Various Artists - Reggatta Mondatta, Volume II (1998)

Subtitled "A Reggae Tribute to The Police featuring The Greatest Reggae Artists In The World" this is a CD of Police covers. Overall, this album is not as good as the first volume but most tracks would fit perfectly in a pool side reggae playlist on your iPod. The first volume had 12 tracks and this hastily thrown together sequel only has 10?!? What gives?

Tracks:

• Don't Stand So Close To Me - Louchie Lou & Michie One
  A decent R&B cover, but this doesn't sound much like reggae to me.
• So Lonely - Aswad
  Laid back, but I prefer the manic style of the original's chorus. This fluff reminds me of Big Mountain's cover of Peter Frampton's Baby, I Love Your Way.
• King Of Pain - Inner Circle
  I never cared much for the original and prefer this cover. Still depressing, though.
• Man In A Suitcase - Big Mountain
  Ugh. Sounds like something a cruise ship band would play on reggae night.
• When The World Is Running Down - The British Link featuring Philip Leo, Tenor Fly, & Sweetie Irie
  A great dub cover, much better than the original, but not quite as good as Sting's version on his 1986 live album, Bring On The Night.
• Demolition Man - Rayvon featuring Shaggy
  I'm a Shaggy fan, but this song just doesn't really lend itself to a reggae cover.
• Rehumanize Yourself - Freddie McGregor
  One of the better tracks here. I'm surprised I like it because I've always thought side 2 of Ghost In The Machine is almost perfect as is and, therefore, untouchable.
• Bring On The Night - Bim Sherman
  Now I'm getting bored. The original isn't a good song to start with and this cover is even more lackluster.
• De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - Third World
  One of the more unlikely Police hits (reaching #10 in 1980), this cover is pretty much what you'd expect. Good, but not memorable.
• Canary In A Coalmine - Toots & The Maytals
  Not only the best track on this disc, but the best cover from both discs. Toots is a living reggae legend and he brings it; old school reggae done right. So much better than the original.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, I just bought it because I liked the first volume.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume I (1997)