I Cant Stand It Riddim (2006) – Peckings Records

Alton Ellis is the anchor here, because even a 2006 Peckings cut can’t help but feel measured against the original Treasure Isle version, and that tension is part of the charm. Chris Peckings works the old “I Can’t Stand It” framework into a rootsy lovers-rock session, with Peter Hunnigale’s “In The Ghetto” and Roger Robin’s “Take It Slow” giving the set its smoothest edges, while Lady Lex and Natijah keep the selection moving with lighter, more contemporary turns. The connection back to Peckings’ old-skool approach is hard to miss: this is the label digging into classic Jamaican material and re-cutting it with a modern UK reggae sensibility, rather than chasing any glossy update. In the Peckings catalogue, it sits neatly alongside their reverent revivals, a compact roots set that keeps the song’s melancholy pulse intact.