Reggae Anthology: The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea

by Cocoa Tea

Overview

This fine two-disc overview presents some of the best and most popular singles by legendary dancehall crooner Cocoa Tea, and as such it's also an excellent primer on the evolution of dancehall reggae in general, from the early '80s (when its harder beat was just starting to make itself felt as an alternative to the previously ascendant roots reggae sound) to the ragamuffin stylings of 2006. The program is presented chronologically, and the first disc compiles early productions by Henry "Junjo" Lawes and King Jammy (including the brilliant "Come Again," which hijacks the melody to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), up through such late-'80s classics as the three-way combo hit "Who She Love" (featuring Home T. and a young Shabba Ranks) and "Love Me." The second disc is even better, with top-notch rhythms from Bobby "Digital-B" Dixon and Philip "Fatis" Burrell including two brilliant cuts on the classic "Stalag 17" rhythm, the very fine "Rip & Run Off" combination track (with Cutty Ranks) and a great recut of Larry Marshall's roots classic "Mean Girl" here titled "Mr. Neck Tie Man." Cocoa Tea's voice is one of the sweetest and smoothest in reggae music and has been for more than two decades now; this set offers one of the best overviews of his work in recent memory. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2008
Label:	17 North Parade
UPC:	0054645412322
Rank:	136735

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Lost My Sonia
2. Rocking Dolly
3. Informer
4. Children of the Ghetto
5. Hey Bobby
6. Come Again
7. Death in the Stadium
8. Tune In
9. All Night Saturday Night
10. Young Lover
11. Lonesome Side
12. Love Me
13. Who She Love
14. Holding On
15. Pirates Anthem
16. The Going Is Rough
17. Riker's Island
18. Bust Outta Hell

Disc 2

19. Good Life
20. Too Young
21. She Loves Me Now
22. No Threat
23. We Do the Killing
24. Come Love Me
25. Rip & Run Off
26. Holy Mount Zion
27. Heathen
28. Israel's King
29. Hurry up & Come
30. Rough Inna Town
31. Moving On
32. Mr.Neck Tie Man
33. Zeeks
34. Can't Be Real
35. Tek Wey Yu Gal
36. Save Us Oh Jah

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cocoa Tea   Primary Artist
Cutty Ranks   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Buju Banton   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Calvin Scott   Primary Artist
Home T   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Luciano   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Shabba Ranks   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Patrick "Shadow" Lindsay   Primary Artist
Louie Culture   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Bobby Dixon   Composer
C.S. Dodd   Composer
Lloyd James   Composer
Anthony Cameron   Composer