Glen Brown

The multi-talented Glen Brown began his career in the mid-'60s as a singer, one half of the duo Lloyd & Glen, and went on to partnerships with Hopeton Lewis and Dave Barker before the decade was out. An equally talented guitarist and melodica player, Brown turned his hand to production as the new decade dawned, with this compilation beautifully showcasing all his skills. The focus, however, is on Brown's superb rhythms for which he is renown to this day. Check out the subtle shifts on "High Holborn St. Song," an absolutely inspired version of the "Full Up" riddim. Even more breathtaking is "I'm Your Puppet," Brown's soulful cover of the '60s hit, set to a bubbling version of the "Slavin'" riddim, with the extended melodica-laced instrumental "No More Slavery" taking the riddim home to Zion. Like "Puppet," "Do Your Thing" takes a classic song and pairs it with a new riddim, in this case Brown's famed "Dirty Harry," with another three sizzling versions also tucked around it, including a DJ take from I-Roy. The producer made great use of DJs, and although the most popular cuts aren't here, there are excellent ones from Prince Jazzbo and Big Youth. But it was the melodica-fired "Merry Up" that gave Brown his biggest hit during this period, its stark rhythm igniting a host of versions, several of which are featured here, including the sumptuous brass-fest "More Music." Most of the vocal tracks feature Brown himself, but Tinga Stewart, Keith Poppin, and the up-and-coming Johnny Clarke also put in appearances, the latter working hard to wrap a Miracles classic around a jazzy stop-start riddim that would defeat a lesser singer. A continuing lack of finances conspired at the time against Brown's releases gaining the recognition they deserved. Hopefully excellent compilations like this will help change this crucial artist-producer from cult figure to reggae icon. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide