Ska Essential

This is simply an essential album: Three discs that contain the best of ska, a rhythm born in Jamaica (pre-dating reggae) and was so popular in England during the sixties (where they call it bluebeat), to the point where it was the inspiration for a movement (the two-tone) that in the early 80 s gave way to Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, Bad Manners and The English Beat as main exports who earned worldwide fame.

Amazon Review by Gavin B.
The "Best of Ska" issued by the British import label Disky Records is a unique collection of Jamaican influenced ska. There are few collections of ska that include a good cross section of the earliest ska classics from Jamaica in the Sixties in the same collection as music of the Great Ska Revival in the United Kingdom in the Eighties.
The "Best of Ska" may disappoint the ska purists but the consistent quality of this massive 3 disc cd is the best argument for musical pluralism I've ever heard. Hard core music collectors often develop tunnel vision and dismiss innovation, simply on the basis of its "inauthenic" origins and end up missing a lot of great music in the process. As such, the music of younger generation of UK ska players should be judged on it's own merits, and not a set of "a priori" standards established by musical snobs.

2CD Set During the early 1960’s, the sound of ska exploded upon Jamaica’s musical landscape, with the driving dynamic sound championed by arguably the greatest ensemble of musicians ever to have performed and recorded on the island. Fronted by legendary saxophonist Tommy McCook, the Skatalites also comprised a veritable who’s who of Kingston-based performers, their number including trombonist Don Drummond, tenor saxman Roland Alphonso, drumming supremo Lloyd Knibb and keyboard prodigy Jackie Mittoo. Following their creation in the summer of ’64, this powerhouse instrumental combo dominated the island’s music industry for 18 glorious months, the very best of their work produced by famed Treasure Isle Records boss, Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid. The best of their output for the celebrated producer is showcased on the ‘Essential Artist Collection’, which sees issue on 2CD set provides the best introduction yet to the music of the incredible, multi-talented and hugely influential Skatalites.

An unpretentious collection of classic, commercial reggae tracks from the biggest names of the genre. What better way to celebrate the sun shining than by listening to Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Dawn Penn, Peter Tosh, Shabba Ranks, Aswad and Diana King? Ultimate Reggae also contains classic hits from Desmond Dekker, Toots & The Maytals, Black Uhuru, The Paragons, Sly & Robbie, Freddie McGregor, Tippa Irie and Sugar Minott, plus big carnival hits from Beenie Man, Barrington Levy, Tenor Saw, Sean Kingston, Yellowman, Mr Vegas and Sean Paul.

Includes 25 previously unreleased recordings. All tracks unavailable on other Doctor Bird collections. Features numerous major ska hits. The first of a trio of newly compiled collections highlighting the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle recordings from the early-to-mid-60s. The 2CD set focuses on the final years of the ska era, with the first of the discs on the set bringing together many of the producer’s best-known recordings from 1965, with all of the material making its debut on the Doctor Bird label. In contrast, the second CD comprises rare recordings from the Treasure Isle vaults, with 20 of the tracks previously unreleased. As either a stand-alone collection or a companion volume to the existing or soon-to-be issued Doctor Bird compilations showcasing the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle label, ‘Ska La-Rama’ is an essential acquisition for anyone wanting to own the very best in original Jamaican ska sounds.

Long before Bob Marley's rise to pre-eminence, the title of the world's leading reggae performer rested firmly with another young singer from Kingston, Jamaica: Desmond Dekker. Between 1967 and 1970, Desmond enjoyed a succession of international hit singles, breaking new ground with singles such as ‘007’, the first Jamaican-produced single to break into the UK top twenty, and ‘Israelites’, the first reggae single to reach the Number One spot in Britain and to breach the US chart. Further triumphs followed thereafter, with major chart hits including ‘It Mek’, ‘Pickney Gal’, ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ and ‘Sing A Little Song’, all of which cemented his place in history as Jamaica's first global superstar. All these works, along with the best of his remaining recordings from the ska, rock steady and reggae eras are featured on the latest collection in Trojan’s newly launched ‘Essential Artist Collection’ series. Released physically as a 50-track 2CD compilation, featuring extensive liner notes and imagery, the set pays due respect to the original King of Reggae and superbly demonstrates the immense talent that set Desmond Dekker apart from his peers during the Golden Age of Jamaican music.

Includes 25 previously unreleased recordings. All tracks unavailable on other Doctor Bird collections. Features numerous major ska hits. The first of a trio of newly compiled collections highlighting the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle recordings from the early-to-mid-60s. The 2CD set focuses on the final years of the ska era, with the first of the discs on the set bringing together many of the producer’s best-known recordings from 1965, with all of the material making its debut on the Doctor Bird label. In contrast, the second CD comprises rare recordings from the Treasure Isle vaults, with 20 of the tracks previously unreleased. As either a stand-alone collection or a companion volume to the existing or soon-to-be issued Doctor Bird compilations showcasing the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle label, ‘Ska La-Rama’ is an essential acquisition for anyone wanting to own the very best in original Jamaican ska sounds.

2CD Set Led by the dynamic Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, the Maytals are rightly regarded as one of the greatest singing trios in the history of Jamaican music. During an incredible recording career that spanned six decades, the group scored hit after hit on the island’s music charts, with their inimitable, unique blend of fervent gospel and down-home country seemingly impervious to changes in styles and fashion. The best of their work, however, is widely regarded to be their rock steady and early reggae recordings for Leslie Kong’s revered Beverley’s Records during the late Sixties and early Seventies; a period that spawned groundbreaking work such as ’54-46’, ‘Monkey Man’ and ‘Do the Reggay’, to name but a few. The Essential Artist Collection brings together the very best of their output from this period, including the above tracks, along with numerous other classics, such as ‘Sweet And Dandy’, ‘Pressure Drop’ and ‘Night And Day’. Available as a 50 track double CD, the collection superbly demonstrates just why the unforgettable music of the Maytals will continued to be loved and revered for many years to come.

This Is Trojan brings together 60 Reggae Classics on one 3CD box set including 5 UK No. 1s and 35 UK Top 20 Hits.
Boasting seminal hits from Desmond Dekker, Harry J All Stars, Ken Boothe, John Holt, The Ethiopians and The Maytals, the set also contains sleevenotes by legendary DJ Don Letts. This is all beautifully presented in a 3CD digipack with unique artwork. An essential compilation for fans of the genre and companion piece to Trojans many great studio albums.