Can't Stop Us Now: Linval Thompson Productions

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: July 16, 2002
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Reggae

Review

As the roots and culture period of the 1970s was slowly giving way to the dancehall juggernaut that would dominate reggae music for the next two decades, there were few producers quite as influential as Linval Thompson. In a real sense, he presided over the roots-to- dancehall transition, overseeing crucial recordings of the period by such artists as Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Osbourne, Sugar Minott, and the young Barrington Levy. Can't Stop Us Now is a handy document of that phase in reggae history, presenting 20 tracks by all the artists mentioned as well as many more; more than half of these songs have not been previously available on CD. Unfortunately, a few of them (notably Levy's "Sensimilla" and a Don Carlos tune called "Sweet Africa") suffer from sound quality that is awful even by reggae standards. But for the most part, this is truly great stuff -- the extended mix of Freddie McGregor's "Jah Help the People" benefits from the mixing genius of Scientist, Isaacs' "Tenement Yard" is an excellent pre-dancehall sufferer's anthem, and Johnny Clarke is at his sweet-voiced best on "They Can't Stop Me." Through it all, the Roots Radics and Revolutionaries bands provide grooves that are solid but supple. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
They Can't Stop Us Now	Linval Thompson, L. Thompson, W. Tinglin	The Viceroys	(2:55)
Jah Help the People [Extended Mix]	L. Thompson, Linval Thompson, Freddie McGregor	Freddie McGregor	(5:54)
Mr. Big Man	Linval Thompson, L. Thompson, D. Reid, Ray Davies	Junior Reid	(3:36)
Jah Help Us	B. Levy, Barrington Levy, L. Thompson, Linval Thompson	Barrington Levy	(3:36)
Give a Little	Dennis Brown, L. Thompson, D. Brown, Linval Thompson	Dennis Brown	(3:58)
They Can't Stop Me	L. Thompson, Linval Thompson, Johnny Clarke, J. Clarke	Johnny Clarke	(2:23)
Night Fall [Extended Mix]	Benny Carter, J. Osborne, Johnny Osbourne, L. Thompson, Linval Thompson	Johnny Osbourne	(6:25)
Sensi Party	R. Hilton, Linval Thompson, L. Thompson	Eek-A-Mouse	(3:09)
Poor & Humble	L. Thompson, W. Wade, Linval Thompson, Wayne Wade	Wayne Wade	(3:13)
Tenement Yard	Gregory Isaacs, L. Thompson, G. Isaacs, Linval Thompson	Gregory Isaacs	(3:44)
Sensimilla	B. Levy, Barrington Levy, L. Thompson, Linval Thompson	Barrington Levy	(3:13)
Africa	L. Thompson, A. Johnson, John Oates, Linval Thompson	Anthony Johnson	(3:02)
Jah Jah Is Calling	Linval Thompson, Rod Taylor, R. Taylor, L. Thompson	Rod Taylor	(3:11)
Bad Boys	B. Levy, Linval Thompson, Barrington Levy, L. Thompson	Linval Thompson, Barrington Levy	(2:50)
Move Up	L. Minott, L. Thompson, L. Minott, Linval Thompson	Sugar Minott	(3:28)
Sweet Africa	D. McCarlos, L. Thompson, Linval Thompson	Don Carlos	(3:08)
Happy Song	Triston Palma, Linval Thompson, T. Palma, L. Thompson	Triston Palma	(3:33)
You Can Stay	L. McDonald, Linval Thompson, L. Thompson	Wailing Souls	(3:30)
Guide Us Jah Jah	Freddie McKay, F. McKay, L. Thompson, Linval Thompson	Freddie McKay	(3:28)
Love Is What the World Wants [Extended Mix]	L. Thompson, Linval Thompson, Barry Brown, B. Brown	Barry Brown	(5:25)

Credits

Bertram Ranchie McLean (Guitar), Ansel Collins (Keyboards), Don Carlos (Performer), Johnny Osbourne (Performer), Soljie (Engineer), Ronald "Nambo" Robinson (Trombone), Eek-A-Mouse (Performer), Eric Lamont (Guitar), Robert Lyn (Keyboards), Junior Reid (Performer), Eric Smith (Design), Robbie Shakespeare (Bass), Carlton "Santa" Davis (Drums), Barrington Levy (Performer), Dwight Pinkney (Guitar), Dean Fraser (Saxophone), Wayne Wade (Performer), The Viceroys (Performer), Soljie (Audio Engineer), Rod Taylor (Performer), Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont (Guitar), Noel "Scully" Simms (Percussion), Lincoln Style Scott (Drums), Lincoln Scott (Drums), Dennis Brown (Performer), Christopher Burth (Percussion), Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (Keyboards), Eric Smith (Executive Producer), Anthony Johnson (Performer), Paul Shields (Mastering), Eric Smith (Artwork), Barry Brown (Performer), Triston Palma (Performer), Scientist (Audio Engineer), Linval Thompson (Compilation Producer), Freddie McGregor (Performer), Linval Thompson (Audio Production), Linval Thompson (Producer), Ronald Robinson (Trombone), Sly Dunbar (Drums), Sugar Minott (Performer), Linval Thompson (Performer), Eric Smith (Cover Illustration), Johnny Clarke (Performer), Franklyn Waul (Keyboards), Freddie McKay (Performer), Gregory Isaacs (Performer), Wailing Souls (Performer), Errol "Flabba" Holt (Bass)