Atlantic / Wea
2000
The Definitive Collection
About This Album
"I can't help think what if?" muses Atlantic Records' Craig Kallman in a quote from The Definitive Collection's sleeve notes. It's a question that haunts anyone who has heard Garnett Silk sing. When the vocalist died in 1994, he had yet to complete his eagerly awaited second album. Six years later, listeners had the opportunity to finally begin to answer that question. This two-CD set resurrects that lost album, whose completion was overseen by Mikey Chung (who also played guitar during the original recording sessions) and Maurice Hunt; there are ten tracks in all, including a new version of "Hello Mother Africa." Accompanied by a who's who of top Jamaican sessionmen -- Sly & Robbie, Chinna Smith, Sticky Thompson, Family Man Barrett, and Earl Lindo included, and with Brian & Tony Gold and Chevelle Franklin adding their backing vocals, the sound and musicianship is truly superb. The songs themselves are among Silk's strongest. "Tell Them to Stop" has "smash hit" written all over it -- a fiercely driving rhythm, anthemic chorus, and a tough vocal delivery to match the song's equally tough theme. The rootsy "I Love You From a Distance" was guaranteed to raise more Marley comparisons, but the bluesy "Slave" would put pay to those, with a sufferer's lament that showcases Silk at his most soulful.
Track List

Disc 1 (try tracks 1,5 and 6)

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Disc 2 (try tracks 1 and 3)

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