Greatest Hits

by Shabba Ranks

Overview

Sony Legacy dipped into the archives and pulled out a fistful of Ranks' most popular cuts for this compilation. Culled from the five albums the DJ recorded for Epic between 1991 and 1995, Greatest Hits is obviously aimed at American fans. There again, the label gave Ranks an incredibly long leash, allowing him to record in Jamaica with the island's hottest producers and rhythm teams, and the artist repaid the favor by refusing to compromise his rough and ready style one iota for an international audience. And thus his reputation remained unsullied at home and abroad. The 16 cuts featured here provide an excellent overview of Ranks' music, from his early raggamuffin days to his later conversion to more cultural concerns. The DJ's initial breakout came via a series of pairings with singers, including J.C. Lodge on her international smash "Telephone Love." A clutch of those collaborations appear here, notably with Mykal Rose on the hit "Shine Eye Gal," Maxi Priest on "Housecall," "Chevell Franklin" for "Mr. Loverman," and Cocoa Tea and DJ Home T on "Pirate Anthem." As the album is not chronological, it's difficult to chart Ranks' progress, but the varied lyrical themes signposts the way. From the conquesting hero of "Wicked in Bed" and "Bad and Wicked," albeit often with tongue in cheek, as on "Trailer Load a Girls," to the more thoughtful "Rough Life" and "Roots & Culture," on which he defends his toasts, the DJ connected with Jamaican dancehall crowds and eventually the world. This compilation shows precisely why. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2001
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886977098628

Tracks

1. Trailor Load a Girls
2. Mr. Loverman
3. Ting-A-Ling
4. House Call (Your Body Can't Lieto Me)
5. Rough Life
6. Pirates Anthem
7. Roots & Culture
8. Shine Eye Gal
9. Gal Yuh Good
10. Slow and Sexy
11. Wicked in Bed
12. The Jam
13. Bad & Wicked
14. Let's Get It On
15. Twice My Age
16. Ram Dancehall

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Shabba Ranks   Primary Artist
Home T   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Krystal   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Featured Artist
Chevelle Franklin   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Cocoa Tea   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Mykal Rose   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
KRS-One   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Johnny Gill   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Coca Tea   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Maxi Priest   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Guest Artist
Chevell Franklin   Featured Artist
Tony Gold   Vocals (Background)
Eric Kupper   Piano
Brian Gold   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Falcon   Producer,Remixing,Remixing,Additional Production
Simon "The Funky Ginger" Law   Composer
Gerhard Jurkovic   Photography
Warren Mantooth   Photography
Derrick "Duckie" Simpson   Composer
S. Mills   Composer
Mickey "Tickey" Bennett   Arranger,Producer
G. Gordon   Composer
J. Stone   Composer
H. Lindo   Composer
Cherylle Ramdeen   Composer,Lyricist
Kristin Kozusko   A&R
Nami Harmon   Arranger
The Kids   Remixing,Mixing Engineer
Greville Gordon   Composer,Lyricist
Cleveland Browne   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Mickey Bennett   Producer
Clevie Browne   Composer,Lyricist
Derrick Simpson   Composer,Lyricist
Leopold Hartley   Composer,Lyricist
Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson   Mixing Engineer,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Darren Salmieri   A&R
Chevelle Franklin   Performer
James Harris III   Composer,Lyricist
Fabian   Producer,Remixing,Remixing,Additional Production
W. Riley   Composer
Home T   Performer
Hugo Dwyer   Remixing
Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis   Composer,Lyricist
Mark C. Rooney   Producer
Jimmy Jam   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Maxi Priest   Composer,Lyricist,Performer
Rexton Gordon   Composer,Lyricist
Fabian Torsson   Producer,Mixing Engineer
Patti Matheny   A&R
M. Bennett   Composer
W. Tucker   Composer
Clifton Dillon   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
B. Thompson   Composer
Mark Rooney   Composer,Lyricist
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
Bobby "Digital" Dixon   Arranger,Producer
Chris Parker   Composer,Lyricist
Carl Thompson   Arranger
Joseph Longo   Composer,Lyricist
Michael Halsband   Photography
Timmy Regisford   Producer,Remixing,Mixing Engineer,Additional Production
Coca Tea   Performer
Clevie   Arranger
Salaam Remi   Mixing Engineer,Additional Production,Producer,Remixing
Rod McKuen   Composer,Lyricist
Mark Morales   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Johnny Gill   Performer
Hopeton Lindo   Composer,Lyricist
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jerry Rappaport   Compilation Producer
Sean Combs   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Remixing,Mixing Engineer,Additional Production
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Jesse Stone   Composer,Lyricist
KRS-One   Composer,Producer
Michael Bennett   Composer,Lyricist
Mikey Bennett   Arranger,Producer
Michael Rose   Composer
Brian Thompson   Composer,Lyricist
C. Parker   Composer
Handel Tucker   Composer,Lyricist
Ahmet Ertegun   Composer
Mykal Rose   Composer,Lyricist,Performer
C. Browne   Arranger,Composer
C. Dillon-EL   Composer
Calvin Scott   Composer,Lyricist
H. Tucker   Composer
Winston Riley   Composer,Lyricist
Winston Tucker   Composer,Lyricist
Steely & Clevie   Arranger
Steely   Arranger
Sly Dunbar   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist
Sidney Mills   Composer,Lyricist
Simon Law   Composer,Lyricist
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke   Producer
Bobby Dixon   Arranger,Producer
J. Longo   Composer
Christian "Falcon" Falk   Producer,Mixing Engineer
L.A. Reid   Composer
Cleveland "Clevie" Browne   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer
L. Willis   Composer
Jacques Brel   Composer,Lyricist
Terry Lewis   Mixing,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Mixing Engineer
D. Simpson   Composer
Nigel Staff   Composer,Lyricist
Clifton "Specialist" Dillon   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Gene Shaw   Photography
Edward Townsend   Composer
David Morales   Producer,Remixing,Additional Production
Robbie Shakespeare   Composer,Lyricist