Veteran reggae crooner Gregory ‘The Cool Ruler’ Isaacs died this week after a lengthy battle with cancer. Saturday Hustle is paying homage to the great singer with 10 of his biggest tunes!

Night Nurse

This mammoth hit recorded in 1982 received heavy rotation in nightclubs worldwide, though it was never a chart topper. After British band Simply Red did a cover however, produced by Sly & Robbie in the 90s, it quickly became the reggae icon’s biggest hit.

Ragamuffin (Big All Around)

Another of the Cool Ruler’s mega hits, Ragamuffin features another reggae great – Dennis Brown. The infectious lyrics are still resounding in the ears of many today.

Days of wine and roses are no longer around

Strictly ragamuffin just a rule up di town

A we rule ragamuffin… big all around

Ragamuffin muffin, Ragamuffin muffin…

Number One

Who can forget the video clips showing Isaacs’ concert tours where he clearly ‘ruled’ an audience of thousands as they all screamed, “if you wanna be my number one…”

Rumours

Rumours dem spreadin’/saying that a sensi me plantin’/but I man a di don inna di jugglin’/a pure rumours a gwan…

With a clever combination of controversy and soulful melody, the artiste proved himself yet again with Rumours, which also became a favourite of many.

Tune In (Meet Me At The Corner)

Isaacs was well known for his romantic lover’s rock tunes such as this track where he sweetly invites a female companion to ‘meet him at the corner’, with the words “I don’t wanna be lonely tonight…”

Love Is Overdue

Now who’s gonna hold and squeeze me tight

now that she’s gone out of my life

who’s gonna make me feel the way she used to do, yeah

now that my love is overdue…

Isaacs laments the demise of a relationship in Love Is Overdue with heartfelt lyrics that clearly depict the reason behind his ‘Cool Ruler’ moniker.

Hard Drugs

Di more dem get it… a di more dem want it

Talking about the hard drugs, di more dem get it dem still want more…

It is believed that this song, in which the legendary artiste explores the concept of drug addiction, held a deeper meaning for him given his own drug battles in the past.

All I Have Is Love

Another of Isaacs’ monster hits, All I have Is Love still manages to get an audience swaying to the one-drop beat today.

Oh, What A Feeling

Isaacs leaves behind an extensive anthology of quality music for his fans around the world to appreciate the ‘wonderful feeling’ that it brings.

Border

If I could reach the border, then I would step across

So please take me to the border, no matter what the cost

Cause I’m leaving out, I’m a leaving outta Babylon…

Say we waan go home…

Another popular track by the reggae icon, this song expresses the human need to escape to a better, more comforting place at times.