NIGHT NURSE: The classic early-eighties set from reggae's Cool Ruler, here repackaged with extensive liner notes and four bonus dub cuts. Gregory's voice is at its sultry best, and the Roots Radics band keep the rhythms tight and tasty, and quite rootsy throughout. Wally Badarou's keys are always tasteful, and often add to the overall texture of the music, rather than rubbing it out. Cultural cuts MATERIAL MAN and HOT STEPPER, and the brilliant NIGHT NURSE are my favourites. The dub cuts aren't exactly classics, but they do maintain the bouyant mood of the vocal originals, and lead nicely back around to the start of the record for an encore performance. I personally prefer Gregory's seventies roots recordings, but for the lovers' rockers it doesn't get much better than this. Nice one Mr. Isaacs!

This is the classic 1982 album from the king of cool dub, Gregory Isaacs, remastered and reissued. Backed by the Roots Radics, including Wally Badarou on synthesizers, there's not a tune to dislike on here. Personal standouts though, have always been "Night Nurse", "Cool Down The Pace" and "Sad To Know (You're Leaving)".

There are four bonus tracks added on to the original eight. I don't usually like bonus tracks but these - dub versions of my favourite tracks mentioned above and a 10" mix of "Cool Down..." - work very well and add new value to an already very valuable old classic. Great stuff. I doubt there's anyone out there who's into old-school reggae who doesn't know about Gregory Isaacs or this particular album but just in case...

simply put this and tenor saw's fever are the probably the two best reggae dancehall albums ever.

Within the first few seconds of "Night Nurse," you are aware that you are in the presence of staggering genius. Gregory Isaacs is one of the most underrated artists of all time. His body of work is second only to Bob Marley in the history of reggae. There are several reasons why this may be. First, unlike more successful artists whose works have few real flaws, Gregory Isaacs was inconsistent and perhaps his management should have restrained him for the sake of his career. But apparently he was under a contract that basically rewarded quantity over quality. This does not really bother me, although it perhaps distracted his output. Gregory's career also suffered due to hard drugs and his voice was reportedly badly damaged by cocaine addiction.
Gregory Isaacs is primarily known for his love songs. It's unfortunate that people don't look at his other songs, which is mostly quite focused on poverty and the turmoil of love with grace and sophistication.

You will want to play this CD over and over again. Gregory Isaacs' voice is so smooth and great to listen to. Great picture of Gregory Isaacs on the cover. This is his very best album. A "must have" for any fan of Reggae music!