Strength of My Life

This 1988 album marks the point at which Israel Vibration reunited in New York after having left Jamaica, where spiritual roots reggae was falling out of fashion. Deep grooves, gospel harmonies, and laidback tempos predominate. "Greedy Dog" adds the spacey tones of Augustus Pablo's melodica. Their increasingly political lyrics reject South African apartheid, while "Middle East" claims that Jah can hold off a "third-world slaughter." The inspirational, autobiographical title track ends a powerful album on an upbeat note.