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Having grabbed up some of the hottest artists in Jamaica, Britain's Frontline label, an imprint of Virgin Records, launched onto the scene with a stream of spectacular reggae albums. That was in 1978; two years later, however, having thrilled U.K. fans with their output, the imprint closed up shop. Reactivated as a reissues label in 1990, Frontline promptly began making their marvelous catalog available again -- but only in part. Cool Ruler/Soon Forward -- Selection is a telling example of the label's egregious modus operandi. Rather than separately reissuing these two classic Gregory Isaacs albums (from 1978 and 1979, respectively), Frontline culled seven tracks off of each, mixed them up willy-nilly, slapped them on a CD, and sent the resulting mishmash to the shops. Of course, as both sets were masterpieces, the song selector couldn't have picked wrong if he tried, but why choose to begin with? Why not make both albums available, rather than leaving fans frothing in fury and frustration. A decade later, the error of Frontline's ways became evident, and both Cool Ruler and Soon Forward were reissued separately in their entirety, but only after myriad fans had shelled out for this original truncated compilation. It was a pointless exercise in sheer obstreperousness. Reggae aficionados deserved better from the get-go, and so did Frontline's artists. But there you have it. It's a great set, but only the severely economically disadvantaged should shell out for it -- buy the full albums instead.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
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Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Ernest Wilson, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - The Heptones, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lancelot McKenzie, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinna, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ranchie, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Marquis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Shakespeare, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Santa, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sly Dunbar, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Isaacs, Composer, MainArtist - Leroy Sibbles, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gladstone Anderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Delgado, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Shakespeare, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tom Tom, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sylvan Morris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ellis, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ansell Collins, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Headley Bennett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bingy Bunny, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Wallace, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Scully, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bo Peep, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl "Wire" Lindo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald "Nambo" Robinson, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Sticky, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Winston Wright, Organ, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1990 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1990 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
Having grabbed up some of the hottest artists in Jamaica, Britain's Frontline label, an imprint of Virgin Records, launched onto the scene with a stream of spectacular reggae albums. That was in 1978; two years later, however, having thrilled U.K. fans with their output, the imprint closed up shop. Reactivated as a reissues label in 1990, Frontline promptly began making their marvelous catalog available again -- but only in part. Cool Ruler/Soon Forward -- Selection is a telling example of the label's egregious modus operandi. Rather than separately reissuing these two classic Gregory Isaacs albums (from 1978 and 1979, respectively), Frontline culled seven tracks off of each, mixed them up willy-nilly, slapped them on a CD, and sent the resulting mishmash to the shops. Of course, as both sets were masterpieces, the song selector couldn't have picked wrong if he tried, but why choose to begin with? Why not make both albums available, rather than leaving fans frothing in fury and frustration. A decade later, the error of Frontline's ways became evident, and both Cool Ruler and Soon Forward were reissued separately in their entirety, but only after myriad fans had shelled out for this original truncated compilation. It was a pointless exercise in sheer obstreperousness. Reggae aficionados deserved better from the get-go, and so did Frontline's artists. But there you have it. It's a great set, but only the severely economically disadvantaged should shell out for it -- buy the full albums instead.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:51:06
- Main artists: Gregory Isaacs
- Composer: Gregory Isaacs
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: World Reggae
© 1990 Virgin Records Limited This Compilation ℗ 1990 Virgin Records Limited
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