Reggae Steady Ska - Various Artists

Advantages: 95 pukka reggae tunes !
Disadvantages: Its 40 squid so not so great if your skint !

...I was immensely chuffed to find "Tougher Than Tough..." as I had been looking for a compilation which included all the classic tunes that I heard as a kid and still hear at places like Notting Hill Carnival. One of these is "Greetings" by Half Pint (you might know it :- "Greetings from Jah I bring, to all raggamuffin..."). Other classics are "Night Nurse" by Gregory Isaacs, "Ring the alarm" by Tenor Saw and "Under Me Sleng Teng" by Wayne Smith. Basically it includes every significant reggae moment from early Prince Buster and Ken Boothe to Shabba Ranks et al. Before continuing i should probably mention that it is a four cd compilation that cost about £40. Having said this it comes with a booklet which details the complete history of reggae music. In addition you would be hard pushed to find all of THE classic tunes anywhere else, so... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: Fab compilation of all the hits
Disadvantages: None at all

...Wow! What a fantastic CD! I could tell when I listened to it, that every song had been carefully hand picked to create such a smooth album. The songs seem to intertwine into one another. All of the big reggae stars from the past captured onto two discs. Features such artists as: -Shaggy -Toots and the Maytals -Desmond Decker -Tony Tribe -UB40 Bob Marley Features such song as: -Boombastic -Mr Loverman -Welcome to Jamrock -Red Red Wine -Wonderful World, Beautiful People The makers of this compilation have done a really fantastic job rounding up these classic reggae hits. No need to such for odd songs in tens of CDs anymore. Everything I like about Reggae captured onto one CD. Excellent value and a great buy for the reggae enthusiast.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Music from the greatest generation ever
Disadvantages: No Frankie, Wham, Pet Shop Boys

...as a terrace song down at Maine Road during our successful 1984/85 promotion campaign it went up in my estimation !! 3.: Baggy Trousers – Madness One of The Nutty Boy’s finest, although it was hard to take the record or the group serious which is probably what made them as successful as they were. 4.: Message To You Rudy – Specials The leaders of ska music which grew in the Midlands with such groups as The Selector and The Beat. This sort of integrated the mod style of music into a more popular form. 5.: Don't Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin Bobby attempted to combine reggae with pop which culminated in this feel good song of the late 80’s. This was huge in the States but didn’t quite achieve the same level of success on this side of the pond. 6.: Thinking Of You – Colourfield The groups first single, fronted by Terry... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful