Yellow Fever: A History of Dancehall's Original Ruler (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Yellowman (vocals); Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, David Madden, Michael Spence, Christopher Meredith, Wycliff "Steelie" Johnson, Cleevy Browne, Noel Davey, Wayne Smith, Lloyd James.

Engineers include: Lloyd "King Jammy" James, Andre "Suku" Gray, Ranaldo Evans.

Recorded at King Jammy's Studio, Kingston, Jamaica.

Personnel: Yellowman (vocals); Frankie Paul, George Nooks, Anthony B., Beenie Man, Cécile (vocals).

Liner Note Author: Stephen Nye .

Although it misses many career defining moments, Yellow Fever does pull out some lost Yellowman classics and features a highly informative booklet. ~ David Jeffries

For every ten or so fantastic compilations that have come out of the Sanctuary/Trojan relationship, there's a frustratingly misleading one like this. Besides sharing the name of one of Yellowman's great full-lengths, Yellow Fever tries to pass itself off as a "history of dancehall's original ruler." If you just consider the highly informative booklet, it is. On the other hand, the track selection is unexplainable. A couple forgotten greats ("Donkey Want Water" and "Weed Dem") are here, as is the great "Yellow Like Cheese" hit, but the amount of career-defining hits you're missing is incredible. The sound quality and time periods jump all over, and when Yellowman's cute but disposable take on "Blueberry Hill" is a highlight, you know you're in trouble. Give this compilation to a Yellowman novice, and he'll think the man is pleasant and fun. Yellowman is so much more than that, and there are plenty of other compilations that do his career justice. ~ David Jeffries

It's pretty amazing how well Yellowman has weathered the years. His first hits came in the early '80s, and you can count on one hand the number of reggae artists who were superstars that long ago and who continue to maintain that status. Throw in Yellowman's triumphant struggle over a disfiguring cancer (not to mention the albino coloring that made him a social outcast until he became a reggae hero), and you've got a genuinely inspiring story. And, in this case, a genuinely great modern reggae album. Despite its slightly sterile computer rhythms, Yellow Fever is a potent mix of roots reggae and conscious dancehall (Yellowman having largely left behind the bawdy lyrics of his past). After the program opens with the obligatory chest-thumper ("One Yellow Man"), "Gwaan a School" sets the tone for the rest of the album as Yellowman chants the praises of education; "Life Is a Heavy Load" and an unlikely cover of "Lean on Me" maintain the serious mood that predominates. Of course, he hasn't completely forgotten how to party, as the salacious "Ring Ding" (based, improbably, on the melody to "Sleigh Ride") and the more chaste "Rock With Me" illustrate. Yellowman is in great voice and still toasts with the best of them. ~ Rick Anderson

Although it misses many career defining moments, Yellow Fever does pull out some lost Yellowman classics and features a highly informative booklet. ~ David Jeffries

For every ten or so fantastic compilations that have come out of the Sanctuary/Trojan relationship, there's a frustratingly misleading one like this. Besides sharing the name of one of Yellowman's great full-lengths, Yellow Fever tries to pass itself off as a "history of dancehall's original ruler." If you just consider the highly informative booklet, it is. On the other hand, the track selection is unexplainable. A couple forgotten greats ("Donkey Want Water" and "Weed Dem") are here, as is the great "Yellow Like Cheese" hit, but the amount of career-defining hits you're missing is incredible. The sound quality and time periods jump all over, and when Yellowman's cute but disposable take on "Blueberry Hill" is a highlight, you know you're in trouble. Give this compilation to a Yellowman novice, and he'll think the man is pleasant and fun. Yellowman is so much more than that, and there are plenty of other compilations that do his career justice. ~ David Jeffries minimize