One really doesn't know what to make of a scene whose greatest composers often had their biggest hits covering other peoples' songs. But that was the state of the scene in the first half of the '70s. Island-fying hits has a long tradition in Jamaica, dating to the music industry's earliest days, but in the '70s Britain was, if anything, even keener than Jamaica itself on the concept. , for one, was happy to give the people what they wanted, and while his own compositions still hit, it was the covers that were the smashes. Which explains 1974's produced , an album dedicated entirely to covers. The set so impressed that the label immediately signed and paired him with producer , with the resultant hitting the shops before the year was out. This reissue further fluffs up the set by interspersing six bonus numbers among the original tracks, five of which are inexplicably drawn from ' equally popular follow-up . The lavish backings for the album were all recorded at in Jamaica, the gentle arrangements illuminated by elegant keyboards and exquisite guitar work, and it was in that unadulterated form that Islanders received the album. worked his magic for British fans, lacing the numbers with lush, symphonic overdubs that add further refinement to an already sparkling set. promptly spawned 's sole British hit, which soared to number six in the U.K. charts that winter. It's a strong number, but the set contained even better ones, including a magnificent take on an inspired version of a glorious and a superb The bonus tracks pull much of the best from as well, but rather than buy this reissue, one would do better to get both complete sets. The superior offerings are the ones that twin the original U.K. and Jamaican sets, allowing listeners to experience the preferred styles from both sides of the Atlantic. ~ Jo-Ann Greene