Universal Music 20th Century Masters (series)

The Best of Gregory Isaacs

Product Description:

Personnel: Gregory Isaacs (vocals); Dwight Pinkney, Eric Lamont, Noel Bailey (guitar); Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (keyboards); Wally Badarou (synthesizer); Errol "Flabba" Holt (bass guitar); Lincoln "Style" Scott (drums).

Recording information: 1979 - 1984.

Librettist: Tom Terrell.

This is a leisurely stroll through 11 of Gregory Isaacs's impeccably smooth lover's rock rhythms, culling tracks from 1979's SOON FORWARD, 1982's NIGHT NURSE, and 1983's OUT DEH albums, in addition to a couple of live cuts. Commencing with the unmistakable keyboard motif of the Cool Ruler's best-known hit "Night Nurse," the collection also features a rarity in the form of "Top Ten," previously only released as a single. "Cool Down the Pace," a winning combination of dance hall and lover's rock styles, is Isaacs at his laid-back best, while the rootsy, Black Uhuru-like "Universal Tribulation" reveals a more socially conscious side to his persona. THE BEST OF GREGORY ISAACS is an excellent primer to the singer's late-'70s and early-'80s heyday, as well as a fine example of why his popularity has spanned the decades.