Not the album of the same title released by Studio One in 1972, though the title track (the set’s only vocal) is present, this is a new eighteen-tracker from Soul Jazz Records – who have served Jackie’s legacy very well – containing Studio One material from the late 60s and early 70s issued under Jackie’s own name, or credited to The Skatalites (the very energetic and bluesy ska of Hanging Tree), The Soul Vendors, or Sound Dimension. No surprise he was then label’s musical director. If you like cool soul-jazz inflected reggae and funky and/ or uptempo organ reggae instrumentals like Fireball Rock, this is certainly for you.
This release brings together some classics and rarities aplenty, including some foundation reggae sounds – Jackie recorded hundreds of tracks at this time, and there are familiar riddims and backing tracks here that were picked up by numerous singers and dee-jays, a process that still continues today. Here though the focus is deservedly on Jackie himself – and he does not disappoint.