In 2003, the Ras label released "Dennis Brown sings Gregory Isaacs". The tribute to these two artists could not be complete without the answer from the Cool Ruler, who here sings some of Dennis Brown's best songs.
Gregory Issacs and Dennis Brown have much more in common than their status as reggae superstars. Both come from that generation of “ghetto youth” who embraced the Rasta faith in the 1970s and sang it over reggae, which had become the music of the “sufferers”. They also sang about love and both experienced the downside of success in the 1980s. Counted among the finest Jamaican voices, the two artists were friends and often swapped repertoire, influencing one another.
Fidelity to the original tracks is the order of the day. The riddims have been replayed identically but also slightly modernised, with synths in place of the horns and a digital varnish on the drums. Among the musicians is Flabba Holt, bassist of the Roots Radics. Vocally, Gregory Isaacs sounds on form and perfectly masters Dennis Brown's repertoire. Alongside the great classics, such as No man is an island, Money in my pocket, Wolves and leopards and Love and hate-Here I come, the album gives pride of place to love songs, a niche common to both artists. Among Gregory Isaccs's most successful, there are How could I leave, Ghetto girl and Should, which one would think were written for him.
Even if the album takes us through familiar territory, with a feeling of “déjà vu”, one is nonetheless carried along by Gregory Isaacs's original interpretation. The disc achieves its aim: paying tribute to Dennis Brown's words and melodies through the voice of one of the artists he was closest to. A somewhat collector's album, for connoisseurs of both artists, especially those who listened to the first volume. Those less familiar with these two masters will prefer the original tracks.
