Gregory Isaacs

This brings back so many fond memories of past loves and love making.
A classic from the Barry White of reggae.

Always a reggae classic ... Night Nurse. This CD still manages to deliver surprises. Unhappy Departure Dub is worth a listen. If you like Gregory Isaacs and don't have THIS CD, you must get it.

The classic from Gregory and a must have for any roots reggae lover.

This is the classic 1982 album from the king of cool dub, Gregory Isaacs, remastered and reissued. Backed by the Roots Radics, including Wally Badarou on synthesizers, there's not a tune to dislike on here. Personal standouts though, have always been "Night Nurse", "Cool Down The Pace" and "Sad To Know (You're Leaving)".

There are four bonus tracks added on to the original eight. I don't usually like bonus tracks but these - dub versions of my favourite tracks mentioned above and a 10" mix of "Cool Down..." - work very well and add new value to an already very valuable old classic. Great stuff. I doubt there's anyone out there who's into old-school reggae who doesn't know about Gregory Isaacs or this particular album but just in case...

Gregory Isaacs..A genius on his own mind!! AWESOME album!! Awesome reggae hits!!

Great stuff from one of the legends of Reggae I would definitely advice people to buy this cd ,just saw him live even though He only played for a little over an hour and kept everyone waiting all night H e is awesome.

Isaacs ultimate collection is wonderful. The earlier cuts blend well with the newer versions. A great addition to my reggae collection.

I am satisfied with the product and the qualit of service I received, the machandise arrived on time with out damage.

I recently purchased this Gregory Isaacs collection CD and it is off da hook. It brought back so many memories of when my Dad used to DJ at parties in our basement at home and at clubs. Gregory's smooth, silky voice with the laid-back tempo beats just make you feel "Irie!" Almost all the songs are good.

Some of my favorites are:

Night Nurse
Top Ten
Front Door
Tune In
Sad To Know (You're Leaving)
Love is Overdue

This is definitely a CD to add to your collection.

Any collection of Gregory Isaac's "greatest hits" is of immediate suspect quality because his body of recorded work is gigantic. During the early 80's, Gregory and a cabal of like minded brethern hatched a bizarre plan to corner the international reggae market by glutting the market with new releases. Isaacs was sometimes releasing as many as 7 singles a week, most of which were mediocre. With the exception of an early 90s collection on Sonic Records, all of Gregory Isaac's greatest hits collections are marred by the presence of throwaway tracks and poor sound quality. "Ultimate Collection" on Isaac's venerable African Museum label rectifies that situation.

This is an excellent career spanning collection of the Cool Ruler's chart toppers. Given, there are some gaps that exsist but a comprehensive collection of Isaac's best music would take 3 CDs, not one. This retrospective, together with the albums "Soon Forward","Night Nurse" and "Out Deh" will give the listener the complete picture of Isaac's greatest moments... but this collection is a good starting point.

Gregory Isaacs should have been international reggae star with the stature of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh. Unfortunately Gregory's love of drugs and penchant for trouble derailed him at the peak of his career. He spent much of his peak popularity behind bars on various drug and weapons charges. I had the privlidge of deejaying one of his live shows in 1983 with the Sugar Minott crew and Half Pint. The notoriously erratic Mr. Isaacs showed up for the 7 pm sound check, disappeared to who knows where, and showed up an hour late for his midnight stage time. When he finally showed up, he blew the roof off the dance hall, but the frantic promoter refused to book Isaacs again.

Gregory's best moment are sublime...his silky smooth tenor glides over a song and drops into a low seductive growl. This is after-hours music for the slow skank. On some cuts Isaacs is backed by Sly and Robbie's turbo-charged Taxi crew; but the tracks with the bubbling riddims of the Roots Radics are the tracks where Mr. Isaacs weaves his spell over the listener. "Night Nurse", "Out Deh", "Sad To Know" and "Good Morning" are masterpieces of erotic seduction. I've seen women swoon when he performs these songs in concert. It is these moments when Gregory proves he is the uncontested king of lover's rock and the undisputed cool ruler of reggae.

At the risk of sounding like his agent, I am hard pressed to think of a better love song CD. If you are familiar with Gregory Isaacs, you know how good he is. If you are not familiar with him, this CD is an excellent compilation of the work he has done over the years. From the first track (Night Nurse (my favorite)) to the last track (Sad to know (you're leaving)), this CD is 75 minutes of ear candy. The comparisons to Marvin Gaye, John Coltran, and Al Green are very accurate.

If this CD does not get your "significant other" "in the mood", seek relationship counseling! QUICK!

Hip-O Records presents a voice at its sultry best from the '70s & '80s within the genre of reggae. This buoyant sound belongs to Gregory Isaacs featuring his latest release "Greatest Love Songs", inclusive are soothing selections with a laid-back distinctive style, Isaacs is at the top of his form. This is an excellent comprehensive collection for you the listener and the love potion that comes pouring through your speakers.

Gregory's silky smooth tenor style weaves a spell with "NIGHT NURSE", this self titled album from the early '80s, proves he is the undisputed king of reggae ~ "TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE", lyrics take the front seat on this one ~ "COOL DOWN THE PACE", great intro arrangement on this one, Isaacs got you in the palm of his hand ~ "LOVING PAUPER", lyrics flow with "can't take you out to fancy places, I'm only able to romance you and make you tingle with delight", they sure don't write them like that anymore.

In closing, Gregory sings one of my favorite tunes of the album "SAD TO KNOW (YOU'RE LEAVING)", as he sings "what more can we say, even though it's kind of grieving...but we know you'll be returning soon". And you know what, you have...so welcome back GREGORY ISAACS!

Total Time: 75:04 on 18 Tracks ~ Hip-O Records 440-063-071-2 ~ (1/28/2003)

Growing up in the late 70s and 80s, reggae was not really my cup of tea - I was more into soul and pop music. My older brother & sister loved reggae and Gregory Isaacs in particular, therefore I was familiar with a lot of his music - Thank goodness!!!! I remember my brother playing this album regularly when it was originally released, and there was certainly no complaints from me, for this album is right up there with the very best I have ever heard!!!

I won't bother to give an account on the individual tracks because the whole album is irresistible!!!

I am correcting your song listing.
Track 1.Confirm reservation
2. Front Door
3.Permanent Lover
4. Hush Darling
5. My only lover
6.If I don't have you
7. Poor Millionaire
8. The fugitive
9. Once Ago
10. Oh What a Feeling- bonus tracks
11. Wailing rudie- """"
12. Top Ten- """"

Linval brings out the best is a hit list of artists from the golden age of dancehall. You should buy this CD just for Jr. Reid's "Mr. Bigman" alone, but there are many other gems on here as well. A wonderful release from one of the greats in reggae.

For anyone who loves reggae this is a must have. I often do not like compilations CDs in reggae, there is no common thread and as a whole, the songs don't work together. But this release works from start to end. There are amazing tracks here from artists like Jr, Reid, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, etc. Linval Thompson put his stamp on reggae with these productions. You have classics cuts here that helped start the dancehall revolution. A must for listening in the car, for a Saturday night party or just chilling with the head phones. Another gem Easy Star!

Another classic from Gregory and a must have for any roots reggae lover.

If any one is a true reggae lover then private beach party is a must have. Let off supm, Feelin Irie, are classics. Believe me even if your not a reggae lover you need to have this album. Just put it on and kick back. Each track has its own flow. No drug will ever give you this high. Is it worth it? Hell yeah.

Private Beach party is addictive!! You will always want to listen to it over and over again. I just love the performance of Gregory Issacs and all the tracks in this CD are "Kool". If you like Gregory Isaacs, his soothing sweet lyrics, then you must have Private Beach Party.

"Mister Isaacs" makes you wonder why Gregory never found the same broad crossover audience that Bob Marley found in America. Isaac's career longevity in Jamaica and Europe has eclipsed nearly every other survivor from the golden age of reggae, with the possible exception of reggae's elder statesman, Winston Rodney (aka Burning Spear).

Gregory's trademark was his stylized winsome croon, his sense of vocal dynamics, and his nuanced phrasing of lyrics. He was an instictive vocal prodigy of the rarest kind generally found among an elite class of standards and jazz interpreters.

Billie Holiday's vocals could breathe an emotional life into a mawkish sentimental standard like "These Foolish Things." Similarly, Gregory Isaacs could sing a trite children's song as he did with "Puff the Magic Dragon" and transform it into an emotionally stirring statment of vocal artistry.

Gregory's high stylized vocals are capable of expressing any emotion: be it anger, world weariness, lonliness, romantic yearing, cynicism, pain, erotic sensualtiy, or despair and he will make the most banal of lyrics dance under the sway of his velvet voice.

"Mister Isaacs" was recorded in 1983 within a five year span when Gregory Isaacs was at the height of his artistic brilliance. I was living as an alien resident in Jamaica when Gregroy recorded this album. At the same time Gregory was making the rounds of nearly every studio, on the island releasing a new dancehall hit on different label on a weekly basis.

Isaacs had so many ongoing musical projects happening that many of his album and single releases never reached his musical catalog. Gregory once remarked that he was in a cabal of musicians who wanted to corner the international music market by flooding it with thousands of reggae releases. I still am not sure if Gregory was joking, when he made that remark.

The material in "Mr. Isaacs" is uniformly dazzling but "Sacrafice" with the angry lyirc: "I was given as a sacrifice/To build a black man's hell and a white man's paradise" is remarkable. Gregory's winesome vocals add a poignant element to the angry lyric of "Sacrafice" which humanizes the message of the song. Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakepere's seductive bass and drum riddims that drive the song "Storm" and march a simple one drop riff into a churning, langrous juggernaut that underscores Isaac's impassonied lyrical plea to hang on steady until the storm has passed.

"Mr. Isaacs" is one of the essential reggae albums from a singer who made so many classics during 1978-1983 crest of the roots reggae era. During those memorable years Gregory produced "Mr. Isaacs" along with "Soon Forward", "Extra-Classic", "Cool Ruler", "Night Nurse" and "Out Deh." This album is one of those six blockbuster albums that define Gregory Isaacs's artistry and the elegance of smooth lover's rock crooning style. I give my unqualified recommendation for any of those albums. Of those six albums "Soon Forward" is the incontestable, hands down pick of the litter and on my own terms is the best reggae album ever made and "Mister Isaacs" get an honorable metion somewhere in the Top Twenty albums of the golden age of reggae.

For those Amazon shoppers who are new to Gregory Isaac's music, "The Ultimate Collection" a 20 song retrospective of selected tunes by Gregory during 1978-1983 era is highly recommended. The songs are a smart sampling of his albums from that era that will give you a taste of Gregory without spoiling most of the new content you'd get from purchasing any of his regular non-anthology releases.

The best Gregory Isaacs release I've heard yet. He's performing at the height of his talent here. This is an eminently listenable record: clear, rootsy, and melodic. The "bonus" tracks are particularly fine, especially the dub of "Mr. Know It All" which closes the cd.

The lyrics, the production and the singing are nothing less than the very best.

I wholeheartedly agree with everything the other erudite reviewers have said: this is essential listening, a must-have album, right up there with the greatest roots reggae releases. HIGHLY recommended.

"Soon Forward" is song for song, the most crucial and conscious reggae album I've ever heard. Gregory's breakthrough album in the UK was 1981's "Extra Classic" and here in the USA it was "Night Nurse" in 1982 which far away is Gregory's best international selling album. "Soon Forward" was released earlier (1979)and failed to develop a significant audience outside of Jamaica. It's a shame because "Soon Forward" is Mr. Isaac's best album and a stone cold reggae classic

"Soon Forward" is a revelation because the album is just about the only Gregory Isaacs album that provides a perfect balance between Gregory's plantive and bitersweet lover's rock, and his steadfast, roots conscious, Rastafarian militate musical persona. Songs like "Universal Tribulation", "Black Liberation Struggle" and the transcendent "Slave Market" are songs of freedom that resonate as much as any song in Marley's sublime catalogue of music.

When the money is laid down on the table, nobody can sing lover's rock like Gregory, the cool ruler. "Soon Forward" the album's title song weaves a seductive trance-like spell and will mezmerize the listener. The song is muscular display of Sylvan Morris' dubwise mastery of the soundboard. Morris crashes out wave, after rippling wave of echoes, and he deftly pulls the vocals and the various instrumental passages in and out of the mix. It's some high stylin' dub, mon.

This is a percolating ganja soaked production with many of the usual musical suspects, like members of the Roots Radics, the original Burning Spear band, the Heptones, and Sly and Robbie. Sly Dunbar had the producer's credit for "Soon Forward" but engineer Sylvan Morris should share equal credit for the crystal clear mix and the shock and awe of his dub factor. Dennis Brown and Junior Delgado add background vocals that almost make Gregory sound as if he's singing lead in a longstanding trio of vocalists like the Itals or the Melodians at times

I've listened to and purchased hundreds of reggae albums since the mid 1970s and Gregory Isaac's "Soon Forward" is the still the masterwork of all crucial albums from the golden age of roots and conscious reggae. I play it early and often each week and after 26 years of hearing it, I still reap the rewards of repeated listening.

Gregory Isaacs has oft been referred to as the Frank Sinatra of regge and this is not just hyperbole. The man's phrasing is as subtle as it is ultimately powerfully moving. Before the drugs took their toll on his pipes Isaacs was peerless in reggae for his ability to put a song across. Even the mighty Dennis Brown acknowledged his good friend's talents. All that said Soon Forward is perhaps the Cool Ruler's finest LP. Covering reality themes on Universal Tribulation (an absolutely devestating track) and Black Liberation Struggle et al while also delivering classic Isaacs romanticism on Lonely Girl and the title track. Produced by Isaacs and featuring a band that includes Horsemouth, Bingy Bunny, Sly and Robbie, Ansel Collins, Deadly Headly, Bobby Ellis and Wire Lindo plus backing vocals from Leroy Sibbles (Heptones) Dennis Brown and Junior Delgado, what more do you need to know? If you don't already own it, I feel for you,friend.

I came to this album by having purchased the ROIR label production "Come Again Dub," in 1993 which is the dub version of Call Me Collect. Despite listening to that album intensely over a number of years I never purchased this original. Finally I got my hands on Call Me Collect earlier this year and WOW! am I happy I did. While I knew the music by heart thanks to the dub album, I was really surprised how great the cuts were with Gregory's full vocals. This truly is a great album and I'm amazed at how little attention it seems to get. This recording is as satisfying an album as Cool Ruler, Number 1, Night Nurse, or Soon Forward in my opinion. In addition, this is a later recording (1990 I believe), and thus has a more modern and diverse sound. Both electronic and organic sounds make up the music, while Gregory's voice is solid, smooth, and strong. The cuts vary in style but there isn't a bad cut throughout. I highly recommend this for anyone from old fan to newcomer. Also, this cd appears to often be difficult to get your hands on, so get it while you can!