Although extremely miserly, this collection is budget-priced, spanning
Eddy Grant
's career and hitting most of his high points. In the States, the Jamaican-born, British-bred star only placed two singles in the chart, and the first,
"Electric Avenue,"
kicks off this set.
Grant
was already well established in the U.K. by the time he rocked up Brixton's legendary street in 1983, and so the set scoops up several earlier, seminal numbers.
"Hello Africa"
featured on his debut full-length and
"Walking on Sunshine"
entitled his follow-up, an album that also included the potent
"Living on the Frontline."
However, it was
Killer on the Rampage
that struck a chord in the U.S., launching
"Electric"
into the charts, while finding further success back home with
"War Party"
and
"I Don't Wanna Dance."
Going for Broke
brought with it
"Romancing the Stone,"
his second U.S. hit, with two more tracks from that set appearing here. And then it all went pear-shaped, with
's next two albums failing to thrill, although his hope-filled anti-apartheid anthem
"Gimme Hope Jo'anna"
returned him to the British chart. The set than fast-forwards to 2005, pulling
"Gotta Be Positive"
from the singer's
Reparation
album. There are obviously much more inclusive sets out there, but for the price, this is the minimum one could expect. [This edition of
The Very Best of Eddy Grant
included bonus tracks.] ~ Jo-Ann Greene