has long been a major influence on (just as it influenced and, before that, ). In the early 1980s, different artists were being influenced by different types of -- some were getting into slick, keyboard-driven urban contemporary sounds, while others maintained their devotion to 1960s and 1970s . On 1982's , 's love of African-American music comes through loud and clear -- even though many of the more Rastafarian-oriented lyrics are very much a product of the Jamaican experience. True to form, the singer provides a variety of political and apolitical songs. While gems like and underscore his political/spiritual beliefs as a Rastafarian, favors more of a approach on In circles, the term refers to that chooses romantic themes over social or political topics -- essentially, it is the equivalent of romantic . And any lover who has spent a lot of time savoring the romantic sweet of the or should have no problem getting into the on this album. For that matter, 's more sociopolitical songs have just as much classic appeal. Reissued on CD in 2001, is among the best and most consistent albums that provided in the 1980s. ~ Alex Henderson