Alton Ellis – Be True to Yourself: The Godfather of Lover's Rock (Anthology 1965-1973) (2005)

Alton Ellis created a template in the 1960s that subsequent Jamaican singers like Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs would follow to a T, combining soulful vocal phrasing, derived in part from American R&B, with hard island rhythms and a bent for romantic material into a surefire way to keep a presence on the charts. Although he is often celebrated for his subtle Jamaican interpretations of American pop hits (which often improved on the originals, as is the case here with Ellis' version of Chuck Jackson's "Willow Tree"), it is startling to realize how many of the best songs on this two-disc, 56-track compilation of Ellis' early years were actually written by the singer. "Dance Crasher," "Cry Tough," "The Preacher," "Black Man's World," "Harder and Harder," and "Better Get Your Heads Together" were all penned by Ellis, and his soaring tenor renders them both poignant and irresistible. It's also interesting how many of the tracks deal squarely with social issues, and while there are plenty of romantic ballads included here, Ellis clearly had a wider range of concerns than his public persona as a crooner would afford. Songs like "Cry Tough" (with its classic "how can a man be tougher than the world" interjection by Lloyd Charmers) are immortal, in part because of Ellis' emotive and nuanced vocals, but also because the writing is so smart, wise, and assured, not to mention timely and political. As an introduction to Ellis' classic early years (and in particular, his work with Treasure Isle producer Duke Reid), Be True to Yourself is hard to beat. ~ Steve Leggett

Disc 1
01 - Something You've Got
02 - Dance Crasher
03 - Don't Trouble People
04 - The Preacher
05 - Blessings of Love
06 - Shake It
07 - (Girl) I've Got A Date
08 - How Can I
09 - Cry Tough
10 - Rocksteady
11 - Duke of Earl
12 - All My Tears (Come Rolling)
13 - Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
14 - Why Birds Follow Spring
15 - If I Could Rule The World
16 - Oowee Baby (Baby I Love You)
17 - My Willow Tree
18 - I Can'r Stop Now
19 - Why Did You Leave Me
20 - I Can't Stand It
21 - My Time Is the Right Time
22 - Bye Bye Love
23 - Tonight (aka Feeling Inside)
24 - Give Me Your Love
25 - Keep On Yearning
26 - La La Means I Love
27 - If I Had The Right
28 - Breaking Up
29 - Diana
30 - Remember That Sunday

Disc 2
01 - What Does It Take
02 - You Made Me So Very Happy
03 - Black Man's World
04 - I'll Be Waiting
05 - It's Your Thing
06 - Deliver Us
07 - Back To Africa
08 - Wide World
09 - You Said It Again
10 - Working On A Groovy Thing
11 - Hey World
12 - True Born Africa
13 - (If I) Don't Care
14 - Harder And Harder
15 - Play It Cool
16 - Be True (To Yourself)
17 - (Baby) I'm Trying
18 - Wonderful World
19 - Big Bad Boy
20 - Your Are Mine
21 - All That We Need Is Love
22 - (I Don't Know Why) Truly
23 - Alphabetically Yours
24 - I See My Future In You
25 - Alton's Official Daughter
26 - Better Get Your Heads Together