Marcia Griffiths & Willie Lindo: Sweet Bitter Love & Far And Distant, 2CD

• Includes nine previously unreleased tracks.
• Total of 17 tracks new to CD.
• Two essential soulful reggae albums from 1974.

Widely recognised as one of reggae music’s most soulful operators, Lloyd Charmers was at the peak of his creative powers throughout the 1970s, with this 2CD 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 LISTING

DISC ONE

MARCIA GRIFFITHS – SWET BITTER LOVE
1 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Marcia Griffiths
2 Play Me – Marcia Griffiths
3 There’s No Me Without You – Marcia Griffiths
4 I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely – Marcia Griffiths
5 Gypsy Man – Marcia Griffiths
6 Sweet Bitter Love – Marcia Griffiths
7 Here I Am (Come And Take Me) – Marcia Griffiths
8 Everything I Own – Marcia Griffiths
9 Green Grasshopper – Marcia Griffiths
10 Children At Play – Marcia Griffiths
11 Play Me – Marcia Griffiths & Lloyd Charmers
WILLIE LINDO – FAR & DISTANT
12 Drum Song – Willie Lindo
13 Darker Shade Of Black (Norwegian Wood) – Willie Lindo
14 Midnight (Train To Georgia) – Willie Lindo
15 Samba Pa Ti – Willie Lindo
16 Chopper – Willie Lindo
17 Here I Am Baby – Willie Lindo
18 Charmers Mood – Willie Lindo
19 Mystic Mood – Willie Lindo
20 Breezing – Willie Lindo
21 Holly Holy – Willie Lindo
22 Midnight – Willie Lindo

DISC TWO

MARCIA GRIFFITHS ‘SWEET BITTER LOVE’ – THE ALTERNATE MIXES
1 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (alt. mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
2 There’s No Me Without You (alt. mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
3 I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely (alt. mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
4 Gypsy Man (alt.mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
5 Here I Am (Come And Take Me) (alt. mix)
– Marcia Griffiths +
6 Everything I Own (alt. mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
7 Green Grasshopper (alt. mix)- Marcia Griffiths +
8 Children At Play (alt. mix) – Marcia Griffiths +
9 Sweet Bitter Love (7” mix) – Marcia Griffiths
10 Play Me (7” mix) – Marcia Griffiths
BONUS TRACKS
11 Fire Burning – Bob Andy
12 Bone Yard Skank –The Bone Yard Belly Dancers
13 I’m A Changed Man – B.B. Seaton *
14 You Make Me Feel Brand New – Boris Gardiner
15 Oh Pa Pa – The Drifting Blenders *
16 Johnny Reggae – Big Youth
17 Hear Thy Children Cry – Errol Thomas *
18 Been Such A Long Time – B.B. Seaton *
19 Let’s Get It On (Version) – Lloyd Charmers
20 Fire Burning (alternate version) – Bob Andy +

+ previously unreleased
* New to CD