Sweet Bitter Love & Far And Distant (2CD)

Widely recognised as one of reggae music’s most soulful operators, Lloyd Charmers was at the peak of his creative powers throughout the 1970s, with this 2CD celebration of the producer’s output from 74 demonstrating a true master of his craft.

The first disc comprises a brace of best-selling reggae long-players, the popularity of which ensured they were seldom unavailable to the buying public for years after their original release date. The collections cemented the reputations of the two supremely gifted performers whose respective vocal and instrumental talents were effectively showcased by Charmers’s se­emingly effortless production skills.

CD2 commences with an alternative version of Marcia Griffiths’ debut solo album, presenting eight previously unissued mixes, followed by the original 7” mixes of the title track and the singer’s popular version of Neil Diamond’s ‘Play Me’.

Rounding off the collection of superior soulful reggae sounds are a further ten Charmers’ productions from 1974, with their number including such major works B.B. Seaton’s superb versions of The Impressions’ ‘Finally Got Myself Together (I’m A Changed Man)’ and the New Birth hit, ‘Been Such A Long Time’, the ultra-rare ‘Her Thy Childen Cry’ by Errol Thomas, ‘Johnny Reggae’ by DJ legend Big Youth, Boris Gardiner’s sublime reworking of ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ and two takes of Bob Andy’s anthemic ‘Fire Burning’, with the second cut unissued until now.