• By Maral Amiri
• On Dec 6th 2007

After My Heart Is An Open Book released in October, Orange Street label returns with a new compilation of 18 classics from Dennis Emmanuel Brown.

From roots to digital, Foolish Men highlights on collaboration from the late seventies to the nineties between the Crown Prince of Reggae and the famous producer Niney The Observer. Even if this duet could fulfill any reggae amateur, as hard to please reggae addicts, we are often reluctant about a new Dennis Brown compilation as they are so many! However, good news, the UK label has compiled classics that we are always pleased to re-listen, with unreleased songs as 'Work It Out'.

We're recovering some digital songs from 1993 Cosmic Force album as 'Can't Take Another Day', 'Name Brand', 'Cosmic Force' and a digital version of The Supremes' 1964 hit 'My Whole World Is Empty Without You'. And more roots cuts as the great 'Open Your Eyes', powerful 'Three Meals A Day' and 'Well Without Water' issued from the 1979 crucial album Joseph's Coat Of Many Colors released on Dennis Brown' DEB label. After classics tunes, place to unreleased ones with the good 'Foolish Men' on a heavy bass digital riddim, 'Work It Out', 'You Know, You Know' a new version which is a little bit disappointing compared with the original and wonderful 'Don't Want To Be No General' firstly released in 1979 on 7' on Emmanuel Music label.

There is a real contrast between tunes from Cosmic Force and others, but one thing is clear, be it on digital or roots, Dennis Brown's voice is always perfect and carries us along no matter the style of riddims.