The Best of Dennis Brown: The Niney Years - Released November 4 2008

Dennis Brown was born on February 1 1957 in Kingston, Jamaica. He died on July 1 1999 from a collapsed lung, he is buried at Kingston's National Heroes Park. During his prolific career, Dennis Emmanuel Brown had recorded more than 75 albums and was at the fore front of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favourite singer, and dubbed him "The Crown Prince of Reggae".

Winston “Niney the Observer” Holness was one of the top producers in Jamaica. He released top tune "Blood and Fire" which was song of the year in 1972. He was also producing and arranging for both Bunny Lee and Joe Gibbs. It was his work with Dennis Brown helped their towering impact on the reggae world.

This album follows Dennis Brown's career from the mid-Seventies through to the Nineties just before his death at just 42 years old. The eighteen tracks produced by Niney are beautiful reggae tunes and most are collected here together for the first time. As well as some top hits there are some rare tracks and some previously unreleased versions of vintage tunes.

Some of Brown and Niney's most important songs feature with 'Africa', 'Tribulation', 'Westbound Train' and 'Cassandra' being well loved classics. Songs of consciousness like 'Tenement Yard', 'Africa', 'Give a Helping Hand' and 'Created by the Father' bring a strong message and also show the flexibility of Brown’s vocals. There are also a couple of classic lovers rock tracks for those more familiar with that part of Dennis Brown's career.

On the album there is an extended cut of 'Here I Come (Love And Hate)' with a select I Roy chant 'Jah Come Here'. There is also a colossal version of one of Dennis Brown's finest roots tracks 'Wolves & Leopards' with I Roy on the DJ version 'Step on the Dragon'. Owners of the CD do however miss out on two other extended versions only available on the vinyl, 'Westbound Train' with U Roy's toast 'Train from the West' and 'Tenement Yard' with Ranking Bucker's 'Kill Landlord'.

This collection is packed full of brilliant tracks and is a great view of Dennis Brown's career. A topflight CD, I highly recommend it!

Reviewed by: Dready Sam - UKRG Reviewer

1. Westbound Train

2. Cassandra

3. Tenement Yard

4. Tribulation

5. Africa

6. Here I Come (Love and Hate)/Jah Come Here - featuring I Roy)

7. Whip Them Jah Jah [Previously Unreleased Extended Version]

8. Wolf and Leopard/Step on the Dragon - - featuring I Roy)

9. Give a Helping Hand [Previously Unreleased Extended Version]

10. Run Too Tuff

11. Created by the Father

12. Black Liberation

13. Oh What a Day

14. Spellbound

15. Coming Home Tonight

16. Give Me Your Loving

17. Can't Take Another Day

18. My Whole World

MySpace: www.myspace.com/dennisbrown

Reference: www.discogs.com/artist/Dennis+Brown