Gregory Isaacs, the Cool Ruler as he became known, grew up in the ghetto district of Kingston Jamaica. His influences lay not only in the American singers he heard on the radio such as Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, but also local singers such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, and John Holt.
Tappa Zukie was also raised in the rough and tough areas of Kingston Jamaica, and very much like Gregory Isaacs found music as a way out of the tough environment in which he was surrounded. Music seemed like the only way out of a life of crime and gang culture. To release his own productions, like Gregory Isaacs, he formed his own label called `Tappa Records’. These two artists working together was a match made in heaven and resulted in this set of songs.
Nine of these songs originally saw the light of day in 1988, released on Tappa Zukie's Tappa Records initially called Red. Kingston Sounds has added some additional material also produced by Mr. Zukie around the same time to expand that release and make their work together more of a complete story.
The CD edition of this release carries the version sides to ‘Tickle Me’ and ‘One Man Against The World’. The title track of this release seems to suit Mr. Isaacs stance perfectly. A great set of songs worked by two of the great names in reggae. Songs that we think deserve to be put out again to enjoy.
Track Listing
1. Tickle Me
2. House of Leo
3. One Man Against The World
4. Hard Drugs
5. Keys To Your Apartment
6. Drowning In Your Tears
7. Unforgeable
8. Steal A Little Love
9. Miss Celebrity
10. Half A Gram of Your Love
11. Appointment
12. After Smoking My Last Cigarette
13. Insecure*
14. Tickle (version)*
15. One Man Against The World (version)*
*CD Bonus tracks
