VARIOUS ARTISTS
Dennis Brown and Friends (D3)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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When the folks at D3 Entertainment found themselves with four of the last tracks recorded by Dennis Brown, one of the all time greats in lover's rock category of reggae music, they came up with a tribute concept that would match those cuts with another dozen by his contemporaries and successors, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Brown's family.

It was a good concept, and it produced a very good album. There's a cultural cut or two mixed in, just as there was in Dennis Brown's songbook, but the emphasis is on the lover's rock that was his primary gig. It happens to be one of my favorite styles, and tends to attract reggae's best voices. Several of the very best are on hand here.

Of course, four new tracks by Dennis Brown are enough to attract the interest of his legions of fans, but they won't be disappointed by the additional contributions of artists like Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor and others, some of less renown, but all of considerable talent. It's a fitting tribute to a reggae legend.

Track List:

Dennis Brown/I Believe * Sugar Minott/Say Yes * Tyrone Evans/I Wanna Dance * Tinga Stewart/Under Your Spell * Dennis Brown & R. Nilajah Benaiah/A Perfect Start * Joseph Benaiah/Tonight Is The Night * Dean Fraser/Superduper Man * Freddie McGregor/Nah Sell Out Di Ting * Roman Stewart/Woman Come On * Dennis Brown/Falling Angel * Screwdriver & Joseph Benaiah/She's My Everything * Mark Wonder/Signs Of The Time * Empress Trejah/Ras Ras * Joseph Benaiah/Hey Girl * Hopeton Lindo/I'm Glad It's You * Dennis Brown/Not My Baby

© 2001 - Shaun Dale