Killer
8. They Gonna Talk - Beres Hammond
9. Down By The River - Morgan Heritage
10. Psalms 23 - Buju Banton feat Gramps
11. Ganja Farm - Beenie Man
12. Keep Them Coming - Wayne Wonder
13. One Of These Days - Glen Washington
14. Back At One - Sanchez
15. Nuh Play Chess - Madd Anju
16. War Forever - Baby Cham
17. Call U - Lexxus & Lady Saw
18. Stalag Y2K - Tenor Saw, General Echo, Buju Banton, Candy Man & Sister Nancy

                                                                                                                          Overall Rating: 4
Reggae for Jesus

Reggae for Jesus is a compilation CD of thanks and praises to the most high Jesus Christ, performed by some of the top names in reggae music. Performers include Glen Washington, Richie Stevens, Luciano and others. The opening track is an acapella remake of the old Luciano tune It's Me Again Jah, performed by Word. Retitled It's Me Again Father, this one has a jazz feel but the rest of the CD is strictly reggae.

If there is one track that stands head and shoulders above the rest it's the inspirational I'll Follow Thee, written and performed by Luciano. Excellent vocals, lyrics of devotion and dedication, and outstanding production work combine to make this one stand out from the rest. Produced by Vasco Carney and recorded over the Millennium Taxi riddim, I'll Follow Thee is Luciano at his very best.

Heavenly Father, written and performed by Richie Stevens, is another of the highlights. Richie Stevens' dynamic vocals and inspirational lyrics make this tune a true delight to listen to. The rhythm, produced by Mark Hudson with music performed by Barry O'Hare and Stone Cold Crew, is used on two other tracks as well. Other standout tunes are Jesus Is The Same by Patrick Junior and All For Jesus by Ernie Smith.

My only real criticism of the CD is that 5 tracks use the same rhythm. The trend in reggae music today is to record song after song on the same riddim, over, and over, and over again. Personally, I prefer more variety than that. Overall it's a good CD with some very good tracks.

Track Listing
1. It's Me Again Father - Word
2. Who? - Anthony Cruz
3. Fervent Prayer - Glen Washington
4. Heavenly Father - Richie Stevens
5. Jesus It's You - Chevelle Franklin
6. I'll Follow Thee - Luciano
7. I Thank You Lord - Singing Melody & Tony Curtis
8. Worthy - Horado
9. Jesus Is The Same - Patrick Junior
10. His Love - Pinchers
11. Man From Galilee - Nana McLean
12. Remember Jah Works - Spanner Banner
13. He Is The Light - George Nooks
14. All For Jesus - Ernie Smith
15. Thank You - Stevie Face
16. Jesus It's You (Acapella) - Chevelle Franklin
                                                                                      Overall Rating: 3/4