Greatest Jamaican Beat

Two Duke Reid-produced collections have been offset here to create a killer introduction to rocksteady reggae. The first, Greatest Jamaica Beat, is a re-release of a 1967 compilation, while the second disc showcases legendary sax player Tommy McCook with a newly arranged set of instrumentals. Despite being the key ingredient to the slickness of the rocksteady sound, McCook never released a complete album with Reid's Treasure Isle label. For reggae geeks, a studio-quality Tommy McCook & The Supersonics set is big news.

Disc 1 is less groundbreaking but probably proves the more easy listening. Soulful vocals bring these tracks to life, with groups such as The Techniques and The Melodians representing the plethora of talent from which Reid had to chose from. Female vocalists Phyllis Dillon and Gloria Crawford give solid performances, particularly on Dillon's rendition of the calypso standard ‘Don't Touch Me Tomato’. Another calypso-tinged track, ‘Hey Leroy (Your Mama's Calling You)’ by the little-known Sam Jones, is a raucous party-starter that celebrates rocksteady's oft-overlooked origins. Credit on most tracks should again be given to Tommy McCook, whose image on the cover is testament to his influence.