VA - Island 40, Volume 5 - 1972-1995 - Reggae Roots (1999)

Volume 5 in the 40 Years of Island Records series contains 18 tracks, most of which have appeared on various previous compilations. This should not be a deterrent, however, as this is about as solid a collection of reggae as you could wish to have. Each one of the cuts is regarded as a classic, and it is a testament to the impeccable talent spotting of Chris Blackwell and his crew that one label has such a powerful roster. Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Lee Perry, Toots and the Maytals, Third World, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Augustus Pablo, Gregory Isaacs, and more recent artists like Buju Banton and Luciano are just some of those represented, all with killer tracks, not album fillers. If ever there were a perfect reggae primer, this would fit the bill, as it also covers many stylistic variations. Although a single CD cannot hope to be comprehensive, this is a highly recommended one-stop buy for the cream of the crop.