The Island Story 1962-1987

Reflecting the label's roots in Jamaica in the late 1950s, this 31-song collection celebrating Island's 25th anniversary includes the definitive reggae anthems "The Harder They Come" by Jimmy Cliff from the classic movie soundtrack of the same name and "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley. Capturing the playful side of Jamaica, there's the first hit for label founder Chris Blackwell, the infectious 1963 smash "My Boy Lollipop" by little Millie Small; "Israelites" by Desmond Dekker and the Aces, "Montego Bay" by Amazulu, "Sinsemilla" by Black Uhuru, and a rousing "Funky Kingston" courtesy of Toots and the Maytals. Illustrating how Island grew far beyond the confines of the Caribbean, the album also includes white rockers U2, Traffic, Free, Robert Palmer and Julian Cope. Throw in several ballads such as "Up Where We Belong" by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley, and this is the overview you'd expect from such a long-lived and diverse label, although it must have been tough to hold to only one song from a catalog as extensive as Marley's, for example. Flow is sometimes a problem, but the music is strong. ~ Mark Allan