Love & Hate

No single-CD compilation could even begin to scratch the surface of 's best recordings, least of all one with a mere 15 tracks, but in its favor, does provide some welcome variety. Highlighting both the singer's numbers and cultural classics, and trawling through his '70s and '80s canons, this compilation attempts to sum up 's oeuvre in broad strokes. Eschewing his early years at , and any sense of chronology, the set kicks off with what would become a standard, 1977's However, the story really begins back in 1972, when the singer left and began recording with other producers, including , for whom he cut and , who released which, when recut in 1979, would jangle up the British charts. Even so, the teenager was yet to break out of his own mold, until, that is, he met up with . Under 's aegis, unleashed a tsunami of singles, quickly maturing into one of Jamaica's most revered cultural heroes. Among the classics which earned him this status were If never recorded another song, his reputation would still have been assured. But the young singer was nowhere near through, and in 1976, he moved into self-production, with (aka aka ) illustrating the quality of this work. Still, continued cutting singles for other producers, and in 1979 reunited with for a series of stunning albums; (from their LP) dates from their first year back together. As styles shifted in the dancehalls, linked up with , but none of that excellent material is featured here. Instead, the set looks at his work with the equally hot producers , who oversaw such mid-'80s smash hits as Although it doesn't provide a career-spanning overview, still covers a lot of ground, sweeping across the highlights of this revered singer's greatest work. ~ Jo-Ann Greene