Review Text
Two CDs. UK compilation that showcases Jamaica's most popular mento artists of the 1970s. Over the past few decades, interest in vintage Jamaican mento music has steadily grown, with the genre attracting increasing numbers of fans worldwide. Despite this development, precious little material in the style that was recorded during the Seventies has seen reissue. This set aims to address that oversight by showcasing three of the most popular mento collections of the decade - all making their long overdue CD debut here. First released on Sonia Pottinger's High Note label between 1976 and 1978, "King Vupp", "Live At Club Caribbean" and "Ram Jam" highlight the respective talents of leading Jamaican performers, King Vupp, the Jolly Boys and the Prince Brothers, with the original LP track-listings bolstered by an array of relevant bonus tracks. An immensely enjoyable and enlightening listen, "The High Note Mento Collection" effectively demonstrates that there was considerably more to the Jamaican music scene of mid-to-the late Seventies than just roots reggae.
