Following on the heels of Handsworth Revolution and Tribute to the Martyrs, two of the sternest and most politically direct reggae albums to come out of late-'70s England, Caught You (released as Reggae Fever in the U.S.) was received a bit more coolly by the reggae establishment. While there were still heavy messages to be found in songs like "Harassment" and "Nyahbinghi Voyage," the band's jazzbo tendencies were front and center, particularly on the album's opening track, the swinging "Drug Squad." And where previous albums had focused overwhelmingly on issues like ghetto uprising, martyred heroes, and the violent destruction of Babylon, Caught You leaned more in the direction of self-celebratory meta-reggae ("Reggae Fever") and romantic love ("Rumors," "Caught You Dancing"). Listen to this one back to back with Handsworth Revolution and you'd hardly guess it was the same band. But it's certainly not a worse one; where Handsworth was dry and heavy, Caught You is tuneful and, well, fun. So maybe it's not a reggae album for the ages. But it sure will go over well at parties.
