Time Marches On

With an incredibly prolific hitmaker like Derrick Morgan, playing selector on a career-spanning compilation is a thankless task at the best of times. But the pressure is reduced if you blame it all on the fans. Thus, the back cover insists that Time Marches On features "Morgan's most requested tracks." One would be wrong, however, to assume that these requests would result in a greatest-hits collection; in fact, most of his best-known numbers are nowhere to be found here. Instead, Heartbeat gives the fans what they really want, an album stuffed with rarities, B-sides, and lesser-known numbers, with a few big songs thrown in to pull in the punters. And while this is usually a recipe for disappointment for the more general listener, Time contains a treasure trove of music from one of Jamaica's greatest artists. With the album helpfully divided into separate genre sections (thus the album's subtitle "Derrick Morgan Sings Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae"), one can trace the artist's path across the decades. An ample booklet keeps everything on track, and includes a pocket biography and copious information on each track, including full musician and backing vocalist credits. For collectors, there's the earliest version of "Fatman," "Lover Boy," one of two songs recorded at Morgan's first-ever recording session, and Jamaica's first-ever duet, "Love Not to Brag," featuring Patsy Todd. The rocksteady section is equally filled with gems sure to please all; "Ain't That Crazy," "Lagga Head," and "Stumbling Block" are particular standouts, along with the big hits "Conquering Ruler" and "Do the Beng Beng," of course. From the reggae period, "Top the Pop," a version of the smash "Pop a Top," is an intriguing mix that blends the hit with "Fatman." Of equal note is "What a Bam Bam," which utilizes an alternate rhythm of the Uniques' epiphany, "My Conversation." Moving through the years, there's the punk-era "Rudies Don't Fear," a remake of Morgan's rudeboy classic "Tougher Than Tough," and, bringing the set to a close, a steaming "Moon Hop," a cover of the perennial fave "Skinhead Moonstomp," recorded live in 1996. Many fans think the big hits are all they really need; Time Marches On shows just how wrong they are. ~ Jo-Ann Greene