AMG Review of Delroy Wilson Collection: 22 Magnificent Hits

Jo-Ann Greene
All Music Guide

Don't be fooled by the title or the track listing, for 22 Magnificent Hits is not quite what it seems. A better, more accurate title would be 22 Great Numbers from the Bunny Lee Years. Having spent his youth at Studio One, in 1968 Delroy Wilson departed and immediately linked up with producer Lee. Although their first recording together, a cover of the Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine," was a huge hit, Wilson moved on to work with Sonia Pottinger. That was a successful partnership as well, but even so, Wilson returned to Lee's side as the new decade dawned. Over the next five or so years, the star recorded a steady stream of popular singles for the producer, recycled on numerous compilations over the years. Still, this set is a fine representation of that period. It contains many -- but far from all -- of Wilson's biggest hits, the aforementioned "Heart," "Better Must Come," "Cool Operator," "You Keep on Running," and "Here Comes the Heartache" among them. Beyond his own hits, there are a few spoilers as well, including takes on Junior Byles' "Beat Down Babylon" and John Holt's smash cover of "Stick by Me." A version of the Wailers' "I'm Still Waiting," actually overseen by Lloyd Charmers, was less of a spoiler and more of a hit for Wilson himself. Equally good are Wilson's makeovers of U.S. R&B classics, with the rest of the set consisting of remodels of the star's own earlier hits. So, while not quite living up to its billing, this compilation does include many crucial songs -- and even those that aren't crucial are well worth hearing.