Africa Unite: The Singles Collection
Bob Marley's Island Records material and pre-Island stuff has generally been split apart ­ not just because of label contracts but also because Marle'¹s earlier work is more steadfastly in the ska, rocksteady or roots reggae vein, while his later material had that well-defined reggae sound with a shot of rock guitar added. A de facto expanded version of the hugely popularLegendhits package,Africa Unitepads the those hits with a seminal early tune ("Soul Rebels") as well as live or earlier recorded versions of classics like "Lively Up Yourself" and "Concrete Jungle." The 20-song set also adds the previously unreleased "Slogans," as well as two modern remixes. As a one-CD overview of an artist who was much more than a reggae hits machine,Africa Uniteworks far better thanLegend. But really, it only scratches the surface of the Marley legacy, particularly in regard to his formative but ultimately excellent early material. ­--Tad Hendrickson