Ok, so The Harder They Come is the second most ubiquitous dorm room reggae album, and thinking about those circumstances is really annoying when it comes to something like Sweet And Dandy. I'll give you that, but the older I get, the farther away I get from "the kind of people who like this stuff" and all the bullshit that comes along with it. Now I could give two shits how many fratboys and dirty hippie kids (do they even have those anymore?) have pulled a bong hit to Toots and The Maytals - bottom line, don't pass up good music just because some schmoes also happen to be into it. Schmoes are everywhere. On to the matter at hand, "Sweet And Dandy" is a ridiculously happy song that doesn't make me want to stab someone through the ear with a rusty shank. I get my cheese on for sure, but those really happy songs usually drive me crazy- not here. Maybe it's the use of "dandy," how can you really be mad at that? Turn the happiness up to 11 boys, I can take it.

• black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 1969
• music label: Beverley's Records 2024

reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2006