2000 Volts of Holt (Bonus Track Edition)

In 1974, John Holt thrilled fans with his Harry Mudie-produced Time Is the Master album, a set of cover songs, whose silky arrangements were plushed up by Tony Ashfield's string-laced orchestral overdubs. Its success prompted Mudie's British distributors, Trojan Records, to bring Holt and Ashfield together in London, resulting in the U.K. chart-topping "Help Me Make It Through the Night." A full-length album, 1000 Volts of Holt, promptly followed, like its predecessor filled exclusively with lush covers. Holt knew he was onto a good thing, and although he'd never repeat "Help Me"'s success, the electricity remained, and more "Volts of Holt" followed. 2000 Volts of Holt, needless to say, was the second, although this time cover songs were interspersed with some of his own compositions. The latter includes "Peace and Love," one of the best, which adroitly bridges the gap opening in the reggae scene, as roots split from the smoother reggae that would coalesce into lovers rock. British fans, however, would never hear the marvelous musical solution that Holt offered, as it would be swamped under Ashfield's overdubs. Holt's continuing popularity in Jamaica seemed inexplicable to reggae fans familiar only with his U.K. releases, but this reissue finally answers that question by twinning the Trojan set with the original Jamaican mixes. Strip away the orchestral excesses and the whole album is suddenly redefined, the beauty of the backings come to the fore, and the sharpness of the arrangements veer into view, with even Holt's vocals shifting in intent. Even songs that seemed beyond salvation — "Touch Me in the Morning," "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," pick your poison — glow with a new light, no longer the reggae-lite mush of your nightmares. Holt as he was meant to be heard, taking reggae into the pop realm, but never losing sight of his Jamaican roots, with "For the Love of You," "I Will," "Clear Day," and "Peace and Love" not just standouts, but virtually the equals of anything the singer had cut earlier. In an instant, everything you thought about the singer's mid-'70s career will be erased.