Ska & Reggae Classics

This double-disc set from Trojan includes classic ska, rocksteady and reggae tracks from Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Jimmy Cliff, Lee Perry & the Upsetters, the Melodians, Toots & the Maytals, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Ken Boothe, John Holt and many others. Though there are quite a few Jamaican classics missing from this history of the music, all the tracks included are quite solid.

The Gladiators - The Virgin Collection (2016) {2CD Set Caroline CAROLR047CD rec 1976-1979}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 977 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 352 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 66 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976-79, 2016 Caroline / Island / Virgin | CAROLR047CD
Reggae / Roots Reggae / Rocksteady

After making their recording debut during the rock steady era of the late sixties, the Gladiators enjoyed modest success before commencing a hugely successful working relationship with Kingston-based producer ‘Prince Tony’ Robinson in 1976. Over the next few years, the trio of Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherland recorded an array of superb roots reggae sides for Robinson, most of which were issued outside their native Jamaica by Virgin Records. The best of these recordings subsequently featured on 3 popular long players: ‘Trenchtown Mix Up’ (1976), ‘Proverbial Reggae’ (1978), ‘Naturality’ (1979), while a fourth, self-produced LP, ‘Sweet So Till’ ensured that as the decade drew to a close, the Gladiators were firmly established as one of reggae music’s leading acts.

Early Wailers, inna Doo Wop style. Raw shimmering vocal harmonies and searing leads with the focus on "Dem Wailing Wailers!!" as Rita Marley dubbed them in the beginning…