The 70s became a truly glorious decade for Reggae. Artists in both Jamaica and the UK drew inspiration from the joys and pains of romantic love. Love themed Reggae became widely popular during this golden period and is highlighted on this essential 2CD collection which brings together 46 of the most romantic Reggae recordings ever released. Many of the tracks were hits, including ‘Silly Games’, ‘Tears On My Pillow’ and ‘Three Times A Lady’ performed by lovers style artists Janet Kay, Ken Boothe, Marie Pierre, Marcia Griffiths and John Holt. The collection ‘Sweet Harmony’ provides lovers of romantic Reggae with the perfect soundtrack that can be enjoyed year-round. One now takes a look at a selection of the tracks.

DISC ONE

1. SILLY GAMES – Janet Kay. This recording became very popular in the UK and was a chart No 2 in 1979. Written by Dennis Bovell it is a slowish sound and comes with a long instrumental opening before the vocalist comes in with a high-pitched vocal, the backing comes punchy and some orchestral sounds come in around halfway through for a short period and at the end. Good way to start this collection and shows how good Lover’s Reggae can be. 3. THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE – Marcia Griffiths. This is a version of a song made popular by Roberta Flack and Marcia does a top-notch job on the vocal. There is a pounding rhythm track and with releases like this she became one of Jamaica’s top female artists, performing for over 60 years. A top recording of a wonderful song. 6. HOMELY GIRL – Jackie Robinson. The Chi-Lites had an an American and UK hit with this song and here we have the former lead singer of The Pioneers doing a fine version. The rhythm track comes mid-tempo and although nothing special it lends itself to Robinson’s vocal. Another fine version of a good song. 8. BREAKFAST IN BED – Candy McKenzie. This song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years in the Reggae genre, the most remembered being from Lorna Bennett. The vocalist may not be that well-known but should be as this recording is as good as any other version. This comes mid-tempo and has a chug-along rhythm track. Candy sounds young on this and it came out on the Black Art label 1977. 10. GEE BABY – Al Campbell. This vocalist was very underrated and deserved more credit for his recording work. The rhythm track comes mid-tempo and is smooth with a vocal chorus helping out at times throughout. This was produced by Phil Pratt and was originally on a vinyl album of the same name on the Sunshot label in UK. 12. LET’S FALL IN LOVE – Zap Pow. This is a slowish number on which we hear a fine main vocal and the other group members join in. The rhythm track comes straight and overall this is a catchy recording. As a 7″ it was a b side and produced by Chris Blackwell. 15. COME ON GIRL – Jackie Edwards. One of Jamaica’s most remembered artists a here we have Jackie on a mid-tempo sound. As one would expect this is a ballad with a soulful vocal and was released on Trojan label 1971 and produced by Count Prince Miller. 17. MY LOVE – Ken Boothe. Another of Jamaica’s top artists on a song recorded by Paul McCartney and Wings with this version coming with plenty of style, Ken is on top form with the vocal. The rhythm track comes straight and one ends up listening to a good version of a top song. 20. LAST DATE – Sister Stern. The rhythm on this comes mid-tempo and comes with no percussion in sight. Not sure who the vocalist is but she does a fine vocal and halfway through she goes into a spoken vocal. Overall a good sound and the song was originally written by American pianist Floyd Cramer and recorded by Skeeter Davis in a country style. 22. UNCHAINED MELODY – Greyhound. This outfit were one of the UK’s top Reggae performers during the 70s and onwards and had several UK chart hits. Here we have them on a version of a song made popular by The Righteous Brothers, amongst others. On this mid-tempo sound we have a soulful vocal in front of a chug-along rhythm track on which we hear a backing chorus from time-to-time. A pleasing version of a well-known song.

DISC TWO

1. TEARS ON MY PILLOW – Johnny Nash. This track starts disc two and will be familiar to many Reggae fans, along with the vocalist who had several UK chart hits. Beginning with a spoken intro it moves into a mid-tempo version of a recording by Little Anthony & The Imperials amongst other artists. Midway through the spoken vocal returns and at various times a female chorus comes in. This went to No 1 in the UK charts for one week in 1975. 3. I BELIEVE – Marie Pierre. Hear we listen to one of Jamaica’s top female artists, this should not be mixed-up with the well-known song that has the same title. This comes as a mid-tempo number from a very underrated singer and Marie sounds young, she gives a fine vocal performance in front of a straight Reggae rhythm track. Catchy recording and can be found on the ‘Love Affair’ album from 1979. 6. IF YOU LOVE ME – Yvonne Sterling. Not sure who the vocalist is but have to say that she does a fine job on this. The rhythm track comes mid-tempo and has a punchy feel. Yvonne is joined by backing singers from time-to-time and she should have gained more success than she appears to have had. Released on Form Records label in Jamaica 1974. 9. PLAY ME – Marcia Griffiths. On this recording we hear one of Jamaica’s female legends and as always Marcia gives a classy performance. The rhythm track is mid-tempo and heavy which gets one’s feet tapping. Being one half of the Bob & Marcia duo she became well known in both Jamaica and UK with a string of fine recordings. If you have followed the career of this artist, you will no doubt have come across this recording which was a Neil Diamond song and on this the producer was Lloyd Charmers. 11. YOU ARE MINE – Honey Boy. This was released on the Trojan label in 1997 and after a longish instrumental intro the vocalist comes in with a soulful vocal. The rhythm track is slower than on previous tracks and is very catchy. Another of Jamaica’s underrated artists, having no UK chart success, as he should. Overall a very good recording. 14. ABOUT TO LOOSE MY MIND – Pam Hall. Another of Jamaica’s top female artists on a mid-tempo sound that has some percussion at times. Pam shows off her vocal talents and we end up with one of the collections best tracks. Released on Cactus label in UK 1977 being produced by Trevor Chong. 16. IF I FOLLOW MY HEART – Linval Thompson. Recorded in 1976 this comes with a soulful vocal from Linval in front of a mid-tempo rhythm track. The vocalist sounds youngish and is helped-out by a chorus at times. The punchy overall sound comes without any percussion and one has to say that it is nothing special. 19. MY WILLOW TREE – Hortense Ellis. The vocalist was the younger sister of Alton Ellis and although at one stage a recording was released as Alton Ellis & Hortense Ellis it was still only had a female vocal. Alton Ellis also recorded a version as a solo artist around the same time. The track comes fast and Hortense does a fine job on the vocal and the rhythm track comes straight with a female chorus most of the way through. Hortense is another artist who should have had success in the UK. This track was only on the album Alton Ellis and Hortense and released on the Studio One label. 21. IF IT DON’T WORK OUT – Pat Kelly. This is a version of The Casinos recording, ‘Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye’ given a different title. On this Kelly sounds young and the vocal is good as one would expect from this artist. The rhythm track is punchy and has the Pama Records sound, being released on their Gas label. 23. NICE ‘N’ EASY – Susan Cadogan. Known for her UK hit ‘Hurts So Good’ we have Susan Cadogan on a fast slice of catchy Reggae with the vocalist at her best. The backing track comes with a flute sound to the fore and another vocalist coming in from time-to-time with a catchy one word vocal. Produced by Lee Perry and released on the Trojan label, 1977. 24. WAITING IN VAIN – Johnny Clarke. This is a version of the Bob Marley song and comes mid-tempo. The rhythm track is straight with a punchy feel with the vocalist giving his usual high-quality vocal and it is a worthy cover of a classic song. It also comes as fine way to conclude this cd and the collection.

CONCLUSION

For lovers of sweet Reggae this 2CD, 46 track collection will be a must buy. It’s a collection that covers well-known and lesser-known recordings, most of which are high quality. This comes as another top Reggae release from Cherry Red Records on the Doctor Bird imprint and at 14 99p will not break the bank.

Honey Boy – You Are Mine