Spanning a period from the late '60s to the early '80s, this Trojan compilation makes for a fine introduction to reggae's golden years. It's also filled with enough obscure material to appeal to even the most involved fan. The emphasis in the mix is not so much on dense, Rasta-themed cuts as it's on buoyant, dancehall-flavored material. Bubbly standouts include
Delroy Wilson's "We're Gonna Work It Out" and
Janet Kay's very agreeable cover of the Minnie Ripperton hit "Lovin' You." More secular nuggets come from a star-studded cast comprised of
Don Carlos,
Gregory Isaacs,
Barrington Levy,
Alton Ellis,
the Heptones, and
Pat Kelly. Special mention should also be made of
Tony Jay's original version of "Telephone Line" and
Dennis Brown's very soulful cover of "Black Magic Woman." On the more cultural-minded front, there's fine tracks like the Mighty Maytones' "Madness" and
Little Roy's "Touch Not My Locks." Top things off with contributions from the seldom heard
Fred Locks and the
Morwells, and
Burning Up qualifies as a very good bet for reggae lovers.