A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

BRILLIANT !, 26 Mar 2004
RARE GEMS IS AN EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF SUGAR MINOTTS OUTPUT FROM 1978-1986 AND EVERY TRACK IS AS THE TITLE INDICATES.THERE ARE SOME REAL NICE TRACKS ON HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED OUTSIDE JAMAICA WHICH WILL BE A REAL TREAT FOR SUGAR MINOTT FANS.THE WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS PROFILED ON THIS CD ENSURES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF VARIETY IN THE MUSIC WHICH IS ALL TOP RATE.IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SUGAR MINOTTS MUSIC OR DECENT REGGAE THAN THIS CD IS FOR YOU.

A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

BRILLIANT !, 26 Mar 2004
RARE GEMS IS AN EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF SUGAR MINOTTS OUTPUT FROM 1978-1986 AND EVERY TRACK IS AS THE TITLE INDICATES.THERE ARE SOME REAL NICE TRACKS ON HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED OUTSIDE JAMAICA WHICH WILL BE A REAL TREAT FOR SUGAR MINOTT FANS.THE WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS PROFILED ON THIS CD ENSURES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF VARIETY IN THE MUSIC WHICH IS ALL TOP RATE.IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SUGAR MINOTTS MUSIC OR DECENT REGGAE THAN THIS CD IS FOR YOU.

Lincoln's best over classic rhythms., 09 Apr 2005
Sugar Minott used to hang around Coxsone's studio as a young man and was an aficianado long before he cut his first record. He worked a local sound system where he rehearsed his own songs over those old classic Studio One rhythms. When he eventually got his opportunity to record with the great man he didn't bring an instrument or a band along with him and he had no original melodies. Why bother when Coxsone had all the best tunes already? The cuts here will be familiar to most reggae fans. You might not know the names of all the originals but you'll recognise the killer rhythms and you'll be hooked. When that happens be prepared to spend time searching out the original Alton Ellis, Heptones and Ken Booth recordings - that's if you're unlucky enough not to have them already. Sugar didn't get his nickname for nothing and his voice here is as sweet as ever and the material is generally very strong - and let's face it he did make some pretty dire music along the way. My own favourite is Give Me Jah Jah, bringing back happy memories of one of the very first 12" Jamaican singles I bought from Daddy Kool's record shack way back when. It's still lying there in my collection, a slab of vinyl history. I must have taped it for dozens of pals over the years. But rest assured, they're all pretty damned good. Sugar Minott almost single-handedly invented the Dancehall style, and these are some of the best examples of the genre. And, in the unlikely event that you don't like the songs this CD's worth it for Coxsone's killer rhythms alone.

A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

BRILLIANT !, 26 Mar 2004
RARE GEMS IS AN EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF SUGAR MINOTTS OUTPUT FROM 1978-1986 AND EVERY TRACK IS AS THE TITLE INDICATES.THERE ARE SOME REAL NICE TRACKS ON HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED OUTSIDE JAMAICA WHICH WILL BE A REAL TREAT FOR SUGAR MINOTT FANS.THE WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS PROFILED ON THIS CD ENSURES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF VARIETY IN THE MUSIC WHICH IS ALL TOP RATE.IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SUGAR MINOTTS MUSIC OR DECENT REGGAE THAN THIS CD IS FOR YOU.

Lincoln's best over classic rhythms., 09 Apr 2005
Sugar Minott used to hang around Coxsone's studio as a young man and was an aficianado long before he cut his first record. He worked a local sound system where he rehearsed his own songs over those old classic Studio One rhythms. When he eventually got his opportunity to record with the great man he didn't bring an instrument or a band along with him and he had no original melodies. Why bother when Coxsone had all the best tunes already? The cuts here will be familiar to most reggae fans. You might not know the names of all the originals but you'll recognise the killer rhythms and you'll be hooked. When that happens be prepared to spend time searching out the original Alton Ellis, Heptones and Ken Booth recordings - that's if you're unlucky enough not to have them already. Sugar didn't get his nickname for nothing and his voice here is as sweet as ever and the material is generally very strong - and let's face it he did make some pretty dire music along the way. My own favourite is Give Me Jah Jah, bringing back happy memories of one of the very first 12" Jamaican singles I bought from Daddy Kool's record shack way back when. It's still lying there in my collection, a slab of vinyl history. I must have taped it for dozens of pals over the years. But rest assured, they're all pretty damned good. Sugar Minott almost single-handedly invented the Dancehall style, and these are some of the best examples of the genre. And, in the unlikely event that you don't like the songs this CD's worth it for Coxsone's killer rhythms alone.

fine reggae, 02 Dec 2000
I first heard Sugar playing on a radio station in St Vincent and when I got back to the UK went on a mission to find his music. This album doesn't disappoint. It's got some great rhythms, the kinda music you don't across too often nowadays. Chill out to this sound.

A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

BRILLIANT !, 26 Mar 2004
RARE GEMS IS AN EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF SUGAR MINOTTS OUTPUT FROM 1978-1986 AND EVERY TRACK IS AS THE TITLE INDICATES.THERE ARE SOME REAL NICE TRACKS ON HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED OUTSIDE JAMAICA WHICH WILL BE A REAL TREAT FOR SUGAR MINOTT FANS.THE WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS PROFILED ON THIS CD ENSURES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF VARIETY IN THE MUSIC WHICH IS ALL TOP RATE.IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SUGAR MINOTTS MUSIC OR DECENT REGGAE THAN THIS CD IS FOR YOU.

Lincoln's best over classic rhythms., 09 Apr 2005
Sugar Minott used to hang around Coxsone's studio as a young man and was an aficianado long before he cut his first record. He worked a local sound system where he rehearsed his own songs over those old classic Studio One rhythms. When he eventually got his opportunity to record with the great man he didn't bring an instrument or a band along with him and he had no original melodies. Why bother when Coxsone had all the best tunes already? The cuts here will be familiar to most reggae fans. You might not know the names of all the originals but you'll recognise the killer rhythms and you'll be hooked. When that happens be prepared to spend time searching out the original Alton Ellis, Heptones and Ken Booth recordings - that's if you're unlucky enough not to have them already. Sugar didn't get his nickname for nothing and his voice here is as sweet as ever and the material is generally very strong - and let's face it he did make some pretty dire music along the way. My own favourite is Give Me Jah Jah, bringing back happy memories of one of the very first 12" Jamaican singles I bought from Daddy Kool's record shack way back when. It's still lying there in my collection, a slab of vinyl history. I must have taped it for dozens of pals over the years. But rest assured, they're all pretty damned good. Sugar Minott almost single-handedly invented the Dancehall style, and these are some of the best examples of the genre. And, in the unlikely event that you don't like the songs this CD's worth it for Coxsone's killer rhythms alone.

fine reggae, 02 Dec 2000
I first heard Sugar playing on a radio station in St Vincent and when I got back to the UK went on a mission to find his music. This album doesn't disappoint. It's got some great rhythms, the kinda music you don't across too often nowadays. Chill out to this sound.

Laid back dub disco experience, 15 Oct 2007
With the creation of the twelve inch single -took up with eternal gratitude by DJ,s as it meant longer breaks between tracks - came the opportunity for other musical genres to experiment and expand their repertoire .Longer tracks means more time to stretch the music with extensive instrumental breaks, comprehensive breakdowns and plenty of opportunity to just muck about with the music .
Reggae producers and artists quickly sussed out that this was a prospect too good to miss and a chance to reinvigorate the form so the disco-mix phenomenon was born With reggae this meant essentially expanding the vocals or showcasing the dub element of the music, the two different attributes previously having to share different sides of a seven inch single release.
This album gives the listener 14 excellent facets of how The Studio One label -arguably the most consistently superb label in the world utilised this fresh option. Featuring Reggae staples like Sugar Minot, Jackie Mittoo and Willie Williams with lesser known artists like George Dudley and Norma White( Who does an excellent cover of Chic's "I Want Your Love) this is a laid back collection where the customary reggae vibes are supplemented by popcorn keyboards, spongy synthesizers and swishing syn drums. Pre-eminent of all is Winston Francis "Going To Zion" , a real case of leaving the best till last with a real swagger in its arrangement. This brings me to my one criticism of this collection .It's slightly mono-paced and lacking spatial variety .It could do with an injection of ska or vibrant rock-steady just to break things up a little.
That would be against the grain for Studio One collections though .They tend to pick a reggae sub-genre and stick rigidly to it or if not a sub-genre a form of music -laid back or up-beat. With the more effervescent music this is fine but the more relaxed material can become tiresome over a full album , especially one with fourteen extended tracks on it. Minor gripe that really though , because as usual this is superb value with much tremendous music languidly sashaying down those grooves.

A Gentle Gem, 24 Jul 2007
For all its lovers rock melodies this is an album of passionate songs with messages as strong as his peers - Tosh, Wailer etc. Sugar was badly overlooked as a roots pioneer but the release of this collection; original album plus dubs, is a much needed second chance to check out one of the better seventies reggae albums. Well worth a listen.

BRILLIANT !, 26 Mar 2004
RARE GEMS IS AN EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF SUGAR MINOTTS OUTPUT FROM 1978-1986 AND EVERY TRACK IS AS THE TITLE INDICATES.THERE ARE SOME REAL NICE TRACKS ON HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED OUTSIDE JAMAICA WHICH WILL BE A REAL TREAT FOR SUGAR MINOTT FANS.THE WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS PROFILED ON THIS CD ENSURES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF VARIETY IN THE MUSIC WHICH IS ALL TOP RATE.IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SUGAR MINOTTS MUSIC OR DECENT REGGAE THAN THIS CD IS FOR YOU.

Lincoln's best over classic rhythms., 09 Apr 2005
Sugar Minott used to hang around Coxsone's studio as a young man and was an aficianado long before he cut his first record. He worked a local sound system where he rehearsed his own songs over those old classic Studio One rhythms. When he eventually got his opportunity to record with the great man he didn't bring an instrument or a band along with him and he had no original melodies. Why bother when Coxsone had all the best tunes already? The cuts here will be familiar to most reggae fans. You might not know the names of all the originals but you'll recognise the killer rhythms and you'll be hooked. When that happens be prepared to spend time searching out the original Alton Ellis, Heptones and Ken Booth recordings - that's if you're unlucky enough not to have them already. Sugar didn't get his nickname for nothing and his voice here is as sweet as ever and the material is generally very strong - and let's face it he did make some pretty dire music along the way. My own favourite is Give Me Jah Jah, bringing back happy memories of one of the very first 12" Jamaican singles I bought from Daddy Kool's record shack way back when. It's still lying there in my collection, a slab of vinyl history. I must have taped it for dozens of pals over the years. But rest assured, they're all pretty damned good. Sugar Minott almost single-handedly invented the Dancehall style, and these are some of the best examples of the genre. And, in the unlikely event that you don't like the songs this CD's worth it for Coxsone's killer rhythms alone.

fine reggae, 02 Dec 2000
I first heard Sugar playing on a radio station in St Vincent and when I got back to the UK went on a mission to find his music. This album doesn't disappoint. It's got some great rhythms, the kinda music you don't across too often nowadays. Chill out to this sound.

Laid back dub disco experience, 15 Oct 2007
With the creation of the twelve inch single -took up with eternal gratitude by DJ,s as it meant longer breaks between tracks - came the opportunity for other musical genres to experiment and expand their repertoire .Longer tracks means more time to stretch the music with extensive instrumental breaks, comprehensive breakdowns and plenty of opportunity to just muck about with the music .
Reggae producers and artists quickly sussed out that this was a prospect too good to miss and a chance to reinvigorate the form so the disco-mix phenomenon was born With reggae this meant essentially expanding the vocals or showcasing the dub element of the music, the two different attributes previously having to share different sides of a seven inch single release.
This album gives the listener 14 excellent facets of how The Studio One label -arguably the most consistently superb label in the world utilised this fresh option. Featuring Reggae staples like Sugar Minot, Jackie Mittoo and Willie Williams with lesser known artists like George Dudley and Norma White( Who does an excellent cover of Chic's "I Want Your Love) this is a laid back collection where the customary reggae vibes are supplemented by popcorn keyboards, spongy synthesizers and swishing syn drums. Pre-eminent of all is Winston Francis "Going To Zion" , a real case of leaving the best till last with a real swagger in its arrangement. This brings me to my one criticism of this collection .It's slightly mono-paced and lacking spatial variety .It could do with an injection of ska or vibrant rock-steady just to break things up a little.
That would be against the grain for Studio One collections though .They tend to pick a reggae sub-genre and stick rigidly to it or if not a sub-genre a form of music -laid back or up-beat. With the more effervescent music this is fine but the more relaxed material can become tiresome over a full album , especially one with fourteen extended tracks on it. Minor gripe that really though , because as usual this is superb value with much tremendous music languidly sashaying down those grooves.


Wackies meets Sugar Minott, 02 Aug 2007
Wackies, the producer of this album, is still relatively unknown. This is a shame really as his style deserves closer attention from Reggae buffs.
Sugar is on form displaying his usual talent being put to good use over some original Wackies beats. Don't be put off by the number of tracks, it's just the way it is with Wackies. The lack of quantity is made up by quality but for this reason i gave it just four stars.