Trojan's This Is Crucial Reggae series is really a group of samplers (each runs around 35 minutes in length) showcasing the label's vast ska and reggae licensing catalog, and Crucial Reggae Summer Jam Party pretty much follows the template of the other titles in the series, mixing bona fide Jamaican hits with reggaefied covers of familiar international pop and soul songs. Here classic Jamaican smashes like Desmond Dekker's "Israelites," Bob Marley's "Lively Up Yourself," Toots & the Maytals' "Monkey Man," and the Paragons' "The Tide Is High" are set alongside pop covers by Ken Boothe ("In the Summertime"), Chaka Demus & Pliers (a blustering "Don't Be Cruel") and Inner Circle (a totally unnecessary cover of "Rock the Boat") as well as the Cimarons' version of "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (one wishes Jimmy Cliff's original could have been used instead, or else Desmond Dekker's equally fine cover of the song). The end result is pleasant enough, but a bit on the brief side, and not particularly crucial. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide