· Beautiful Digi-Pack with many   photos · Including all his European Hits · 2 bonus tracks "It Keeps Raining"   and "Dedicated To The One I Love"   (recorded live at Wembley   and Wolverhampton) · Extensive liner notes Style: Pop / Reggae Format: CD   :: Bitty McLean - Best of 1. It Keeps Rainin' 2. Dedicated To The One I Love 3. Here I Stand 4. What Goes Round (Comes Around) 5. True True True 6. I've Got Love 7. Stop This World 8. Forever Be Mine 9. Talkin' To The Wind 10. Pass It On 11. You're The One Of A Kind 12. Don't Be Confused 13. Over The River 14. We've Only Just Begun 15. Don't Be Confused 16. It Keeps Rainin' (Live At Wembley) 17. Dedicated To The One I Love (Live At Wolverhampton Civic Hall) :: Information Choice of language:  In some ways Bitty McLean, with his non-sexist, non-homophobic, anti-drug views, is the antitheses of everything of that reggae/ragga is supposed to currently stand for. Whilst not in any way sanctimonious, his own positive slant on morality comes as something of a relief in the current sea of gangster rap in music (and hypocritical in politics). He grew up listening to classic 60's tunes and the "conscious" lyrics of the 70's that made him learn about the history of Jamaica - everything from Halie Selassie to Trenchtown courtesy of roots masters like Burning Spear. "It was better than growing up listening to people always talking about women's bodies and guns, which has no relevance to the way we live in England, reckons our man with a fresh attitude. Bitty's upbeat approach makes for a marked contrast to the current nihilism and desperation evident on some of the records emanating from the ghettos of America. There is no denying the historical influences echoed in his choice of favourite vocalists, early heroes included Leroy Sibbles, the Heptones, Gregory Issacs, John Holt and Dennis Brown. The underlying theme is back to basics - these classic singers rely on good simple affective melodies, much like Bitty McLean did in 1994. Even though a lot of the inspiration for Bitty's music comes from Jamaica, his roots are firmly in the West Midlands. Birmingham and Coventry have spawned a lot of reggae music over the years including Steel Pulse, Specials, Selector, Maccka B, UB40 and now Bitty McLean. Undoubtedly this has something to do with the multiracial nature of the city; relatively newly built and concentrated at the heart of Britain, it is a genuine melting pot. According to Bitty, places like Smallheath, with it's large Irish and Asian community, "didn't care about colour". "Smallheath has a large Jamaican community and people that may have had ignorant views about black people would have to deal with them sooner or later in the corner store" McLean points out, "the sooner people integrate and get on with it the better." Like his mentors UB40, Bitty has no time for the type of musical/racial stereotyping that at times restricts black musicians to dance/reggae and white musicians to rock. As far as Bitty is concerned music sees no colour "when I listen to a tune on the radio I wouldn't necessarily know certainly wouldn't care if it's black or white, 'Sunsplash' has a whole evening of non-Jamaican reggae acts with Swedish, African and Japanese bands - which is a good thing because there's no reason why white people shouldn't be playing reggae" says Bitty. He feels that having purely black record companies to look after artists would be a backwards step, a "mad situation." As for racism: "its always there" he says, "but the best way to combat what happened in Tower Hamlets is to use your vote rather than sit on your arse and let it happen." Bitty's place in the British reggae hall of fame is assured, alongside the likes of Steel Pulse, Aswad, UB40, Maxi Priest, Smiley Culture to name but a few. The reggae tradition in Britain has always found conspicuous success in a very commercial sound - from Desmond Dekker's "Israelites" and Ken Boothe's "Everything I Own" to the present day tradition carried on by Bitty. However, with his roots and local respect in Birmingham McLean has no intention of being "drawn in by the hype" going for out and out pop success at any cost as some of his predecessors have. He is also looking forwards to talking it out around the world and touring as hard as possible. After his baptism of fire supporting UB40 on their on their massively oversubscribed UK tour in early 1994, playing in front of crowds in excess of 15000 each night, he has nothing to fear. "To start out on that level it can only get better when we come down to smaller venues" reckons McLean "we approached the NEC with a sink or swim attitude - there was no middle ground. We had no light show or production - just the music." The music, and Bitty's natural ability as a crowd pleaser and performer, were more than enough and UB40 fans were converted by the truckload. With the advent of his debut album, "Just To Let You Know" in 1993 and it's infectious tunes and upbeat vocals the potential for a plethora of hits is self evident. From the bubbling rock steady feel of the ska-inflected single "Here I Stand", to the plaintive, acoustic, almost folky Leroy Sibbles standard "Stop this World", the poppy, soulful "I've Got Love" with it's fine melody and rasta lyrics of Bunny Wailers "Pass It On" - the pure joyous lilt of Bitty's vocal is the common factor. The newly remixed single "Dedicated To The One I Love" is also destined to be massive. "Know yourself, know where you're coming from and where you are going" says reggae solo artist Bitty McClean. "I want to take my music as far as I can - a song like 'Rainin' can touch anyone, any colour, any age. Music is music and it should be able to touch everybody."