Rockers: Original Soundtrack (Island, 1979)

The soundtrack to the movie Rockers, this collection contains some landmark roots reggae tunes featuring big-name artists, but ultimately it falls short of its promise.  The best tracks here are the Heptones' "Book of Rules," Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves," and the Upsetters' "Dread Lion."   Third World's version of the Abyssinians' immortal "Satta Amasagana" and Inner Circle's uplifting anthem "We 'A' Rockers" are also nice, although the latter may remind some of the "I'm a Pepper, you're a Pepper; wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?" jingle.  Other songs, however, though popular, are just plain overrated -- namely, Jacob Miller's "Tenement Yard," Junior Byles' "Fade Away," and Peter Tosh's "Stepping Razor."  Lesser-known cuts "Graduation in Zion" and "Natty Take Over" are similarly unimpressive.   When all is said and done, this collection is mostly for newcomers to reggae.   Experienced listeners will already have the best songs on Rockers, and even novices should be able to get these songs on better albums.