Countryman
Bob Marleyand the Wailers' dictum: "If you are a big tree, then we are the small  axe." This upgraded edition ofCountryman's original  soundtrackis packed with eight Wailers tracks, mostly from their  '70s Island albums but also including the faster, pre-Burnin'"Small Axe."  The world-reggae fusion of then-new Chris Blackwell signing Wally  Badarou also fills many minutes here, mostly going in one ear and out  the other, but pleasantly. Better are offerings fromLee Perry,Toots and the  Maytals,Steel Pulse,Aswad, and Dennis Brown. The lesser-knownFabulous 5, Jah  Lion, and Human Cargo push the upbeat mood along, contributing to a  generous 75-minute disc that ultimately builds a mood of its own.--Rickey Wright