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Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan
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The Best of John Holt – Help me make it through the night
Released on 17 November 2003. -
The compilations highlights John's work from the late 60's (that is post Paragons) and up to the mid eighties. Therefore it encapsulates the rise to mass international success with the likes of Help me make it through the night.
It was thus that I let the popular view taint my opinion in reviewing this album, until I played it! The memories came flooding back, indeed they were instant. How could you forget what a great singer John Holt was. It was totally incorrect to allow judgement by reference to worldwide, and deserved, international acclaim.
I want a love I can feel, for Coxsonne Dodd is simply one of the best rhythms and tunes of all time. Followed by the fun of Ali Baba at Treasure Isle. Also for Duke Reid pre 1972 is Tonight, I'll be lonely (with Joya Landis), Stealing Stealing, Sister Big Stuff. Amongst that also were Bunny Lee productions the wonderful lazy soul of Stick by me and It's a jam in the streets.
Material wise there were his own songs interspersed by covers of US soul like The further you look, a good song but this is where hints of crossover became evident, on the move to UK based Tony Ashfield and Reggae from the ghetto is just pure singalong commercial, before the massive Help me make it through the night.
By 1975 1976 we were in the peak of the Lovers Rock era and John's easy soulful style was perfectly suited to this, and he was extremely prolific in this period. Working for no fixed producer the styles on a theme were varied, particularly good were Jo Jo Hookim the lazy, Only a smile and the infectious Up Park camp.
John recut the Paragons Epic Tide is high in 1978 and was producing himself at this time with the catchy On the Beach and Wear you to the ball.
Into the 80's the tracks are more sparse but one of the best is Thinking of you, again Lovers but with the heavier sound accompanied by the Roots Radics.
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The Tide Is High - |
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(I Want) A Love I Can Feel - |
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Ali Baba - |
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The Further You Look (The Less You See) - |
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Stick By Me (And I'll Stick By You) - |
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Thinking Of You (I Can't Get You Off My Mind) - |
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Why Can't I Touch You - |
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Tonight - |
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Strange Things - |
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You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - |
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My Heart Is Gone - |
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On The Beach - |
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Only A Smile - |
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Sister Big Stuff - |
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Reggae From The Ghetto - |
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Let's Get It While It's Hot - |
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It's A Jam In The Streets - |
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Wear You To The Ball - |
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Up Park Camp - |
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I'll Be Lonely (& Joya Landis) - |
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You Are Everything To Me - |
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I'll Take A Melody - |
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Stealing, Stealing - |
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My Time - |
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Help Me Make It Through the Night - |
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