Dave and Ansell Collins
The Heavy Heavy Monster Sounds of Dave and Ansell Collins
Beatwise
My earliest encounter with dub was “Double Barrel,” and I never got over it. That song alone is worth possession of this disc. Featured Skatalites are on hand to remind us that there has always been a very thin line between dub and ska. Call it roots ska, if you will. The low points, for some such as I, would be the cuts that delve more deeply towards calypso than we care to go. But to each his own dub. It’s also interesting to note that “Double Barrel” seems to have been heavily borrowed from in the formation of a subsequent track “Glory of Love.” Old folks will enjoy this nostalgic collection, and young whippersnappers can learn an important lesson in the funky history of ska.
