This early material by the Wailing Souls finds them still working largely in a rock steady mode, the transitional style that led from ska’s galloping backbeats into reggae’s half-time lope. Rock steady was typified by a more rubbery, bouncy groove, and on tracks like “Thou Shalt Not Steal” and “Row Fisherman” they demonstrate their mastery of the style. Their unique vocal style is unmistakable, but otherwise it’s a bit hard to believe that this is the same band that would later release 1990s pop-reggae gems like “All Over the World.”