Given the short life expentancy of a reggae musician in Jamaica, at age 55, Burning Spear has become the elder statesman of reggae music. The native of St. Ann's parish is a mezmerizing performer whose live performances weave a spell of firey intensity and rastafarian redemption. He is one of the last of the old school rastafarians committed to conscious lyrics and the one drop riddims of classic reggae music. "Chant Down Babylon", a collection of Spear's early music, should be on any short-list of reggae music fan's CD collection. It contains most of his breakthrough Marcus Gavey album, the crucial cuts all of his watershed albums, plus a generous sampling of dub versions of his music. There are several Burning Spear collections around, but "Chant Down Babylon" trumps them hands down. I have seen this double CD ...used on Amazon which is a real bargain for the fan or newbie who wants to check this righteous rastafarian.