Roots Master: The Vintage Roots

Linton is a living Jamaican reggae pioneer, having emerged from Kingston's Trenchtown ghetto and the late ska/rock steady scene with friends and fellow disciples of godfather Joe Higgs, Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh. His molasses soul voice was his business card, so, although his lyrics conveyed social protest, this vintage singles collection spotlights the pleasant, feel-good soul of his gratifying voice. These are digital stereo mixes from extremely rare (and expensive) singles from 1969-1986, arranged by Baltimore's Sun King honcho/producer Ian Jones. Jones somehow tracked down original tapes and vinyl, and also located the vanished Linton himself -- unheard for a quarter century -- in Negril, Jamaica, to co-produce these mixes. The pair carefully preserve wells-deep grooves. From the 1976 Jamaican number one "Crying Time," to the blunt "Reduce the Arms Race," to the behind the scenes DVD look at Linton today, Roots Master is ganja for reggae lovers -- the "roots" of Burning Spear and Culture to come. ~ Jack Rabid