Hello, we're still on that island with a huge place in the global music catalogue, Jamaica. A production hothouse and they say the Weed makes you slow and lazy-go figure. Without the ganja driven reggae music Jamaica would have remained a Caribbean backwater and dare i say would never have given us Bolt, the fastest man in the world.
Today in the spotlight one of Jamaica's megastars, Gregory Isaacs, a 140min cross section of his work is up for grabs here, by the singer whose smooth style earned him the nickname "Cool Ruler"and "Lonely Lover'. He died 13 months ago at the age of 59.. Isaacs had been diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago, but continued performing until weeks before his death. The entertainer had 40 years as a recording artist, he has made over 500 albums, and definitely left an impression on reggae music, all while having a turbulent life.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
One of Jamaica's most beloved vocalists who is as pertinent in dancehalls as he is in bedrooms, Gregory Isaacs' career has stretched over 40 years. From the heady days of reggae through lovers rock, a genre he virtually invented, his talent reached into the modern age. Born in the Fletcher's Land area of Kingston, Jamaica, on July 15, 1951, Isaacs arrived in the music business via the talent show circuit. After 5 years of failing to make an impact and regardless of this poor track record, in 1973 Isaacs set up his own record store and label, African Museum, in partnership with Errol Dunkley, a young singer with a string of hits to his own name. Apparently some of Dunkley's own magic wore off and one of the label's first releases, Isaacs' own self-produced "My Only Lover," was an immediate hit and the floodgates opened wide. Besides African Museums' offerings, Isaacs helped keep the label solvent by recording with virtually every producer on the island for a stream of hits that showed no sign of abating.
By the late seventies, the two polar sides of Isaacs were apparent: the roots singer, whose emotive sufferer's songs and cultural numbers were filled with fire, and the crooning lover, whose passionate declarations of devotion quivered with emotion. Eventually, the latter "Cool Ruler" would come to dominate his image. In 78 Virgins Frontline label signed him and he produced two great albums for the UK market that didnt make a dent and so his first voyage across the pond wasnt succesful. a few years later Isaacs was picked up by Island's Mango and released Night Nurse which became a big hit and launched his international career. Ironically at the time he was serving a six months jail sentence for a drug related crime. Drugs and mainly crack cocaine had become part of his life by that time a decede later his voice and teeth had givin way. This didnt stop him creating many more dancehall classics with many diferent producers and deejees.
The singer showed in the new millennium with aplomb on Father and Son, which true to the title features Isaacs and his son Kevin. The duets are gorgeous, while the younger Isaacs is given plenty of room to prove that his talent is equal to his dad's. The next year, I Found Love marked the second time the two worked together. In between times, the singer continues to impress audiences live.
In 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album Brand New Me. The album received positive reviews from critics, it was to be his last, the brand new me is singing at the other side now.
Gregory Isaacs - Cool Ruler (The Definitive Collection) 1 (flac 306mb)
101 Dancing Floor 2:15
102 Look Before You Leap 3:08
103 One One Cocoa 3:09
104 Loving Pauper 3:45
105 All I Have Is Love 2:22
106 Ba Da 3:02
107 Sweeter The Victory 2:50
108 Way Of Life 2:25
109 Beautiful Africa 2:48
110 My Religion 3:09
111 Jailer Jailer (Bring Me Water) 2:09
112 Promised Land 2:54
113 Black A Kill Black 3:01
114 Warriors 2:59
115 Dreadlocks Love Affair 3:41
116 Rasta Business 2:45
117 Thief A Man 2:57
118 John Public 3:03
119 Mr Cop 3:57
120 Set The Captives Free 3:05
121 The Border 4:08
122 Slave Master 3:07
123 My Time (12" Mix) 7:16
124 Something Nice 3:19
125 Love Light (Burning) 2:32
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Gregory Isaacs - Cool Ruler (The Definitive Collection) 2 (flac 466mb)
201 No Speech 4:20
202 Get Ready 4 36
203 Poor And Clean 3:38
204 Tune In 3:40
205 Soon Forward 6:32
206 Universal Tribulation 3:47
207 Rock This Ya Reggae Beat (Aka Going Downtown) (12" Mix) 5:12
208 What A Feeling (12" Mix) 3:47
209 Night Nurse (10" Mix) 7:08
210 Cool Down The Pace 5:09
211 Love Me With Feeling (12" Mix) 5:45
212 Mi Come Again 4:46
213 Tenement Yard 6:42
214 Private Beach Party 4:17
215 Rumours (12" Mix) 6:13
216 Sad Feeling Tonight 4:19
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Today in the spotlight one of Jamaica's megastars, Gregory Isaacs, a 140min cross section of his work is up for grabs here, by the singer whose smooth style earned him the nickname "Cool Ruler"and "Lonely Lover'. He died 13 months ago at the age of 59.. Isaacs had been diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago, but continued performing until weeks before his death. The entertainer had 40 years as a recording artist, he has made over 500 albums, and definitely left an impression on reggae music, all while having a turbulent life.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
One of Jamaica's most beloved vocalists who is as pertinent in dancehalls as he is in bedrooms, Gregory Isaacs' career has stretched over 40 years. From the heady days of reggae through lovers rock, a genre he virtually invented, his talent reached into the modern age. Born in the Fletcher's Land area of Kingston, Jamaica, on July 15, 1951, Isaacs arrived in the music business via the talent show circuit. After 5 years of failing to make an impact and regardless of this poor track record, in 1973 Isaacs set up his own record store and label, African Museum, in partnership with Errol Dunkley, a young singer with a string of hits to his own name. Apparently some of Dunkley's own magic wore off and one of the label's first releases, Isaacs' own self-produced "My Only Lover," was an immediate hit and the floodgates opened wide. Besides African Museums' offerings, Isaacs helped keep the label solvent by recording with virtually every producer on the island for a stream of hits that showed no sign of abating.
By the late seventies, the two polar sides of Isaacs were apparent: the roots singer, whose emotive sufferer's songs and cultural numbers were filled with fire, and the crooning lover, whose passionate declarations of devotion quivered with emotion. Eventually, the latter "Cool Ruler" would come to dominate his image. In 78 Virgins Frontline label signed him and he produced two great albums for the UK market that didnt make a dent and so his first voyage across the pond wasnt succesful. a few years later Isaacs was picked up by Island's Mango and released Night Nurse which became a big hit and launched his international career. Ironically at the time he was serving a six months jail sentence for a drug related crime. Drugs and mainly crack cocaine had become part of his life by that time a decede later his voice and teeth had givin way. This didnt stop him creating many more dancehall classics with many diferent producers and deejees.
The singer showed in the new millennium with aplomb on Father and Son, which true to the title features Isaacs and his son Kevin. The duets are gorgeous, while the younger Isaacs is given plenty of room to prove that his talent is equal to his dad's. The next year, I Found Love marked the second time the two worked together. In between times, the singer continues to impress audiences live.
In 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album Brand New Me. The album received positive reviews from critics, it was to be his last, the brand new me is singing at the other side now.
Gregory Isaacs - Cool Ruler (The Definitive Collection) 1 (flac 306mb)
101 Dancing Floor 2:15
102 Look Before You Leap 3:08
103 One One Cocoa 3:09
104 Loving Pauper 3:45
105 All I Have Is Love 2:22
106 Ba Da 3:02
107 Sweeter The Victory 2:50
108 Way Of Life 2:25
109 Beautiful Africa 2:48
110 My Religion 3:09
111 Jailer Jailer (Bring Me Water) 2:09
112 Promised Land 2:54
113 Black A Kill Black 3:01
114 Warriors 2:59
115 Dreadlocks Love Affair 3:41
116 Rasta Business 2:45
117 Thief A Man 2:57
118 John Public 3:03
119 Mr Cop 3:57
120 Set The Captives Free 3:05
121 The Border 4:08
122 Slave Master 3:07
123 My Time (12" Mix) 7:16
124 Something Nice 3:19
125 Love Light (Burning) 2:32
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Gregory Isaacs - Cool Ruler (The Definitive Collection) 2 (flac 466mb)
201 No Speech 4:20
202 Get Ready 4 36
203 Poor And Clean 3:38
204 Tune In 3:40
205 Soon Forward 6:32
206 Universal Tribulation 3:47
207 Rock This Ya Reggae Beat (Aka Going Downtown) (12" Mix) 5:12
208 What A Feeling (12" Mix) 3:47
209 Night Nurse (10" Mix) 7:08
210 Cool Down The Pace 5:09
211 Love Me With Feeling (12" Mix) 5:45
212 Mi Come Again 4:46
213 Tenement Yard 6:42
214 Private Beach Party 4:17
215 Rumours (12" Mix) 6:13
216 Sad Feeling Tonight 4:19
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
1 comment:
Hi Rho, I've been trawling through your older posts and discovered reggae! This is the first of what I hope will be a few requests as I find new treasures (old treasures that are new to me). Please can you re-up Gregory Isaacs. Much obliged.
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