Doing My Thing - Single

You'll have to scour the budget bins to find this one, and if you're lucky enough to find it you'll be pleased to see it going for around six dollars new and much less if it's used. Most reggae CDs at that price level are worth even less than that, but Doing My Thing is one of the happy exceptions to that rule. It should not be confused with the superior Westside collection Doing My Own Thing: Hard to Find Hitpicks 1971-1975 (with which it shares only two songs, including the title track), but it draws on the same period, during which Wilson was recording with the masterful producer Bunny Lee and his outstanding house band, the Aggrovators. The lyrical focus here is light and romantic; only one song, the sinuously lovely "Do Good," touches on religious or social themes, and the rhythms are all swinging and soulful, as is Wilson's delivery. Among the many highlights on this disc are the exquisite "Cool Operator," the equally fine "I'm Yours," and the sturdily skanking "Dancing Mood." Only the cover version of the Wailers' "I'm Still Waiting" is less than essential. Very highly recommended.