Bust Out

The Mighty Diamonds (Donald "Tabby" Shaw, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson, Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson) have recorded with most of the major Jamaican producers in their long career as one of the island's greatest harmony trios, and their body of work has shown a remarkable consistency. Bust Out, recorded in 1993, teams the Diamonds with producer Junior Reid, whose sparse, airy backing tracks allow the trio's vocal talents to take center stage. While it doesn't quite measure up to the benchmark material the Mighty Diamonds recorded in the mid-'70s at Channel One (and which led to their classic Right Time album from 1976), there is still a lot to like here, including a wonderfully smooth remake of the group's classic "I Need a Roof" and a sleek, infectious "Cool It." Bust Out might not be the best place for listeners new to the Diamonds to start, since Reid's production approach results in a thin sound at times, but longtime fans of the trio will definitely want to check out this one. ~ Steve Leggett|