Classic Reggae Soundtrack Album ``Rockers,'' Featuring Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Lee Perry, Gregory Isaacs and More, Remastered, Restored and Reissued.

Entertainment Editors and Music Writers

Other than 1973's "The Harder They Come," no film of the '70s better captured the life and music of Jamaica's reggae culture than 1979's "Rockers." Now the classic original soundtrack album from that groundbreaking film has been digitally remastered, restored with its original artwork and other elements, and re-released by Island/UME on July 30, 2002.

The film follows its hero, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, one of reggae's leading drummers, as he tries to improve his station in life. As he moves through recording studios, clubs, rehearsal halls and stage shows, "Rockers" turns the spotlight on a stunning collection of reggae's best.

The influence of The Wailers is strong, with soundtrack contributions from Peter Tosh ("Stepping Razor") and Bunny Wailer ("Rockers"), who with Bob Marley were the triumvirate that formed the group which elevated reggae to international fame. Also heard are The Upsetters, led by Lee Perry a.k.a. The Upsetter ("Dread Lion"), an artist, engineer and producer since the early '60s, including for The Wailers.

The Rastafarian essence of reggae is heard throughout, most notably with Burning Spear ("Jah No Dead"). So too is the genre's socio-political voice, such as that of Junior Murvin ("Police & Thieves," a major 1976 hit that was #1 on the British reggae chart for a staggering 13 weeks) along with Kiddus I ("Graduation In Zion").

Among the hitmakers on "Rockers" who have continued to this day are Gregory Isaacs ("Slave Master"), an unparalleled singer in contemporary reggae, and Third World ("Satta Massagana"), one of the true innovative forces in Jamaican music, blending elements of funk, African rhythms, soul harmonies and, of course, reggae.

Other venerable legends are here as well, artists whose careers began in the '60s such as Justin Hinds & The Dominoes ("Natty Take Over"), who progressed from rock steady to reggae; The Heptones ("Book Of Rules"), who dominated the charts in the late '60s, and Jacob Miller ("Tenement Yard") and Inner Circle ("We `A' Rockers"), a solo artist and his group whose fusion of reggae, soul and Top 40 pop reflected the diversity in one of Jamaica's few roadbands. Also featured is a pair of artists best known on the island nation, Junior Byles ("Fade Away") and the vocal group The Maytones ("Money Worries").

While many reggae fans find the film wanting -- with its action-adventure-comedy premise, "Rockers" was reggae's version of "Help!" -- there is no question that its soundtrack album remains one of the finest of roots reggae.