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As its plethora of tracks makes clear, this Double Barrel is not the original 1971 album, nor even an enhanced version chock-a-block with bonus tracks. In fact, this set gives short shrift to Dave & Ansel Collins as a unit; but there again, they were a manufactured entity and a short-lived one at that. Instead, this Double Barrel rounds up a slew of their individual releases from the reggae age. As the new sound took hold, Dave Barker was working his way round the studios, cutting a steady stream of singles. The yipping DJ/sweet soul singer recorded a clutch of songs for Lee Perry, many of which are included on this set, along with the Duke Reid produced "On Broadway" and a glorious cover of "Just My Imagination," which teamed him with singing producer Lloyd Charmers. As a part-time member of the Techniques, Barker invariably recorded with that band's founder turned producer Winston Riley. And when Riley sought a DJ to liven up an instrumental created by Ansel Collins and Sly Dunbar, "Double Barrel" was born. So successful was that single, that when Barker hooked back up with Lee Perry for 1973's "Sunshine Rock," the Upsetter credited the single to Dave Collins. Ansel Collins was equally busy, his talents on tap for many of the island's producers, as a slew of his stellar instrumentals here illustrate. From the late '60s, there's the Joe Gibbs' produced "Secret Weapon," while Leslie Kong oversaw "Fat Cat" and "Cotton Candy" (mistitled here "Cotton Dandy"). At the dawn of the new decade, Collins too linked up with Winston Riley and more sizzling singles resulted, amongst them "Nuclear Weapon" and "Point Blank." The compilation breaks with the period to pull in 1974's "Stalag 17," a Riley produced, Collins' led instrumental as crucial to the future of the Jamaican dancehalls as his and Barker's "Double Barrel" was to the British Two Tone scene. Together the duo indeed had a monster sound, but apart, as this compilation showcases, Dave Barker and Ansel Collins were equally magnificent. ~ Jo-Ann Greene
