Love Is So True

Cited by Bob Marley as his favorite singer, Dennis Brown's death in 1999 at 42 cut short an extraordinary career that spawned some 100 albums, and close to 300 singles, and while maintaining consistent artistic quality would obviously be difficult given such a massive catalog, this set shows why even his second-line releases are worth checking out. Produced by Bunny Gemini and featuring fine background vocals from the Tamlins, these songs have been released under a couple of different titles over the years, including Reggae Classics and Love Is So True, and while no one would argue that this is the best album Brown ever did, it's pretty darn good, with a solid cover of Lennon and McCartney's "You Won't See Me," as well as the infectious and dubby "Gangster," the bouncing "Take a Stand," and the bright, airy, and surprisingly funky "Have You Ever." In time Brown began to sound weary and worn, but here he sounds bright, energetic, and still on top of his game. ~ Steve Leggett