Ultimate Collection: Gregory Isaacs

by Gregory Isaacs

Overview

You know the old saying about trying to be all things to all people? Well, with an artist as prolific as Gregory Isaacs, even a box set can never be an ultimate package but, that said, this 20-track collection is one of the better introductions to the artist. Bundling up songs recorded between the mid-'70s and the late '80s, the album leapfrogs about chronologically. Thankfully, the liner notes are extremely complete (even identifying the backing bands and listing their members!), while also including a history taken from an interview with Isaacs himself. The earliest songs included -- "Love Is Overdue" and "My Number One," both produced by Alvin Ranglin -- are among the singer's greatest, while the latest -- "Rough Neck" and "Rumours" -- are dancehall classics both overseen by Gussie Clarke. In between there are such seminal songs as the Niney Holness-produced "Slavemaster," "Oh What a Feeling" (cut for Taxi), "Mr. Cop" (co-produced by Lee Perry and Isaacs), a number of excellent self-productions, and such Flabba Holt-overseen classics as "Night Nurse." What's missing is too long to list, but Ultimate Collection does capture some of the highlights of several periods during the singer's lengthy career, and is an excellent starting place for new fans. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Product Details

Release Date:	06/26/2001
Label:	Hip-O
UPC:	0731456043029

Tracks

1. Top Ten
2. Tune In
3. My Number One
4. Love Is Overdue
5. Black a Kill Black
6. The Border
7. Thief a Man
8. Slavemaster
9. Mr. Cop
10. Storm
11. Oh What a Feeling
12. Night Nurse
13. Confirm Reservation
14. Front Door
15. Sad to Know (You're Leaving)
16. Good Morning
17. Out Deh
18. Private Secretary
19. Rumours
20. Rough Neck

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gregory Isaacs   Primary Artist
The Heptones   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Roots Radics   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Soul Syndicate   Primary Artist
Sly & Robbie   Primary Artist
The Upsetters   Primary Artist
The Taxi Gang   Primary Artist
Dean Fraser   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Sly Dunbar   Guest Artist,Drums,Syndrum
Robbie Shakespeare   Guest Artist,Bass,Piano
Revolutionaires   Guest Artist
Wally Badarou   Guest Artist,Synthesizer
The Mighty Diamonds   Featured Artist
Robert Lyn   Synthesizer Horn,Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Keyboards
Lincoln "Style" Scott   Drums
Franklyn Waul   Piano,Keyboards
Errol "Flabba" Holt   Bass
Errol "Tarzan" Nelson   Keyboards
Leslie Butler   Keyboards
Phil Ramacon   Synthesizer
Bertram "Ranchie" McLean   Bass,Guitar
Danny Brownie   Bass
Chico Chin   Trumpet
Ronald "Nambo" Robinson   Trombone
Richard G. Johnson   Keyboards
Tony Chin   Guitar
Ruddy Thomas   Percussion
Ossie Hibbert   Keyboards
Tommy McCook   Sax (Tenor)
Ansel Collins   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
Uziah "Sticky" Thompson   Percussion
Noel "Scully" Simms   Percussion
Gladstone Anderson   Keyboards
Herman Marquis   Sax (Alto)
Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson   Bass,Piano,Keyboards
Dalton Brownie   Guitar
Sky Juice   Percussion
Bobby Ellis   Trumpet
Noel Sowell Bailey   Guitar
Dwight Pinkney   Guitar
Keith Sterling   Piano,Keyboards
Barry Reynolds   Guitar
George Fullwood   Bass
Earl "Chinna" Smith   Guitar
David Madden   Trumpet
Santa Davis   Drums

Technical Credits

Robert Lyn   Synthesizer Programming
Errol "Flabba" Holt   Production Assistant
David Katz   Annotation,Photography
Roots Radics   Performer
Quinous Johnson   Tape Research
Ilene Weingard   Art Direction
Adrian Boot   Photography
Alvin Ranglin   Producer
The Mighty Diamonds   Performer
Dana Smart   Annotation,Compilation Producer
The Taxi Gang   Performer
Sly & Robbie   Performer
Sylvester Weise   Composer
Sly Dunbar   Producer
Soul Syndicate   Performer
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke   Producer
The Heptones   Performer
Pat Lawrence   Executive Producer
Gregory Isaacs   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Erick Labson   Mastering
Robbie Shakespeare   Producer