These include Ken Boothe's intense reading of Syl Johnson's 'Is It Because I'm Black,' Freddie McGregor's soulful 'Get Involved,' and Lloyd Charmers' dead-on workout of Curtis Mayfield's title track. Coming out of a period of intense social activism in this country, many of these songs reflect the civil rights and racial consciousness themes of the day. Rather than 'Reggae Does Motown's Greatest Hits,' Darker Than Blue is an enticing cross-section of well-known and obscure gems covered by Jamaican superstars and wannabes alike. This latest compilation from the redoubtable folks at Blood & Fire is a knockout collection of reggae remakes of classic soul tunes from the Sixties/Seventies. Jamaica's toasting DJs and bottom-heavy sounds planted the seeds of rap in this country, while American soul singers have long provided source material for countless satin-throated crooners down yard. Soul From Jamdown 1973-1980 (Blood & Fire) There's always been a healthy cultural exchange between reggae and R&B.