Recorded between 1963 & 1978. Includes liner notes by Laurence Cane-Honeysett.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Liner Note Author: Laurence Cane-Honeysett.

Toots Hibbert and Alton Ellis aside, Ken Boothe probably came closer than any other Jamaican singer of his generation to re-creating an island version of Memphis soul, and his gritty vocals on his frequent covers of American R&B hits often brought refreshing new dimensions to the songs. This two-disc, 49-track collection is a pretty good overview of Boothe's peak years, starting with a ska side he cut with Stranger Cole ("Uno Dos Tres") in 1963 and ending with a 1978 remake of his 1966 single "You're No Good." There's some impressive stuff here, including "Freedom Street," "Is It Because I'm Black," "Crying Over You," and an interesting version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," but unfortunately nothing from Boothe's mid-'60s work with Clement Dodd at Studio One, which means key Boothe tracks like the original "You're No Good," "The Train Is Coming" (which featured background harmonies by the Wailers) and his solid covers of "Puppet on a String" and "Mustang Sally" are missing here. It's still a solid set, and the most generous introduction to Boothe currently on the market, but the absence of the Studio One material is bothersome. ~ Steve Leggett

Ken Boothe is recognized as one of the greatest reggae vocalists of his generation. (He's even name-checked in the Clash's "White Man In Hammersmith Palais.") Drawing inspiration from American soul singers, this internationally renowned musical legend has a beautiful, powerful, soulful voice, and his talent has kept him going from the ska and rocksteady eras until the present. His greatest hits are compiled in this high-quality ANTHOLOGY, which features boss Boothe bits "Live Good," "I Shot The Sheriff," the Bread hit "Everything I Own," and "Is It Because I'm Black."

CRYING OVER YOU is the definitive Ken Boothe set, bringing together work from several phases of his career, including his early tenure as a member of the ska duo Stranger & Ken and his solo recordings under various producers throughout the 1960s and '70s. Possessed of a gorgeous, rough-hewn tenor and a vocal style that owed a debt to American soul singers, Boothe was, along with Alton Ellis, Jamaica's preeminent soulster. Moreover, he adapted easily to the changing tide of the country's sound, moving from ska to rocksteady to reggae with little fluctuation in the quality of his output.

The anthology does not include Boothe's mid-'60s Studio One recordings (the only period not represented here), but focuses on Boothe's association with Trojan in the '70s, including early hits "Freedom Street" and "Now I Know." Boothe also interpreted popular American songs, and his hits with Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine," Bread's "Everything I Own," and "Godfather (Speak Softly Love)" (the theme from the film THE GODFATHER) are present and accounted for. Boothe's combination of gritty vocal stylings, bouncy island rhythms, and infallible pop smarts is nearly irresistible, and this two-disc collection is a perfect one-stop overview of his music.

Q (1/02, pp.114-115) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...contributing to the early ska scene...lending his soulful vocals to many sound system porductions while retaining a distictly Jamaican style....illustrates his range and output..."