Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves

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Hit: 5 Stars

But the best news of all are the bonus tracks - nearly an additional album's worth in time (32+ minutes). "Childhood Sweetheart" is a sweet track meant for a 12" with "Bad Weed (discomix)" that was never released. The aforementioned "Bad Weed" is the extended version of an edited track found on the "Arkology" box set. "Roots Train (extended)" is the only bonus track previously on CD in identical form, it was also on "Arkology". "Memories" was the b-side of the "Tedious" single and "Rasta Get Ready" a never-before-used outtake from the album - also a Rastafied adaptation of the Impressions' "People Get Ready". All the bonus tracks are fabulous, as good as any of the album tracks, and actually better than a couple of them.

For those who've never heard the album, the entry point is the massive 1977 reggae hit, "Police And Thieves", which topped the reggae charts in the UK for months and was shortly after covered by the Clash for their debut album. Murvin's voice has a quality somewhere between that of Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield - a very light, high voice which contrasts nicely with the hypnotic music and lyrics, which are largely concerned with social injustice and other tough, topical issues. Lee Perry's fingerprints are all over the sonics of the record, and he manages to mix up the sound nicely without losing a general cohesiveness.

Island is currently reissuing much of its reggae catalog, at least with improved sound and packaging (Bunny Wailer's "Blackheart Man", Black Uhuru's "Chill Out") and sometimes with bonus tracks (the Marley catalog, three excellent Gregory Isaacs titles and a Toots & the Maytals two-fer of "Funky Kingston" and "In The Dark"). All are worth your time and especially your support - major label reggae releases are rarely treated so well.

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