Rita Marley's self-produced debut American LP succeeds not only because of its unabashed commitment to roots reggae but also for the disarmingly lighthearted self-assurance of the singer. Sexy, sagacious and occasionally stern, Bob Marley's widow serves up Rastafarianism's religious dictums with a sparkling directness that recalls the lusty verve of Phylliss Hyman or Linda Clifford, as well as the girlish sweetness of Angela Bofill and Minnie Ripperton.

Marley shines on sophisticated dance material like "That's the Way," "Easy Sailing" and the Motown-influenced "Jah Jah Don't Want" and "I'm Still Waiting," which was a ska hit for the early Wailers (as was the title track). The LP's real gem, though, is "One Draw," a huge Caribbean smash from last summer that percolates with the first-rate instrumental support of some former Wailers. "I want to get high! Sooo high!" Rita exults as this ode to the joys of sinsemilla spirals upward, her silky-smooth voice swirling around Tyrone Downey's playful synthesizer patterns. To both a soaring Rita Marley and the intoxicated listener, Babylon seems very distant indeed. (RS 368)

TIMOTHY WHITE