PRINCE Buster reaches pensioner age this year but the former boxer and security guard is still knocking out records.

This spring, the ska legend now resident in Miami, Florida, will be releasing an album of new material on the Trojan label: news as welcome as the return of fellow Jamaican Jimmy Cliff with his Fantastic Plastic People project.

As a prelude, he has agreed to his celebrated - and typically immodestly titled - Fabulous Greatest Hits album being made available again, this time on Trojan. In doing so, the ska and reggae label is issuing a compilation by the King of Blue Beat for the first time.

The vinyl version restricts itself to the original 12 tracks but the superb standard of Trojan's re-issue programme on CD is maintained by the inclusion of seven extra blasts of Buster that make it an essential purchase.

Madness, the delirious number that inspired a nutty bunch of North Londoners to form a band and record the tribute song The Prince, leads off the bonus additions.

Prince Buster, or Cecil Bustamante Campbell to give him his full name, was the main influence on the British 2 Tone ska revival. Judge Dread, Too Hot and Al Capone (the source for The Specials' Gangsters) all featured on the original Melodisc compilation and were later to re-emerge as staples of The Specials' live show, along with Enjoy Yourself.

The Beat covered Whine'n'Grine and Rough Rider with plenty of zip and no Madness show was ever complete without their take on One Step Beyond.

Add the banana-yellow sleeve design to Michael de Koningh's earnest sleeve notes, and this compilation cannot be missed.

Trojan's fruitful journey through its back catalogue continues with Work Your Soul, an exploration of the previously overlooked influence of American soul on the Jamaican Sixties and Northern Soul scene.

Released on February 17, many of its vibrant, lilting recordings by Kingston and UK acts were previously unavailable on CD, and alongside such familiar names as Jimmy Cliff, Jimmy James and Desmond Decker are pearls by Tommy McCook and The Supersonics, The Three Tops and The Gaylets.

Trojan follows up its gold-selling Young Gifted And Black compilation with Reggae Love Songs, 50 slinky selections from the Sixties through to the Nineties, from John Holt and Ken Boothe to Sophia George and Diana King. Too much of this lovers' rock is karaoke to a mellow reggae beat. Hence Tears Of A Clown by The Chosen Few or Unchained Melody by Honeyboy Martin have only novelty value.

Updated: 10:11 Thursday, January 23, 2003