Mikey Dread - Best Sellers (1991)

In rock circles, Mikey Dread is best known for his work on the Clash's Sandinista and Black Market Clash albums of the late 1970s. And in reggae, the distinctive and slightly quirky singer has been one of the top artists of the '80s and '90s. Spanning 12 years of his career, Best Sellers boasts many songs that were major hits in the reggae markets of Jamaica and Britain -- including early material like 1980's "Jah Jah Love" and the number one U.K. singles "Barber Saloon Haircut" (1979) and "Warrior Stylee" (1981). Dread, a Rastafarian, expresses his faith on those treasures, as well as 1989's previously unreleased "Choose Me" (a number based on Barbara Lynn's early-'60s soul classic "You'll Lose a Good Thing"). Another cut with a delightfully retro flavor is 1982's "S.W.A.L.K.," which is obviously influenced by the northern soul of the early to mid-1960s. For casual listeners who are purchasing their first Dread CD, Best Sellers is the logical choice.~Best Sellers Review by Alex Henderson