Whats on your turntable tonight?

Tonight, some Reggae.

1. Soundtrack from the movie "The Harder They Come" on Mango Records, Distributed by Island Records. Featuring young Jimmy Cliff, other listed artists are "Maytals", "Melodians", and "Slickers". Snippets of the film plays in my mind's eye every time I hear this album.

2. Exodus- Bob Marley and the Wailers. Good old warhorse sounds fresh still.

Hello Rushton:

Your question is very hard on my brain.

I had to go through my Reggae section to give you an answer.

If I were to buy only two reggae albums, I would buy
1)"Bob Marley and the Wailers Live!" 1975 Island Records ILPS 9376.
2)Third World "You've Got the Power", Columbia FC3774

"Legend" as described by Slipknot, is a fine compilation of Marley's work. I prefer "Live" because I am partial to recordings of live performances, and I prefer the slightert faster tempo at which the songs are played on "Live".

Third World gets a nod, because while the entire album is good, "Try Jah Love" (Side One Track One-written by Stevie Wonder) is an ultimate test of one's groovenosity/life force quotient. If you don't dance or at least get your head bobbing when this track is played at a good volume, you are likely in a coma.

However, don't obsess over the choices. Your approach, IMO is unimpeachable-buy two, play them to death and get them inside you. Then buy just one more/Repeat process.

I have to go blast Third World now.

Happy Listening.

Michael

I just finished listening to "Trouble Man" (Tamla T322L). This Marvin Gaye's outstanding soundtrack to the most forgettable movie of the same title.

Maybe it's just my mood, but this is in the top 1% of all my albums. Just a wandering, fabulously inspired performance with an inexplicable ending. Actually parallels his life, I guess.