This compilation should have been subtitled "Duke Reid: The Early Years," as the four-CD box set is drawn exclusively from the great producer's archives. Half the set, interestingly enough, comprises instrumentals, the great majority courtesy of the Skatalites, although Baba Brooks and Drumbago are also well represented. Even a few U.K. groups get to strut their stuff; the Pyramids, Rico Rodiguez' All Stars, and Blue Rivers & the Maroons all put in an appearance. And so boogies, big band swing, and R&B surge out from the grooves, as hit after instrumental classic stream by, interspersed by the vocal tracks.
The Reggae Box presents all different sides of Reggae. This deluxe 6CD box set features many of the biggest reggae classics, such as Stop The Train by Bob Marley And The Wailers, Rivers Of Babylon by Ronnie Davis, Monkey Man by Toots and the Maytals and the fantastic Some Like It Hot by Dennis Brown. We also find some great dub versions from Bob Marley’s repertoire performed by the Wailers themselves (Get Up, Stand Up and Concrete Jungle). The collection dedicates a complete CD to reggae’s roots: calypso and mento, and finally, another CD that showcases the re-invention of the genre in the 80s, with songs of Bad Manners, Selecter, the Beat and the punk band Alternative TV. The Reggae Box is the compilation that every pop culture lover should have in his music collection.