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Delroy Wilson began his singing career as a teenager at Clement Dodd's Studio One (where seemingly everyone in the Jamaican music business appears to have started out), eventually working with nearly every producer on the island, including Sonia Pottinger, Joe Gibbs, Winston "Niney" Holness, Keith Hudson, Leslie Kong, and Bunny Lee. As he matured, Wilson's voice rounded into a hoarse, smoky tenor that was as soulful a vehicle as Jamaica ever produced, and although he isn't as well known as later singers like Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, his approach and phrasing influenced them all, even Bob Marley. 

This two-disc, 50-track collection covers Wilson's rocksteady era, from 1968 to 1978, and while it doesn't include early sides like his cover of the Tams' "Dancing Mood," it features a solid representation of what was clearly his peak period, especially his work with Bunny Lee, which spawned such classics as "Better Must Come," "Cool Operator," and "Here Come the Heartaches." Also worth noting here are the tracks Wilson cut with Keith Hudson, including the odd "Adisababa" (a repatriation anthem based on the melody of "House of the Rising Sun"). "False Rasta" (sometimes known as "Rascal Man"), produced by Niney, is another high point, as is Wilson's fantastic cover of Marley's "I'm Still Waiting," produced by Lloyd Charmers. 

Wilson was fascinated by Motown (as was most of Jamaica), and he recorded several of the label's songs, including the subtle redefinitions of "The Same Old Song," "Ain't That Peculiar," "This Old Heart of Mine," "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever," "Get Ready," and "Baby Don't You Do It" (which Wilson retitled "Can You Remember") that are included here. Sort of Jamaica's Marvin Gaye (or perhaps Al Green), Wilson was pivotal in moving the island's music toward its brilliant, skewed, upside-down version of American soul, and his warm, assured phrasing is the equal of any Motown or Stax star. This compilation, concentrating as it does on the singer's best years, is darn near indispensable in assessing his considerable talent.

Track List 

Once Upon A Time

I Want To Love You

(Love Me Forever) Til I Die

This Old Heart Of Mine

Give Love A Try

This Life Makes Me Wonder

Put Yourself In My Place

It Hurts (aka I've Been Hurt)

I'm The One Who Loves You

Your Number One

Run Run (aka I'm Gonna Get You)

Show Me The Way

Gave You My Love

Got To Get Away

Drink Wine (Everybody)

Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

I Am Trying

Better Must Come

Try Again

Cool Operator

Come Along (aka I'll Give The World To You)

Keep Your True Love Strong

Peace And Love (aka Let There Be Love)

You Keep On Running

Call On Me

The Same Old Song

Adisababa (aka Africa)

Cheer Up (aka Happy Times Again)

Here Come The Heartaches

Who Cares

Pretty Girl

Ain't That Peculiar

Can I Change My Mind

Trying To Wreck Up My Life

Live And Learn

Living In The Footsteps (Of Another Man)

Have Some Mercy

Cherry Baby (aka Come Softly To Me)

Can You Remember (aka Baby Don't You Do It)

Mash Up Illiteracy (aka Mash It Up)

False Rasta (aka Rascal Man)

It's A Shame

So Long, Jenny (aka So Long, Baby)

Get Ready

You Must Believe Me

I'm Still Waiting

My Cecelia

Is It Because I'm Black

Worth Your Weight In Gold

Consider Yourself

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Jamaican singer Ken Boothe‘s body of work with producer Lloyd Charmers is collected in Everything I Own: The Lloyd Charmers Sessions 1971-1976.

This is a sizeable 47-track collection that brings together five of Boothe’s UK and Jamaican albums (four previously unissued on CD) and of course takes its name from the singer’s version of David Gates’ Everything I Own, which was a UK number one in 1974 (and again 13 years later for Boy George).
Ken Boothe on Top of the Pops in 1974

Boothe managed another UK top 20 hit with Everything I Own follow-up Crying Over You and over the years since, the singer has remained at the forefront of the Jamaican music scene.

Disc: 1
1. Out Of Love
2. Into Drums And Bass
3. Missing You
4. And The Rest Of The Instruments
5. Look What You’ve Done To Me
6. You’ve Broken The Guitar
7. Second Chance
8. To Get Rhythm
9. Ain’t No Sunshine
10. Only Precaution
11. Have I Sinned
12. Black Gold And Green
13. Suzie Q
14. That’s The Way Nature Planned It
15. My Love
16. Ooh Wee Baby I Love You
17. Come Softly To Me
18. Whole World’s Down On Me
19. That’s The Way Nature Planned It, Part 2
20. Rasta Never Fails
21. Sherry
22. Crowded City
23. Is It Because I’m Black
24. Now You Can See Me Again

Disc: 2
1. Everything I Own
2. I’m Falling in Love With You
3. Everything I Own
4. Crying Over You
5. The Impossible Dream
6. Sandie
7. Is It Because I’m Black
8. Down By The River
9. Playground in My Mind
10. (You’re) Leaving Me
11. Let’s Get It On
12. African Lady
13. Walk Away From Love
14. Silver Words
15. Blood Brothers
16. Love Don’t Love Nobody
17. I’m Singing Home
18. Mammy Blue
19. I Shot The Sheriff
20. I Don’t Want To See You Cry
21. No Woman No Cry
22. Freedom Day
23. Let Go

DWLD