Mista Soul Jamaica's prime across two discs
Zygmunt Libucha | 12/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Alton Ellis is still performing, but his peak as a recording artist was in the 1960s and 70s - the period this extensive comp covers. Many of his classics, such as Cry Tough, Rock Steady, (Girl) I've Got a Date and Breaking up are here on the first disc.
But I like the second latter period disc even more. There are some great rare tracks like Alton's Official Daughter where Alton sings 'my little daughter,need a lots of water', and Harder and Harder. The second disc also features more rasta-themed tracks which Alton handles just as well as his rock steady classics, and soul/funk covers such as It's My Thing. So, one of the best Alton comps out there."
The Greatest Soul Singer of All Time
Keith Rocklin | L.A.Cal. | 01/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Alton just died at the age of 74 in London in October 2008.
I have astonished my friends by calling Alton the greatest soul singer of all time. Sam Cooke would be my choice for second.
Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke all died at early ages.
Alton made few albums later in his life, but in these songs and albums - many not on cd - he demonstrated maturity and power that carried his genius even further than his early productions.
He never got the recognition he deserved, nor the commercial success. I feel his later work is every bit as good as his classic early work.
Ironically, Sean Paul probably did more to popularize his work than he did himself in the great song "I'm still in Love", which became a big hit and faithfully used the same phrasing and musicality of the original.
Alton recorded his most famous songs at Treasure Isle Studio and Studio one.
Alton once said in a live interview I heard on radio that Coxsone Dodd of Studio One was a "better music man" than Duke Reid of Treasure Isle. But he recorded many of the same songs at both studios.
I assume the songs on this cd are from Treasure Isle however.
When I was first introduced to Alton I was told that what set him apart from everyone was "heart". The man has a humanity and purity of feeling and goodness that elevated him beyond his peers as an artist.
Alton's sister Hortense was in the top ranks of female reggae singers though she recorded little, but made one great Studio One album with Alton, also on cd."
Track Listings (30) - Disc #1