Even as greatest hits packages go, Legend is an utter gem. Every song is inspired, in a class of its own, whether the real version of "I Shot the Sheriff", the hymnlike "No Woman, No Cry" or the sheer joy of "Jamming". Even allowing that Marley never wrote any bad material, Legend is still the crème de la crème, the heart and soul of the Jamaican people packed into one five-inch compact disc. He was unique and the message of this record, more than any other, is that he died far too soon. --Chris Nickson

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

The young Frederick "Toots" Hibberts honed his vocal skills in the church. No surprise then that the music he recorded with The Maytals is largely gospel-tinged and very effectively backed up by the fervent, energetic rhythms of ska, the sound of the era in which much of it was recorded. Concentrating on their most productive period (between 1966 when Toots was released from jail on a cannabis charge and 1974), this collection features most of the group's biggest hits, many of which were successful in the UK as well as back home. It's a pure joy to listen to classics such as "54-46 That's My Number" (famously sampled by the Rebel MC in later years), "Pressure Drop" (covered by The Clash), "Bam Bam" (which won them the Jamaican Festival Song Competition), "Monkey Man" (a much covered hit that went down a storm in the UK) and "Do The Reggay", allegedly the record that coined the name, albeit with a different spelling. There is more than a dash of reggae and roots vibes sprinkled throughout these tracks and Toots's voice shines through the often heavy riddims with a beautiful, soulful clarity that cannot be denied. --Paul Sullivan

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Simply brilliant, not a bad song on it!, 30 Aug 2008
I'm not one for writing reviews but seeing as no-one has bothered to write a review for this Toots & The Maytals CD, I thought I may as well be the first.

If your knowledge of reggae goes as far as Bob Marley, and that's it, then you seriously need to broaden your tastes, and as a starter I highly recommend Toots. This CD covers The Maytals career from 1966 to 1974 and all the hits are here - Monkey Man (later covered by The Specials), their brilliant debut single Bam Bam, 54-46 That's My Number and probably their most famous song Pressure Drop (later covered by The Clash).

There's 20 songs on this album and I can honestly say there simply isn't a bad song on here, this album played through from start to finish sounds fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and buy this album, if you like your reggae/ska then I promise you this album will not disappoint you.

Talk about high concept: Dub Side of the Moon features the house band of noted New York reggae label Easy Star covering Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in the same sequence and in recognisable but reggae fashion. Here, the All Stars turn Floyd's strangely surreal world even stranger and more surreal, adorning the band's dark psychedelic music with slow reggae beats and head-spinning dub-style production that is both inspired and effective. "Money" opens with the sound of bong hits and coughing instead of the cash register, then grooves to a reggae beat as guitar and organ churn out the classic riff--there's even the mandatory sax break in the middle. The group hits it just right on "Great Gig in the Sky", retaining the soaring gospel voice, while the remake of the chiming bells on "Time" reveals a bit of irreverent humour. Tearing away at the alienation of the original, this infusion of new personality makes it all work, elevating the album's concept from the half-baked to visionary. --Tad Hendrickson

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Simply brilliant, not a bad song on it!, 30 Aug 2008
I'm not one for writing reviews but seeing as no-one has bothered to write a review for this Toots & The Maytals CD, I thought I may as well be the first.

If your knowledge of reggae goes as far as Bob Marley, and that's it, then you seriously need to broaden your tastes, and as a starter I highly recommend Toots. This CD covers The Maytals career from 1966 to 1974 and all the hits are here - Monkey Man (later covered by The Specials), their brilliant debut single Bam Bam, 54-46 That's My Number and probably their most famous song Pressure Drop (later covered by The Clash).

There's 20 songs on this album and I can honestly say there simply isn't a bad song on here, this album played through from start to finish sounds fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and buy this album, if you like your reggae/ska then I promise you this album will not disappoint you.

quirk side of the loon, 08 May 2008
This is an astonishing record! On paper the idea of a reggae cover of Dark Side Of The Moon sounds demented - but in practise it's truly fabulous. The All-Stars perform dub alchemy, conjuring roots rock out of prog rock like it was the most natural progression. Great Gig In The Sky had me sobbing at its beauty - honestly.

Any Floyd fans with a passing interest in reggae - or, alternatively, any reggae-ists with a passing interest in Pink Floyd - this is for you. Carefully treading that fine line between homage and parody, the All-Stars present a classic work of art in a new way that shines a white light into the prism of your heart. The result is a mind-bending rainbow.

Greatest Covers Album Ever?, 21 Sep 2007
Unusual, in that it's a cover album, rather than an album of cover songs, if that makes sense. If the purpose of a cover version is to bring a new interpretation or sound to familiar work, then this is as good as it gets.
The songs are actually pretty faithful to the originals, but the reggae rendition adds another dimension, which seems to meld perfectly. The title is a little misleading, I'd say it's reggae with a bit of dub rather than out-and-out dub.
I'd also say that the success of the album, musically, should be taken as huge compliment to Pink Floyd.
I welcome the element of wit which diverts from the slight, typically early '70s, tendency to rock pomposity of the original, but I guess the odd Pink Floyd purist might be outraged.

Lizzy, 30 Aug 2007
This is an out and out copy of Dark Side of Moon. I've seen the All Stars perform it live and it's even better than the CD. It will never be the same as Pink Floyd's version and I don't think they have tried to do that. It just works beautifully as a Dub version and I think they've done a fantastic job!

I pity the fools..., 26 Jul 2007
...who fail to get this album. A couple of reviewers have slated this, one says it is cheating, the other says it is only good for a laugh. I presume these are die-hard Floyd fans, who are far too precious about the original work to see how brilliantly the All-Stars have rearranged this record into a dub masterpiece. If you like Pink Floyd but are not too anal about them, or if you are a fan of dub, then this album is a must. Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully executed, what are you waiting for??

There is no dark side of the moon in fact it's all dub, 24 May 2007
This one passed me by on its initial release and it was only when I got one an Amazon recommends notification. It's a great idea and very well executed., certainly for someone like me who still has a soft spot for both the Floyd orginal and most forms of Dub reggae.

If dub has an age I'd say this performance sounds like late 70's / early 80's dub and the use of Ranking Joe who toasts over Time puts the sound firmly in the early 80's.

Whilst there are some standout performances like Breathe, The Great Gig In the Sky, Brain Damage and Us and Them there are some horrors like Money and Time. Whilst I like Ranking Joe when he's doing his own thing he rather mucks up Time with a rather tedious talk over that boast lines like "Time is the master and time can be a disaster" - not his best I'm sorry to say.
That aside it's great summer music and I've been playing it to death.

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Simply brilliant, not a bad song on it!, 30 Aug 2008
I'm not one for writing reviews but seeing as no-one has bothered to write a review for this Toots & The Maytals CD, I thought I may as well be the first.

If your knowledge of reggae goes as far as Bob Marley, and that's it, then you seriously need to broaden your tastes, and as a starter I highly recommend Toots. This CD covers The Maytals career from 1966 to 1974 and all the hits are here - Monkey Man (later covered by The Specials), their brilliant debut single Bam Bam, 54-46 That's My Number and probably their most famous song Pressure Drop (later covered by The Clash).

There's 20 songs on this album and I can honestly say there simply isn't a bad song on here, this album played through from start to finish sounds fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and buy this album, if you like your reggae/ska then I promise you this album will not disappoint you.

quirk side of the loon, 08 May 2008
This is an astonishing record! On paper the idea of a reggae cover of Dark Side Of The Moon sounds demented - but in practise it's truly fabulous. The All-Stars perform dub alchemy, conjuring roots rock out of prog rock like it was the most natural progression. Great Gig In The Sky had me sobbing at its beauty - honestly.

Any Floyd fans with a passing interest in reggae - or, alternatively, any reggae-ists with a passing interest in Pink Floyd - this is for you. Carefully treading that fine line between homage and parody, the All-Stars present a classic work of art in a new way that shines a white light into the prism of your heart. The result is a mind-bending rainbow.

Greatest Covers Album Ever?, 21 Sep 2007
Unusual, in that it's a cover album, rather than an album of cover songs, if that makes sense. If the purpose of a cover version is to bring a new interpretation or sound to familiar work, then this is as good as it gets.
The songs are actually pretty faithful to the originals, but the reggae rendition adds another dimension, which seems to meld perfectly. The title is a little misleading, I'd say it's reggae with a bit of dub rather than out-and-out dub.
I'd also say that the success of the album, musically, should be taken as huge compliment to Pink Floyd.
I welcome the element of wit which diverts from the slight, typically early '70s, tendency to rock pomposity of the original, but I guess the odd Pink Floyd purist might be outraged.

Lizzy, 30 Aug 2007
This is an out and out copy of Dark Side of Moon. I've seen the All Stars perform it live and it's even better than the CD. It will never be the same as Pink Floyd's version and I don't think they have tried to do that. It just works beautifully as a Dub version and I think they've done a fantastic job!

I pity the fools..., 26 Jul 2007
...who fail to get this album. A couple of reviewers have slated this, one says it is cheating, the other says it is only good for a laugh. I presume these are die-hard Floyd fans, who are far too precious about the original work to see how brilliantly the All-Stars have rearranged this record into a dub masterpiece. If you like Pink Floyd but are not too anal about them, or if you are a fan of dub, then this album is a must. Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully executed, what are you waiting for??

There is no dark side of the moon in fact it's all dub, 24 May 2007
This one passed me by on its initial release and it was only when I got one an Amazon recommends notification. It's a great idea and very well executed., certainly for someone like me who still has a soft spot for both the Floyd orginal and most forms of Dub reggae.

If dub has an age I'd say this performance sounds like late 70's / early 80's dub and the use of Ranking Joe who toasts over Time puts the sound firmly in the early 80's.

Whilst there are some standout performances like Breathe, The Great Gig In the Sky, Brain Damage and Us and Them there are some horrors like Money and Time. Whilst I like Ranking Joe when he's doing his own thing he rather mucks up Time with a rather tedious talk over that boast lines like "Time is the master and time can be a disaster" - not his best I'm sorry to say.
That aside it's great summer music and I've been playing it to death.

Easy Reggae, 12 Feb 2006
If anyone want's to have a nice evening with the one he lover's just put this cd on. IT's A GREAT CD. Don't forget to put it on repeat. This is a MUST for all music lovers.

Great CD, 12 Feb 2006
If you like to relax and enjoy easy reaggae I adive you to buy this Great John Holt CD. A must for all music fans. You just have to have this ablum. There are all covers but nevertheless he made them into special. You will not regret it.

Mellow seventies reggae, 09 May 2005
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, John became a major reggae music star, beginning in 1964 when he replaced Leroy Stamp in the Paragons. As lead vocalist of that group, he helped the Paragons score a string of Jamaican number one hits. None of these made much impact internationally although one of them (The tide is high) eventually became a major international hit via a cover version by Blondie. The Paragons disbanded in 1970, whereupon John went solo. This compilation, dominated by cover versions, focuses exclusively on John's solo recordings.

John scored his only hit in Britain with his cover of Help me make it through the night, peaking at number six in 1974. Originally written and recorded by country singer Kris Kristofferson (better known as an actor), this song was originally an American pop hit for another country singer, Sammi Smith, and a British pop hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips, both of those hits occurring in 1972.

Other covers include Morning of my life (Bee Gees), Baby I'm a want you (Bread), Mr Bojangles (written by Jerry Jeff Walker and also covered by Neil Diamond among others), Alfie (an American hit for Dionne Warwick but a British hit for Cilla Black), I will (a Beatles track from their White album, later revived in the nineties by Alison Krauss), Touch me in the morning (Diana Ross), I'd love you to want me (Lobo), Killing me softly (Roberta Flack), Girl from Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto), Just the way you are (Billy Joel) and For the love of you (Isley brothers).

Maybe this preponderance of covers explains why John only had one UK hit, but another cover here was never a UK hit for anybody - You baby, a song co-written by Phil Spector and which Jackie Trent (among others) also recorded. I don't know if this was released as a single but it sounds to me like it could have been a hit at the time if it had been.

There may not be much (if any) original material here, but John's mellow reggae style is very appealing and his selection of covers is impeccable.

Smooth reggae ballads, 14 May 2003
On this collection of covers, the reggae balladeer John Holt wraps his silken voice around standards like Never Never Never, Baby I'm A Want You, Help Me Make It Through The Night Mr Bojangles and Lobo's I'd Love You To Want Me. If you like smooth reggae like Dennis Brown, you'll love the voice of John Holt. There's nothing rootsy or challenging here, just soulful reggae interpretations of some great songs. Pleasant and relaxing.

John Holt at His Best, 27 Aug 2001
There aren't many people born in or after the 80s who will say they like John Holt, let alone have heard of him, but for a time I was raised on John Holt (among others) and I can say that, although he has not got the greatest of voices, it has a beautifully deep resonating ring to it, and once you add in the vibrato and his fantastic sense of vocal timing you cannot help but get sucked into the music. Not every track on this album is a masterpiece ("Girl From Ipanema" for instance is one to steer clear of), but when you hear tracks like "Never, Never, Never", "Mr Bojangles" and "I'll Take a Melody" you'll forget about those that don't quite make the grade. For an artist who primarily focused on covers this is a tremendous album with a real hint of originality and talent.

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Simply brilliant, not a bad song on it!, 30 Aug 2008
I'm not one for writing reviews but seeing as no-one has bothered to write a review for this Toots & The Maytals CD, I thought I may as well be the first.

If your knowledge of reggae goes as far as Bob Marley, and that's it, then you seriously need to broaden your tastes, and as a starter I highly recommend Toots. This CD covers The Maytals career from 1966 to 1974 and all the hits are here - Monkey Man (later covered by The Specials), their brilliant debut single Bam Bam, 54-46 That's My Number and probably their most famous song Pressure Drop (later covered by The Clash).

There's 20 songs on this album and I can honestly say there simply isn't a bad song on here, this album played through from start to finish sounds fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and buy this album, if you like your reggae/ska then I promise you this album will not disappoint you.

quirk side of the loon, 08 May 2008
This is an astonishing record! On paper the idea of a reggae cover of Dark Side Of The Moon sounds demented - but in practise it's truly fabulous. The All-Stars perform dub alchemy, conjuring roots rock out of prog rock like it was the most natural progression. Great Gig In The Sky had me sobbing at its beauty - honestly.

Any Floyd fans with a passing interest in reggae - or, alternatively, any reggae-ists with a passing interest in Pink Floyd - this is for you. Carefully treading that fine line between homage and parody, the All-Stars present a classic work of art in a new way that shines a white light into the prism of your heart. The result is a mind-bending rainbow.

Greatest Covers Album Ever?, 21 Sep 2007
Unusual, in that it's a cover album, rather than an album of cover songs, if that makes sense. If the purpose of a cover version is to bring a new interpretation or sound to familiar work, then this is as good as it gets.
The songs are actually pretty faithful to the originals, but the reggae rendition adds another dimension, which seems to meld perfectly. The title is a little misleading, I'd say it's reggae with a bit of dub rather than out-and-out dub.
I'd also say that the success of the album, musically, should be taken as huge compliment to Pink Floyd.
I welcome the element of wit which diverts from the slight, typically early '70s, tendency to rock pomposity of the original, but I guess the odd Pink Floyd purist might be outraged.

Lizzy, 30 Aug 2007
This is an out and out copy of Dark Side of Moon. I've seen the All Stars perform it live and it's even better than the CD. It will never be the same as Pink Floyd's version and I don't think they have tried to do that. It just works beautifully as a Dub version and I think they've done a fantastic job!

I pity the fools..., 26 Jul 2007
...who fail to get this album. A couple of reviewers have slated this, one says it is cheating, the other says it is only good for a laugh. I presume these are die-hard Floyd fans, who are far too precious about the original work to see how brilliantly the All-Stars have rearranged this record into a dub masterpiece. If you like Pink Floyd but are not too anal about them, or if you are a fan of dub, then this album is a must. Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully executed, what are you waiting for??

There is no dark side of the moon in fact it's all dub, 24 May 2007
This one passed me by on its initial release and it was only when I got one an Amazon recommends notification. It's a great idea and very well executed., certainly for someone like me who still has a soft spot for both the Floyd orginal and most forms of Dub reggae.

If dub has an age I'd say this performance sounds like late 70's / early 80's dub and the use of Ranking Joe who toasts over Time puts the sound firmly in the early 80's.

Whilst there are some standout performances like Breathe, The Great Gig In the Sky, Brain Damage and Us and Them there are some horrors like Money and Time. Whilst I like Ranking Joe when he's doing his own thing he rather mucks up Time with a rather tedious talk over that boast lines like "Time is the master and time can be a disaster" - not his best I'm sorry to say.
That aside it's great summer music and I've been playing it to death.

Easy Reggae, 12 Feb 2006
If anyone want's to have a nice evening with the one he lover's just put this cd on. IT's A GREAT CD. Don't forget to put it on repeat. This is a MUST for all music lovers.

Great CD, 12 Feb 2006
If you like to relax and enjoy easy reaggae I adive you to buy this Great John Holt CD. A must for all music fans. You just have to have this ablum. There are all covers but nevertheless he made them into special. You will not regret it.

Mellow seventies reggae, 09 May 2005
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, John became a major reggae music star, beginning in 1964 when he replaced Leroy Stamp in the Paragons. As lead vocalist of that group, he helped the Paragons score a string of Jamaican number one hits. None of these made much impact internationally although one of them (The tide is high) eventually became a major international hit via a cover version by Blondie. The Paragons disbanded in 1970, whereupon John went solo. This compilation, dominated by cover versions, focuses exclusively on John's solo recordings.

John scored his only hit in Britain with his cover of Help me make it through the night, peaking at number six in 1974. Originally written and recorded by country singer Kris Kristofferson (better known as an actor), this song was originally an American pop hit for another country singer, Sammi Smith, and a British pop hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips, both of those hits occurring in 1972.

Other covers include Morning of my life (Bee Gees), Baby I'm a want you (Bread), Mr Bojangles (written by Jerry Jeff Walker and also covered by Neil Diamond among others), Alfie (an American hit for Dionne Warwick but a British hit for Cilla Black), I will (a Beatles track from their White album, later revived in the nineties by Alison Krauss), Touch me in the morning (Diana Ross), I'd love you to want me (Lobo), Killing me softly (Roberta Flack), Girl from Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto), Just the way you are (Billy Joel) and For the love of you (Isley brothers).

Maybe this preponderance of covers explains why John only had one UK hit, but another cover here was never a UK hit for anybody - You baby, a song co-written by Phil Spector and which Jackie Trent (among others) also recorded. I don't know if this was released as a single but it sounds to me like it could have been a hit at the time if it had been.

There may not be much (if any) original material here, but John's mellow reggae style is very appealing and his selection of covers is impeccable.

Smooth reggae ballads, 14 May 2003
On this collection of covers, the reggae balladeer John Holt wraps his silken voice around standards like Never Never Never, Baby I'm A Want You, Help Me Make It Through The Night Mr Bojangles and Lobo's I'd Love You To Want Me. If you like smooth reggae like Dennis Brown, you'll love the voice of John Holt. There's nothing rootsy or challenging here, just soulful reggae interpretations of some great songs. Pleasant and relaxing.

John Holt at His Best, 27 Aug 2001
There aren't many people born in or after the 80s who will say they like John Holt, let alone have heard of him, but for a time I was raised on John Holt (among others) and I can say that, although he has not got the greatest of voices, it has a beautifully deep resonating ring to it, and once you add in the vibrato and his fantastic sense of vocal timing you cannot help but get sucked into the music. Not every track on this album is a masterpiece ("Girl From Ipanema" for instance is one to steer clear of), but when you hear tracks like "Never, Never, Never", "Mr Bojangles" and "I'll Take a Melody" you'll forget about those that don't quite make the grade. For an artist who primarily focused on covers this is a tremendous album with a real hint of originality and talent.

Punks' Reggae man, 30 Aug 2006
DJ Scratchy was a regular figure at Punk gigs in the late 70's. He was the DJ who introduced Reggae, Ska and Dub to the bondage trousered crowds at Clash gigs, tirelessly promoting the Jamaican sound. Here with this double CD he relaunchedhis career, and what a wonderful collection it is, with a mixture of old favourites and obscure gems. If you listen carefully, you can still feel the Punk vibe here and relive the whiff of stale beer and marijuana in the air of those grungy London clubs.

Memories!!, 18 Jan 2006
Basically, this is a fantastic album if you ever went to see The Clash and heard the DJ playing amazing reggae and feeling the bass thump into your chest as you walked in.

Brilliant stuff, superb selections - a real treat!!

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!, 25 Nov 2005
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!, 02 Oct 2005
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Simply brilliant, not a bad song on it!, 30 Aug 2008
I'm not one for writing reviews but seeing as no-one has bothered to write a review for this Toots & The Maytals CD, I thought I may as well be the first.

If your knowledge of reggae goes as far as Bob Marley, and that's it, then you seriously need to broaden your tastes, and as a starter I highly recommend Toots. This CD covers The Maytals career from 1966 to 1974 and all the hits are here - Monkey Man (later covered by The Specials), their brilliant debut single Bam Bam, 54-46 That's My Number and probably their most famous song Pressure Drop (later covered by The Clash).

There's 20 songs on this album and I can honestly say there simply isn't a bad song on here, this album played through from start to finish sounds fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and buy this album, if you like your reggae/ska then I promise you this album will not disappoint you.

quirk side of the loon, 08 May 2008
This is an astonishing record! On paper the idea of a reggae cover of Dark Side Of The Moon sounds demented - but in practise it's truly fabulous. The All-Stars perform dub alchemy, conjuring roots rock out of prog rock like it was the most natural progression. Great Gig In The Sky had me sobbing at its beauty - honestly.

Any Floyd fans with a passing interest in reggae - or, alternatively, any reggae-ists with a passing interest in Pink Floyd - this is for you. Carefully treading that fine line between homage and parody, the All-Stars present a classic work of art in a new way that shines a white light into the prism of your heart. The result is a mind-bending rainbow.

Greatest Covers Album Ever?, 21 Sep 2007
Unusual, in that it's a cover album, rather than an album of cover songs, if that makes sense. If the purpose of a cover version is to bring a new interpretation or sound to familiar work, then this is as good as it gets.
The songs are actually pretty faithful to the originals, but the reggae rendition adds another dimension, which seems to meld perfectly. The title is a little misleading, I'd say it's reggae with a bit of dub rather than out-and-out dub.
I'd also say that the success of the album, musically, should be taken as huge compliment to Pink Floyd.
I welcome the element of wit which diverts from the slight, typically early '70s, tendency to rock pomposity of the original, but I guess the odd Pink Floyd purist might be outraged.

Lizzy, 30 Aug 2007
This is an out and out copy of Dark Side of Moon. I've seen the All Stars perform it live and it's even better than the CD. It will never be the same as Pink Floyd's version and I don't think they have tried to do that. It just works beautifully as a Dub version and I think they've done a fantastic job!

I pity the fools..., 26 Jul 2007
...who fail to get this album. A couple of reviewers have slated this, one says it is cheating, the other says it is only good for a laugh. I presume these are die-hard Floyd fans, who are far too precious about the original work to see how brilliantly the All-Stars have rearranged this record into a dub masterpiece. If you like Pink Floyd but are not too anal about them, or if you are a fan of dub, then this album is a must. Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully executed, what are you waiting for??

There is no dark side of the moon in fact it's all dub, 24 May 2007
This one passed me by on its initial release and it was only when I got one an Amazon recommends notification. It's a great idea and very well executed., certainly for someone like me who still has a soft spot for both the Floyd orginal and most forms of Dub reggae.

If dub has an age I'd say this performance sounds like late 70's / early 80's dub and the use of Ranking Joe who toasts over Time puts the sound firmly in the early 80's.

Whilst there are some standout performances like Breathe, The Great Gig In the Sky, Brain Damage and Us and Them there are some horrors like Money and Time. Whilst I like Ranking Joe when he's doing his own thing he rather mucks up Time with a rather tedious talk over that boast lines like "Time is the master and time can be a disaster" - not his best I'm sorry to say.
That aside it's great summer music and I've been playing it to death.

Easy Reggae, 12 Feb 2006
If anyone want's to have a nice evening with the one he lover's just put this cd on. IT's A GREAT CD. Don't forget to put it on repeat. This is a MUST for all music lovers.

Great CD, 12 Feb 2006
If you like to relax and enjoy easy reaggae I adive you to buy this Great John Holt CD. A must for all music fans. You just have to have this ablum. There are all covers but nevertheless he made them into special. You will not regret it.

Mellow seventies reggae, 09 May 2005
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, John became a major reggae music star, beginning in 1964 when he replaced Leroy Stamp in the Paragons. As lead vocalist of that group, he helped the Paragons score a string of Jamaican number one hits. None of these made much impact internationally although one of them (The tide is high) eventually became a major international hit via a cover version by Blondie. The Paragons disbanded in 1970, whereupon John went solo. This compilation, dominated by cover versions, focuses exclusively on John's solo recordings.

John scored his only hit in Britain with his cover of Help me make it through the night, peaking at number six in 1974. Originally written and recorded by country singer Kris Kristofferson (better known as an actor), this song was originally an American pop hit for another country singer, Sammi Smith, and a British pop hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips, both of those hits occurring in 1972.

Other covers include Morning of my life (Bee Gees), Baby I'm a want you (Bread), Mr Bojangles (written by Jerry Jeff Walker and also covered by Neil Diamond among others), Alfie (an American hit for Dionne Warwick but a British hit for Cilla Black), I will (a Beatles track from their White album, later revived in the nineties by Alison Krauss), Touch me in the morning (Diana Ross), I'd love you to want me (Lobo), Killing me softly (Roberta Flack), Girl from Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto), Just the way you are (Billy Joel) and For the love of you (Isley brothers).

Maybe this preponderance of covers explains why John only had one UK hit, but another cover here was never a UK hit for anybody - You baby, a song co-written by Phil Spector and which Jackie Trent (among others) also recorded. I don't know if this was released as a single but it sounds to me like it could have been a hit at the time if it had been.

There may not be much (if any) original material here, but John's mellow reggae style is very appealing and his selection of covers is impeccable.

Smooth reggae ballads, 14 May 2003
On this collection of covers, the reggae balladeer John Holt wraps his silken voice around standards like Never Never Never, Baby I'm A Want You, Help Me Make It Through The Night Mr Bojangles and Lobo's I'd Love You To Want Me. If you like smooth reggae like Dennis Brown, you'll love the voice of John Holt. There's nothing rootsy or challenging here, just soulful reggae interpretations of some great songs. Pleasant and relaxing.

John Holt at His Best, 27 Aug 2001
There aren't many people born in or after the 80s who will say they like John Holt, let alone have heard of him, but for a time I was raised on John Holt (among others) and I can say that, although he has not got the greatest of voices, it has a beautifully deep resonating ring to it, and once you add in the vibrato and his fantastic sense of vocal timing you cannot help but get sucked into the music. Not every track on this album is a masterpiece ("Girl From Ipanema" for instance is one to steer clear of), but when you hear tracks like "Never, Never, Never", "Mr Bojangles" and "I'll Take a Melody" you'll forget about those that don't quite make the grade. For an artist who primarily focused on covers this is a tremendous album with a real hint of originality and talent.

Punks' Reggae man, 30 Aug 2006
DJ Scratchy was a regular figure at Punk gigs in the late 70's. He was the DJ who introduced Reggae, Ska and Dub to the bondage trousered crowds at Clash gigs, tirelessly promoting the Jamaican sound. Here with this double CD he relaunchedhis career, and what a wonderful collection it is, with a mixture of old favourites and obscure gems. If you listen carefully, you can still feel the Punk vibe here and relive the whiff of stale beer and marijuana in the air of those grungy London clubs.

Memories!!, 18 Jan 2006
Basically, this is a fantastic album if you ever went to see The Clash and heard the DJ playing amazing reggae and feeling the bass thump into your chest as you walked in.

Brilliant stuff, superb selections - a real treat!!

No rest in Birmingham, 01 Apr 2008
In the late 1970s, amid the hurricane of the new wave, Steel Pulse were seen as the UK reggae band most likely to mix it with other newcomers, and were hardly ever out of the NME. Every track on this album seems to me to be tied to the title track, its portentous 'Babylon is falling' warning set to a restless undercurrent. Steel Pulse seemed to capture some of the social discontent of the time with a no-nonsense approach to their music. They occasionally added colour, as in the guitar flourishes on 'Soldiers,' but they were direct rather than poetic. The titles tend to leave little to the imagination. Other than on the celebratory 'Sound Check' they chart fairly gloomy territory, until the closing 'Macka Splaff,' which seems to represent comfort rather than solution. They never achieved the acclaim that seemed to be predicted for them, but 'Handsworth Revolution' is a satisfying album, and one which highlights how half-baked most white interpretations of the form are.

The sound of 1978, 11 Apr 2007
Along with The Clash, The Jam, The Buzzcocks and The Sex Pistols possibly the British band played the most at venues pre-gig or in nearby music-friendly pubs was Birmingham-based reggae band Steel Pulse. At the forefront of the music of choice of the punk/reggae marriage this was a tremendous debut album, chock full of bags of rootsy, urban atmosphere that immediately transports one straight back to those heady days of 1978. "Ku Klux Klan" is the track that got the most airings, but nobody who was around at the time can fail to be moved by hearing "Handsworth Revolution" or "Prodigal Son" once more. Indeed, all the other tracks, "Soldiers", "Sound Check" etc are minor clasics of the genre - lilting, roots reggae blended together with a distinctive vocal delivery. Forget UB40. Steel Pulse were three years ahead and they were the real deal. The follow-up album, "Tribute To The Martyrs" was not quite as explosive in its impact but it trod water. However, it all faded rather rapidly after that as punters looked to ska bands for their touch of reggae and the punks pogoed off into the distance.

For an authentic taster of what was being played in 1978, invest in this excellent album. For me, it is the best British reggae album ever released.

A world classic, 14 Feb 2005
I've read and agreed with everything the other reviewers have said about this Roots/Dub masterpiece,the only things I can add is that this album is one of THE greatest ever,in or out of the UK.It stands shoulder to shoulder with anything by Burning Spear,Culture,U-Roy,LKJ,Augustus Pablo....I could go on.
One word of caution though,after purchasing this album you will own Steel Pulse' best recordings by a country mile.

handsworth revisited, 28 Aug 2002
I'd forgotten just how good this album is! A blast from the past, Handsworth Revolution resurrects the spirit of the time; Rock Against Racism marches, Anti Nazi League protests all rounded up with a party of punks, dreads and like minded people in unison! Enough nostalgia, Steel Pulse's Handsworth Revolution has stood the test of time; smooth vocals over original dub bass representing the struggle of that era all contribute to an album which should be hailed as a reggae classic.

'The' classic British reggae album, 26 Jun 2001
Birmingham's Steel Pulse provided us with the only truly great British reggae album of the last 30 years in 1978's Handsworth Revolution. Seven great reggae musicians from all over north Birmingham, ie ,Lozells, Handsworth and Handsworth Wood, got together to create an unforgettable sound that is true to the roots of Jamaican reggae, unlike the over-commercialised offerings of UB40 and Aswad throught the 1980s (although both bands did strive for authenticity on their first couple of albums).

There is a real positive vibe to this music, with classics such as Klu Klux Klan, Sound System and Prodgical Son (a Top 40 hit) providing the standout moments.

Meanwhile, fellow Brummies UB40, together with Aswad, were waiting in the wings with their crossover reggae-pop for the 'reggae-ignorant' mainstream audience. Forget this lot, this is true reggae with real spirit.

What a shame, 30 Oct 2008
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

A True Poet, 26 Sep 2008
Bob Marley is to reggae what Bowie is to Glam Rock and Garry Johnson is to punk...the king of a movement and the voice of a generation.
Every track is a classic...No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song will still be sung in a 100 years time.
This is more than a greatest hits album - it is a masterpiece and a work of art...

The King Of Reggea, 24 Sep 2008
Probably the best greatest hits collection of all-time. Bob Marley singer, songwriter, prophet and voice of a generation...to quote Michael Jackson "It dont matter if your black or white"...if you are a music fan with love in your heart and goodness in your soul you will worship this record.
Bob Marley is like David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bob Dylan pure pop perfection.
Redemtion Song makes me cry and No Woman No Cry makes me want to fall in love and I Shot The Sherrif makes me rock...and the rest of the album makes me glad to be alive.
A masterpiece. A classic collection and a timeless complilation.

Flawless introduction to one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century, 02 Aug 2008
I have such fond memories of this album. I don't actually own the cd, but I was given a copy of it on cassette a few years ago- which I wore out in about a month. I was heavily into punk (real punk i.e. Sex Pistols, Clash) at the time and had read about the link between punk and reggae in the 1970s. Like most people, hearing Bob Marley was my first real experience of reggae and it began a love affair that continues to this day. Hearing this wonderful, utterly timeless music was a revelation to my 14-year-old self. Marley was equally adept at writing beautiful love songs, feelgood anthems and political protests and the scope of his talent is well represented here. Legend is that rare beast- a flawless compilation album. If you're a casual fan, buy this and you'll soon be wanting to own every song Marley ever recorded. There are few artists (bar maybe Dylan and the Beatles) who released as many great albums in succession as Marley. If you're baffled and can't decide which one to choose, this is a great introduction. Even if you don't like reggae (what kind of person are you?) you'll like this.

Every Track Is Amazing!, 10 Jul 2008
Every track 1 to 16 are amazing!! words cant describe how good this album is!!! thats why this review is so short!!

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT. , 06 Jul 2006
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality, 18 Jun 2006
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were n