Pre-Island Records material from Bob Marley and The Wailers – and a set that really focuses on the strong harmony modes that made the group so great! Bob's lead is still wonderful, but the way the voices come together is tremendous – echoing American soul styles, but with a righteous vibe that already points the way towards the direction Marley would take in just a few short years! Even more familiar rocksteady rhythms have a lot more bite here – produced by Leslie Kong, with great guitar from Lyn Taitt amidst backings from the Beverley's All Stars – all to elevate the vocals of Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. And despite the "best of" title, the set is all unique LP material – with titles that include "Soul Captives", "Caution", "Stop The Train", "Soul Shake Down", "Do It Twice", "Back Out", and "Soon Come". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing document of one of the grooviest groups to emerge from the UK at the start of the 80s – not just their three full albums, but almost as much rare bonus material as well! The English Beat came a bit later than the initial wave of Two Tone ska revival groups – and they came with a difference, too – a bit more soul, and a slightly more contemporary approach to their music – one that pushed Jamaican roots into mod London modes – particularly the best sorts that were bubbling up in the post-punk generation! The group really helped revive some warmer sounds in British music – yet without just copying older modes from the other side of the Atlantic, too – and these three great albums definitely went onto set a fire in a host of other groups as well – the first wave of some surprisingly soulful moments from the UK in the 80s. The box set features the full albums I Just Can't Stop It, Wha'ppen, and Special Beat Service – all with bonus tracks not on the original albums. Then, the set also features more bonus material that includes 15 12" and dub versions of album tracks – and three Peel Session recordings from 1979, 1980, and 1982 – plus a live Boston recording from 1982! Comes in a great box, with a 24 page booklet of essays and rare photos! (Rock, Reggae) CD