A Little Bit More: Joe Gibbs 12" Selection (1978-83)

Dennis Brown is one of the giants of reggae music. His stature easily rivals that of legends like Bob Marley and Burning Spear, yet unlike those artists, Brown’s singing rarely departed from the virtuosic template provided by American soul artists like Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield. Where Marley or Burning Spear might bellow or rave, Brown always remained even keeled and fastidious, emphasizing virtuosity over raw emotion. The recordings that Brown cut with veteran producer Joe Gibbs in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s remain some of the most widely beloved reggae recordings of all time. VP Records’ A Little Bit More: Joe Gibbs’ 12” Selection (1978-83) features a dozen extended mixes of classic Dennis Brown recordings like “How Can I Leave You” and “I Can’t Stand It.” This disc also features Brown’s incomparable takes on soul standards like “Aint That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One).” In truth, it's on these old soul cuts that Brown shines brightest, as he seems invigorated by the prospect of paying tribute to his American influences.