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The Tide Is High: Anthology 1962-1979 Review by Steve Leggett

Sweet-voiced singer/songwriter John Holt has been working professionally in the Jamaican music business since 1958, and his recorded legacy is a long one, with several peaks and valleys, but when he is on his game, and when he is working with a producer who cares about quality as well as commercial viability, he is arguably the greatest of Jamaica's balladeers. 

This two-disc, 50-track set from Trojan tells at least part of that story, beginning with Holt's wonderful work with the Paragons in the 1960s and continuing on through his subsequent solo career, which found Holt ranging from roots rock to string-drenched MOR fare and then transitioning effortlessly into the dancehall era. Although far from perfect, this interesting set does a wonderful job at profiling Holt's prolific output, managing to hit significantly more peaks than valleys along the way. Among the gems here are the early Paragons' hits "On the Beach" and "The Tide Is High" along with several solo sides where Holt is at his best, including "Never Hurt My Baby," "Have Sympathy," the truly eerie "Strange Things," an amazing Jamaican version of "Stagger Lee," and Holt's own "Up Park Camp," a brilliantly re-imagined and personal version of the Heptones' "Get in the Groove." 

Again, this collection doesn't tell the whole story of Holt's half-century long career (it covers the years 1962 to 1979), but it does show that the singer has more grit to offer than his smooth public image would suggest, and while there are plenty of love songs here, there is also some edgier material, too.

Tracklist: 

1-1.John Holt–Forever I'll Stay

1-2.The Paragons–Happy Go Lucky

1-3.The Paragons–On The Beach

1-4.The Paragons–Only A Smile

1-5.The Paragons–The Tide Is High

1-6.The Paragons–Wear You To The Ball

1-7.The Paragons–Talking Love

1-8.The Paragons–My Best Girl

1-9.The Paragons–Silver Bird

1-10.The Paragons–Memories By The Score

1-11.The Paragons–Left With A Broken Heart

1-12.The Paragons–Got To Get Away

1-13.The Paragons–My Satisfaction

1-14.John Holt & Joya Landis–I'll Be Lonely

1-15.John Holt–Tonight

1-16.John Holt & Tyrone Evans–Equality & Justice

1-17.John Holt–Ali Baba

1-18.John Holt–Never Hurt My Baby

1-19.John Holt–Share My Rest

1-20.John Holt–Have Sympathy

1-21.John Holt–Don't Break Your Heart

1-22.John Holt–Fat Girl, Sexy Girl

1-23.John Holt–Stealing Stealing

1-24.John Holt–Love I Can Feel

1-25.John Holt–Sometimes

1-26.John Holt–Let's Linger A While

2-1.John Holt–My Heart Is Gone

2-2.John Holt–Strange Things

2-3.John Holt–Sister Big Stuff

2-4.John Holt & Leroy Sibbles–Let's Build Our Dreams

2-5.John Holt–Riding For A Fall

2-6.John Holt–Stick By Me (And I'll Stick By You)

2-7.John Holt–Pledging My Love

2-8.John Holt–Looking Back

2-9.John Holt–Stagger Lee

2-10.John Holt–Anymore

2-11.John Holt–(Land Of) Ecstasy

2-12.John Holt–Don't Break Your Promise

2-13.John Holt–The Further You Look

2-14.John Holt–Help Me Make It Through The Night

2-15.John Holt–Dusty Roads

2-16.John Holt–In The Springtime

2-17.John Holt-Let The Wicked Run Away

2-18.John Holt–Up Park Camp

2-19.John Holt–Ghetto Girl

2-20.John Holt–Don't Fight Your Brothers

2-21.John Holt–You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

2-22.John Holt–Rock With Me Baby

2-23.John Holt–(I'm Just A) Country Boy

2-24.John Holt–You Are Everything To Me

Format: Flac 

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