Number One

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:56:31
Producers: Alvin Ranglin (tracks 1-10). Includes liner notes by John Masouri. All songs written by Gregory Isaacs except "Willow Tree" and "Breaking Up" (traditional) and "Loving Pauper" (H. Ralph). An odd little round-up this. At first glance it seems like yet another compilation devoted exclusively to Gregory Isaacs' work with producer Alvin Ranglin. The singer recorded a slew of songs for the former Maytones singer at the dawn of his career, including a clutch of hits and three albums. Among them were gorgeous romantic numbers like the smash hit "My Number One," lovelorn songs like "Tumbling Tears," another massive hit, "Lonely Days," "Breaking Up," and more nuanced numbers that showed the singer's emotional depths, like "If You're Feeling Hot, I Will Cool You" and "Can I Change My Mind." Cultural classics also abounded -- "Philistines," "The Border," and "No Speech, No Language" included. Virtually everything Isaacs cut for Ranglin was of the very highest caliber, as the first ten tracks on this set beautifully illustrate. But Isaacs never worked exclusively for Ranglin, and during these early years he also recorded with a plethora of other producers, while the singer also unleashed a further stream of self-produced hits. Two songs don't even scratch the surface of his other canons, but apparently the Pete Weston-produced cover of "Loving Pauper" and Gussie Clarke's "My Time" (aka "To Be a Man") are meant to at least highlight all his other work. Hardly! So not really an all-around best-of collection, nor even a best-of devoted to Ranglin productions. It's an oddity, but filled with glorious music regardless. ~ Jo-Ann Greene
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)