Don Letts used to spin the chill soundtrack at London's Roxy Club during punk's 1976-1977 heyday. Helping the likes of
the Clash,
Siouxsie Sioux, and
the Sex Pistols wind down from a gig,
Letts tapped his vast reggae collection for a mix of classic roots reggae from the early and mid-'70s. Now the magic is canned for all to hear, with cuts featuring such Jamaican stars as
Junior Byles,
U-Roy,
the Mighty Diamonds,
Horace Andy, and
Lee Perry. Many of them English favorites; the disc's 16 tracks also include a few dread dub sides from
King Tubby and a classic from rockers Svengali
Augustus Pablo ("King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown"). A fine way to eavesdrop on what
Joe Strummer probably heard while taking in the London punk club scene.
–
Stephen Cook, Rovi