Sweet Bitter Love / Far & Distant
Two CDs. Widely recognized as one of reggae music's most soulful operators, Lloyd Charmers was at the peak of his creative powers throughout the 1970s, with this celebration of the producer's output from '74 demonstrating a true master of his craft. The first disc comprises a brace of best-selling reggae long-players, the popularity of which ensured they were seldom unavailable to the buying public for years after their original release date. The collections cemented the reputations of the two supremely gifted performers whose respective vocal and instrumental talents were effectively showcased by Charmers's seemingly effortless production skills. CD2 commences with an alternative version of Marcia Griffiths' debut solo album, presenting eight previously unissued mixes, followed by the original 7" mixes of the title track and the singer's popular version of Neil Diamond's 'Play Me'. Rounding off the collection of superior soulful reggae sounds are a further ten Charmers' productions from 1974, with their number including such major works B. B. Seaton's superb versions of The Impressions' 'Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)' and the New Birth hit, 'Been Such A Long Time', the ultra-rare 'Her Thy Childen Cry' by Errol Thomas, 'Johnny Reggae' by DJ legend Big Youth, Boris Gardiner's sublime reworking of 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' and two takes of Bob Andy's anthemic 'Fire Burning', with the second cut unissued until now.
Track List
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me - Marcia Griffiths
- There's No Me Without You - Marcia Griffiths
- I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely - Marcia Griffiths
- Gypsy Man - Marcia Griffiths
- Sweet Bitter Love - Marcia Griffiths
- Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - Marcia Griffiths
- Everything I Own - Marcia Griffiths
- Green Grasshopper - Marcia Griffiths
- Children at Play - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me - Marcia Griffiths ; Lloyd Charmers
- Drum Song - Willie Lindo
- Darker Shade of Black (Norwegian Wood) - Willie Lindo
- Midnight (Train to Georgia) - Willie Lindo
- Samba Pa Ti - Willie Lindo
- Chopper - Willie Lindo
- Here I Am Baby - Willie Lindo
- Charmers Mood - Willie Lindo
- Mystic Mood - Willie Lindo
- Breezing - Willie Lindo
- Holly Holy - Willie Lindo
- Midnight - Willie Lindo
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Alt. Mix) - Marcia
- There's No Me Without You (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Gypsy Man (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Here I Am (Come and Take Me) (Alt. Mix)
- Everything I Own (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Green Grasshopper (Alt. Mix)- Marcia Griffiths
- Children at Play (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Sweet Bitter Love (7" Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me (7" Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Fire Burning - Bob Andy
- Bone Yard Skank -The Bone Yard Belly Dancers
- I'm a Changed Man - B.B. Seaton
- You Make Me Feel Brand New - Boris Gardiner
- Oh Pa Pa - the Drifting Blenders
- Johnny Reggae - Big Youth
- Hear Thy Children Cry - Errol Thomas
- Been Such a Long Time - B.B. Seaton
- Let's Get It on (Version) - Lloyd Charmers
- Fire Burning (Alternate Version) - Bob Andy
Two CDs. Widely recognized as one of reggae music's most soulful operators, Lloyd Charmers was at the peak of his creative powers throughout the 1970s, with this celebration of the producer's output from '74 demonstrating a true master of his craft. The first disc comprises a brace of best-selling reggae long-players, the popularity of which ensured they were seldom unavailable to the buying public for years after their original release date. The collections cemented the reputations of the two supremely gifted performers whose respective vocal and instrumental talents were effectively showcased by Charmers's seemingly effortless production skills. CD2 commences with an alternative version of Marcia Griffiths' debut solo album, presenting eight previously unissued mixes, followed by the original 7" mixes of the title track and the singer's popular version of Neil Diamond's 'Play Me'. Rounding off the collection of superior soulful reggae sounds are a further ten Charmers' productions from 1974, with their number including such major works B. B. Seaton's superb versions of The Impressions' 'Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)' and the New Birth hit, 'Been Such A Long Time', the ultra-rare 'Her Thy Childen Cry' by Errol Thomas, 'Johnny Reggae' by DJ legend Big Youth, Boris Gardiner's sublime reworking of 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' and two takes of Bob Andy's anthemic 'Fire Burning', with the second cut unissued until now.
Track List
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me - Marcia Griffiths
- There's No Me Without You - Marcia Griffiths
- I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely - Marcia Griffiths
- Gypsy Man - Marcia Griffiths
- Sweet Bitter Love - Marcia Griffiths
- Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - Marcia Griffiths
- Everything I Own - Marcia Griffiths
- Green Grasshopper - Marcia Griffiths
- Children at Play - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me - Marcia Griffiths ; Lloyd Charmers
- Drum Song - Willie Lindo
- Darker Shade of Black (Norwegian Wood) - Willie Lindo
- Midnight (Train to Georgia) - Willie Lindo
- Samba Pa Ti - Willie Lindo
- Chopper - Willie Lindo
- Here I Am Baby - Willie Lindo
- Charmers Mood - Willie Lindo
- Mystic Mood - Willie Lindo
- Breezing - Willie Lindo
- Holly Holy - Willie Lindo
- Midnight - Willie Lindo
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Alt. Mix) - Marcia
- There's No Me Without You (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Gypsy Man (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Here I Am (Come and Take Me) (Alt. Mix)
- Everything I Own (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Green Grasshopper (Alt. Mix)- Marcia Griffiths
- Children at Play (Alt. Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Sweet Bitter Love (7" Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Play Me (7" Mix) - Marcia Griffiths
- Fire Burning - Bob Andy
- Bone Yard Skank -The Bone Yard Belly Dancers
- I'm a Changed Man - B.B. Seaton
- You Make Me Feel Brand New - Boris Gardiner
- Oh Pa Pa - the Drifting Blenders
- Johnny Reggae - Big Youth
- Hear Thy Children Cry - Errol Thomas
- Been Such a Long Time - B.B. Seaton
- Let's Get It on (Version) - Lloyd Charmers
- Fire Burning (Alternate Version) - Bob Andy