Rating:
Genre:
Reggae
Release Date: 07/09/1998
Producer
Joe Gibbs was a prolific and well-respected member of Jamaica's music industry, owner of the seminal
Amalgamated and
Pressure Beat labels, which released a slew of hits in the 1960s. Engineer
Errol Thompson began his career at
Studio One, before moving to
Randy's, the studio owned by the
Chin family. When the two men teamed up in 1975, they proceeded to stamp their sound all over the
roots era, with a deluge of productions released across a stream of the pair's labels.
Heartbeat label head
Chris Wilson admits in the excellent sleeve notes that this compilation "can hardly do justice to their prodigious output." He's right; however, it can work as a stellar introduction to
the Mighty Two. At 17 tracks strong, and nicely balanced between hits and rarities, superstars and lesser-known names, heaviest
roots and lighter
reggae, deep
dub and DJs, the set valiantly attempts to cover all the bases, to much success.
The Mighty Two had a versatile, organic quality that was rhythm-driven but song-oriented. The pair never exhibited the propensity for experimentation for the sake of it that drove
Lee Perry and
Niney Holness into legend; instead, the duo endeavored to showcase the song and artist in the best possible light, and succeeded with style. From conjuring up the heftiest
roots for
"Heavy Manners," the song that launched
Prince Far I to fame, to the delicate rhythm of
Peter Tosh's
"Maga Dog," deliberately created to take full advantage of the John Crow skank craze, to the sumptuous arrangement of
the Mighty Diamonds'
"Ghetto Living," and on to the pastoral visions of the country created for
Leo Graham, each song is a small jewel in
the Two's crown. Equal attention was lavished on the efforts of lesser names; as much care was taken with
Dennis Walks' song as
Black Uhuru's. And while the pair may never have stunned listeners with their creative genius, a
Mighty Two production carried an unwritten guarantee of quality sound and style. This compilation is a welcome reminder of the duo's importance to the Jamaican scene both then and as a continuing influence to this day.
~Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
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