The 10 Modern Greatest Greatests

Isn't is just lovely that so many of our artists have reached the point in their careers, regardless of what levels of 'mainstream' success they may or may not have achieved, where they LEGITIMATELY have accrued such outstanding catalogues to the point where it literally becomes a necessary thing for the industry to compile some of these tunes and push them out to the eagerly awaiting masses (meaning me)? Well I think it is, but unfortunately sometimes "the industry" doesn't seem to know what the hell they're doing. SO! As if to add some structure to the confusion (and give myself something to do on a Saturday), I submit for your approval, the best of these compilations. The 10 Best Greatest Hits Albums From Modern Reggae Artists.

{note: MODERN artists}

{note 2: Albums are judged on their own merit and not just on my overall taste of the particular artist}

{note 3: I had a really great point to make here, but I just forgot. . . So enjoy}

#10. Luciano - The Ultimate Collection [Hip-O Records, 2003]

First in is Luciano, RIDICULOUSLY, an artist who lacks that defining greatest hits release (although with what is going on these days, I’m sure such a project is imminent). His best to date, in my opinion, is definitely his Ultimate Collection which very strong, although not very inclusive to some of his more well regarded minor hits. However, for what is here: The likes of ‘Poor & Simple‘, ‘It’s Me Again’ and ’Sweep Over My Soul’, for a newer fan, this one is almost PERFECT.

Best Tune: It’s Me Again Jah

What’s Missing??? One Way Ticket, No Night In Zion, Lord Give Me Strength. . .

#8. Buju Banton - The Early Years (90-95) [Penthouse Records, 2001]

Although I’m sure most would disagree with me (favouring instead, either Hip-O’s The Best of Buju Banton or The Ultimate Collection or Universal’s The Millennium Collection), for my money this GEM of an album which frames up most of Buju’s early hits (DUH!) is my favourite of his bunch. Despite still not having that ‘be-all, end-all’ greatest hits album (and when he does get said release, it’ll be a hell of a lot higher on this list), Buju’s The Early Hits release is definitely the most interesting as it shows a basically long forgotten side of the artist: The one which asserted himself as one of the most impressive young talents that the Dancehall has EVER seen. This is of course despite the fact that it contains one of the most controversial tunes in Reggae history, but apart from that, tunes like Batty Rider, Stamina Daddy, Bogle, Wicked Dickie alongside Nadine Sutherland, Hotness alongside Heavy D and Bonafide Love alongside Wayne Wonder and other still go to make up the FOUNDATION for one of the most interesting and CONTROVERSIAL artists that Reggae has ever seen.

Best Tune: Stamina Daddy

What’s Missing??? Who Say featuring Beres Hammond, Love Me Black Woman, Love Me Browning

#8. Capleton - The Best Of [Hip-O Records, 2002]

This paltry, meager little thing, checking in at what is easily the smallest track number on this list (hopefully), with just eleven, ostensibly probably doesn’t belong on this list (and Capleton is another artist who hasn’t had that definitive anthological release, although such a thing may even reach before the end of 2009, in which case, if the ‘usual suspects’ are in place, it’ll probably rank no lower than five on this list subsequently), but you REALLY look over these POWERFUL tunes, which are largely from the earliest stages of The Prophet’s career following his change from the Dancehall to the path of Rastafari and you’ll see why I rate it so highly, no doubt about it.

Best Tune: Death Row (I’m sorry! I LOVE THAT SONG!)

What’s Missing??? A LOT! But who cares

#7. Bounty Killer - Nah No Mercy: The Warlord Scrolls [VP Records, 2006]

FORTY (one) of what is by far one of the most compelling and longest living talents Jamaica has ever seen altogether. That’s exactly what VP did when they dropped this MASSIVE release in 2006 for the Killer. Bounty, as ‘familial’ as he tends to be, seems to march in more of his own circles when it comes to his own music, thus, it was quite the surprise when they chose him for such a release, but when it came to fruition, wasn’t it so nice that the same damn two disc album which featured hits like ‘Arrow’, ‘Fitnes’ and Sufferah’, featured ‘Living Dangerously’, ‘Fed’ Up’ and ‘Look’ in the middle and ‘Lodge’, ‘Spy Fi Die’ and ‘Twenty One’ on the other end???

Best Tune: Lodge

What’s Missing??? Hip Hopera (even though I can’t stand that song)

#6. Shabba Ranking - Caan Dun: The Best of Shabba Ranks [VP Records, 1995]

Unfortunately quite a few fans, particularly of the younger than me generation (and some of the older heads as well definitely), although they kind of hold him in some almost otherworldly esteem, they tend to MUSICALLY dismiss Shabba Ranking as something strictly of the past or even as a gimmick. Perhaps what is in order for such a fan is to come across this WICKED release which simply features some of the finest and most TIMELESS straight forward Dancehall deejaying ever recorded in my opinion on some of Shabba’s finest pieces from his days as THE major player and face of Reggae music worldwide. Two discs PACKED with some of the biggest hits of Shabba’s career and, by extension, some of the biggest hits of the Dancehall of all time.

Best Tune: Love Punanny Bad

What’s Missing??? Ting A Ling, Trailer Load

#5. Cocoa Tea - Reggae Anthology: The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea [VP Records, 2008]

This is almost OVERDONE. A SPRAWLING thirty-six tracks from the current reigning world’s coolest man, Cocoa Tea. This is the type of album, perhaps above any other on this list (with the possible exception of number 3), that should just automatically be in your collection somewhere, if for no other reason than for the sake of reference. Nearly EVERY big tune the man has ever done is to be found here and then some. Seriously, as is the case with Cocoa Tea in general, if you don’t like this album, something is wrong with YOU.

Best Tune: Love Me Truly

What’s Missing??? Feel The Power

#4. Lady Saw - Raw [VP Records, 1998]

You’ll only find one single disc release on this list which ranks over a double disc (and three in this case) and here it is. Call me partial (because I most certainly am), but the prime of Lady Saw’s career, in the mid-late 1990’s is some of the best Dancehall music which has every been done anywhere, PERIOD! The woman was on fire and some of the biggest hits of that time and subsequently some of the biggest hits of her entire career are to be found within the nineteen tracks of Raw, which finds Ms. Hall at her x-rated finest moments. Tunes like ‘Hardcore [It’s Raining]’, ‘Hice It Up’, of course Give Me A Reason, If Him Lef, Strange Feelings and Life Without D%#k, makeup one of the hottest streaks and some of the foundation-ish material from one of the Dancehall’s most unforgettable talents of the undisputed QUEEN of the genre.

Best Tune: Sycamore Tree

What’s Missing??? Where Does Slackness Come From

#3. Beres Hammond - The Ultimate Collection: Can’t Stop A Man [VP Records, 2003]

Didn’t this one just change things? As if you needed more proof that Beres Hammond’s was quietly one of the most BEAUTIFUL Reggae music has ever seen and stands quite well against that of ANYONE in the history of the business there was The Ultimate Collection, which clocked in at thirty-nine tunes and thirty-nine HITS. Again, if you don’t like something here (and enough of it to want to pick it up) then YOU are the problem, it can’t possibly be the vibes on this one. And now, even though it seems like quite awhile ago, the lion’s share of this material (I.e. ALL OF IT), is more than pertinent and it just sounds so damn good!

Best Tune: No Disturb Sign

What’s Missing??? [One of my obscure personal favourites, but definitely not deserving of this album] I’d Do Anything

#2. Beenie Man - Best Of Beenie Man: Collector’s Edition [VP Records, 2000]

Forty tracks across two discs from the greatest Dancehall artist to ever walk the earth. I mean, what more could you ask for (besides a sequel)? I’m not going to ask for too much with the PACKED nature of this project which came about at a point where Beenie’s popularity was incredibly high following the crossover successes The Doctor had enjoyed with tunes like Let Him Go, Dancehall Queen, Girls Dem Sugar and, of course, Who Am I. That wasn’t it, of course, you also Bookshelf, Tell Me, Nuff Gal, Healing alongside Lady Saw, Ole Dawg, Crazy Baldheads alongside Luciano, Murderer alongside Barrington Levy, Romie and Slam. . . And that was only disc one! Disc two featured earlier bombs like Maestro, New Suzuki, Defend The Apachem Dengue Fever, Bury Yu Dead and Kette Drum with Determine. You just simply didn’t need anymore than this.

Best Tune: Who Am I

What’s Missing??? Not a damn thing

#1. Sizzla - The Best of Sizzla: The Story Unfolds [VP Records, 2002]

If you read my material with even the slightest bit of regularity and you applied even the smallest modicum of common fucking sense then you knew IMMEDIATELY what the top ranking piece on this list would be didn’t you??? I hope so. I also hope that you own what I can legitimately claim, regardless of circumstances, is the greatest single album I own, period, The Story Unfolds. Here’s the thing: Sizzla is my favourite artist (DUH!), at every stage of his career, when he makes his BEST music, it is absolutely flawless to my ears, each and every time. I can’t say that about ANYONE else who I’ve ever heard and what you’ll find on this project, across two discs is THIRTY of his best. From No White God, Explain The Almighty, Words of Devine, BLACK WOMAN & CHILD, Aznaldo, Taking Over, Good Ways, MEK DEM SECURE, ONE AWAY, Dem Ah Wonder, PRAISE YE JAH, DEM AH GAZE, BRUTALITY FOR LOVE, To The Point, LOVE IS ALWAYS THERE! I could go on and on, but the greatest greatest hits album from a modern artist that I’ve ever seen is this right here. RIDICULOUS!

Best Tune: Pick one!

What’s Missing??? I could legitimately name you about 100 of them, but for here, I’d say. . . Maybe the ever elusive studio version of Humble Thought.