A fine collection of late-'60s and early-'70s vocal and dub sides by
the Heptones, one of Jamaica's premier vocal trios of the era,
Suspicious Minds is a fine collection of the group's 1966-1971 work with the pre-eminent Clement "Coxsone" Dodd as producer. The tunes are a skillful blend of American pop hits like the title track and Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion" and homegrown early reggae anthems like the hits "Land of Love" and "Get up and Chant," both of which are early examples of political reggae hits. Best of all, this remastered 17-track, 63-minute collection includes six of the singles' instrumental "version" sides, all of which are powerful dub precursors that were popular with Jamaican toasters for years.
Suspicious Minds is geared more toward people who already have one or two good
Heptones collections -- it's not quite a greatest hits -- but it's a more-than-worthwhile set. ~ Stewart Mason