Reggae Anthology - Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality

Quick confession to make, when someone mentions the name of Niney to me I automatically think of dub, but this 40 track double CD (released earlier this year on VP records) reminds me that not only was he a producer of quality dub, but also as the title suggests, he helped to create some quality roots as well! Showcased here are just some of his works with of the biggest names in reggae, Big Youth, Dennis Brown, Max Romeo, Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Sugar Minott, and Ken Boothe to name but a few. The 1st disc for me is the stronger of the two if only for disc 2’s inclusion of the rather weak ‘Sweets for my Sweet’ by Jimmy Riely. That said disc 2 does contain possibly my favourite Niney produced track ‘Wolf And Leopards’ by Dennis Brown. Other top picks include Delroy Wilson’s ‘Rascal Man’ 'Rock Away' from Gregory Isaacs, and 'My Baby Is Gone' by Delroy Wilson.
A very nice compilation from one of Jamaica’s top producers who has produced classic tracks across the entire field of reggae, from earth shuddering bass heavy dubs to sweet as candy lovers rock, and of course along the way some fine quality roots!

Tracklisting

Disc One

1. Blood & Fire - Niney

2. Whole Lot Of Fire - Big Youth

3. The Coming Of Jah - Max Romeo

4. Rasta Bandwagon - Lee Perry / Max Romeo

5. Rascal Man (False Rasta) - Delroy Wilson

6. Rasta No Born Yah - Sang Hugh & The Lionaires

7. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner / Clap The Barber - Michael Rose

8. The Way Reason - Delroy Wilson

9. Bring The Couchie Come - The Reggae Crusaders

10. I Need Your Loving - Slim Smith

11. Rock Away - Gregory Isaacs

12. Silverwords - Ken Boothe

13. My Baby Is Gone - Delroy Wilson

14. Here I Come - Dennis Brown

15. Jah Come Here - I Roy

16. Warrior - Johnny Clarke

17. Whip Them Jah - Ranking Trevor

18. Every Natty - Junior Delgado

19. Weeping - Junior Byles

20. Sufferation – Tyrone Taylor

Disc Two

1. Wolf And Leopards / Nosey Joe - Dennis Brown / Bongo Herman

2. Slave Master - The Captives

3. Chant It Down - Freddie McGregor

4. Jah Is My Light - Leroy Smart

5. No More Will I Roam - Dennis Brown

6. Materialist - Horace Andy

7. Moses - Jacob Miller

8. Prophecy Call - Glasford Manning

9. Mutiny - Niney

10. I Jah I - The Jewels

11. Slave Call - The Ethiopians

12. Temptation, Botheration &Tribulation - The Heptones

13. Roots With Quality - Third World

14. Tease My Love - Freddie McGregor

15. Lover's Race - Sugar Minott

16. Mr. Sun - Don Carlos

17. Thank You Mama - Barry Brown

18. Lover's Rock JA Style - Freddie McGregor

19. Sweets For My Sweets - Jimmy Riley

20. Money Friend - Leroy Smart / Baby Wayne