The brother/sister duo of
Alton and
Hortense Ellis were among Jamaica's more intriguing combinations. This outstanding CD collected several rare singles by each singer, with only one duet number, their marvelous rendition of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do."
Hortense Ellis was best on soul covers; she turned
Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park" and
Tyrone Davis' "Can I Change My Mind" inside out, using the role reversal ploy to recast them as statements of female anguish rather than male uncertainty.
Alton Ellis moves from the spiritual tone of "Lord Deliver Us" to the heartache of "When I'm Down" and "Can't Get Used to Loving You," then becomes emphatic on "Wide World" and closes on a reflective note with "The Picture Was You." An extremely attractive set of classic rockers and lover's rock reggae.