Sixteen tracks recorded under the direction of
Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One, probably from the late '60s and early '70s. (The liner notes, as is par for the course on reggae reissues, seem to avoid even general estimates of the actual dates as if these were sensitive state secrets.) Studio One maintained an extremely consistent track record during this era, and
the Heptones, though not the very best Jamaican harmonizers, were certainly in the top league. So it comes as no surprise to find
Sea of Love a fine collection of rocksteady cuts, including quality originals and soulful covers of hits by
Curtis Mayfield,
Aretha Franklin, and
the Righteous Brothers. Especially sweet is the version of "I Shall Be Released," one of the finest overlooked
Bob Dylan covers.