This 20 track compilation from Trojan, which was released in the mid nineties, is easily one of the best quality releases of genre I've seen - someone obviously compiled it with lots of care and affection. It gathers together 20 early reggae and rocksteady songs from the late sixties, and is a great showcase for examples of the emerging early reggae sound.
It begins with the classic UK stomper "Skinhead Revolt", a dancefloor smash from the UK-based producer Joe Mansano, and follows that with 19 more tunes with that real-deal soulful Jamaican sound. Highlights include the slightly haunting and organic ballad "What Will Your Mama Say" by Clancy Eccles, the skin classics "Death A Come" and "In the Spirit" by Lloyd Charmers, the uplifting vocal cut of TNT, "Loving Reggae" by The Maytones, and a cracking double header of rocksteady killers from The Paragons, "Got to Get Away" and "Left With a Broken Heart". These rarer songs rub shoulders with better known classics such as "Dark End of the Street" by Pat Kelly and "Reggae Girl" by The Tennors.
All in all it's a great mix of rocksteady, early reggae instrumentals and upbeat vocal gems - with or without the skinhead tag attached. You may find some of the tracks on here on other compilations or artists CD's, but it's a fantastic effort from Trojan. I'm sure compiling these sorts of albums is a hugely difficult job as there's so much great material to choose from with seemingly no real reference point, but they've done a great job here. Unfortunately, there aren't any notes, but it doesn't really matter. Recommended!
If you like this, check out the Trojan "Skinhead Reggae Box Set", "Dancehall '69" & "Dawning of a new Era" CDs, plus Trojan's awesome compilation of producer Joe Mansano (called "Joe the Boss"). Plus there are some great compilations of each artists work out there - such as the amazing expanded "Reggae Girl" album by The Tennors, for example.
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