Trojan Reggae Box Set

Launched in the summer of 1968, Trojan Records was instrumental in introducing the sound of reggae to the world at large. By the mid-Seventies, the label had enjoyed over 30 significant mainstream chart hits by such illustrious performers as Desmond Dekker, the Maytals, Bob and Marcia, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Dave and Ansel Collins, the Pioneers – and many, many more. Alongside these major successes, Trojan showcased the work of literally hundreds of Jamaican music makers, from artists whose careers remain shrouded in mystery to future international recording stars. Over the years since its creation, the iconic label has continued to grow and develop, attracting new fans with each new generation. 2018 witnesses Trojan’s half centenary and to celebrate this most momentous of years comes a super deluxe multi-format box set, which reflects the amazing diversity of the label’s output over the past 50 years.

The music of the Caribbean has been cherished around the world for over half a century now. GREATEST EVER REGGAE is a 4CD, 80 track celebration of Jamaica's most precious export.Reading as a Who's Who of reggae over five decades, this far-reaching compilation features Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Gregory Isaacs, The Maytals, Aswad, Beres Hammond, Dave & Ansell Collins, Chaka Demus & Pliers and Peter Tosh amongst many others. From reggae's origins in ska and rocksteady, through the massive popular success of the Trojan label in the late 60s and early 70s, and on into lover's rock, dancehall, fusion and huge crossover hits of the 90s, it's all to be rediscovered on GREATEST EVER REGGAE.

The Ultimate Reggae - The Classics serves up 100 of the greatest sun-drenched reggae hits to heat up your life Caribbean style! The collection features the biggest reggae stars all on one amazing set, plus the album wonderfully highlights all the popular styles of reggae with a sprinkling of ska madness combined with some roots & culture, there are classic and modern hits alongside major dub essentials, and not to forget the big irresistible party hits that everyone loves & enjoys. There is something on here for everyone.

The most beautiful reggae songs by Ken Boothe, Althea & Donna, The Harry J All Stars, The Pioneers and many more on one compilation!

Based on the acclaimed 2017 7” singles box set of the same name, this hugely generous 3CD set comprises the original 20 tracks from that collection bolstered by 64 impossibly rare and unreleased bonus tracks, all recorded for Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle catalogue between 1964 and 1966. Of the 84 romping ska tracks, 15 are previously unreleased, 44 make their CD debut and over 20 are have been officially unavailable for over a decade. The collection is presented as a handsomely designed digipack, which also houses a 12-page booklet, packed with fascinating imagery from the Sixties and a compelling essay on the music from noted vintage Jamaican music expert, Brian Keyo.

Widely hailed as the Godfather of Ska, Laurel Aitken dominated Jamaica’s recording industry throughout its infancy, enjoying a series of hugely popular mento and Jamaican R&B hits during the latter half of the 1950s. Early the following decade he relocated to London, where, over the years that immediately followed, he recorded for every Afro-Caribbean record company of note. While his ska and rock steady recordings ensured Laurel remained a firm favourite among Jamaican ex-patriots, the reggae explosion of 1969 exposed his work to a wider audience, with productions for Doctor Bird, Pama and Trojan Records establishing him as a musical hero for many of Britain’s young, white working-classes, notably those that had adopted a fashion style dubbed by the national press as ‘skinhead’.

By the late Seventies, increasing numbers of Jamaican performers were turning their hand to studio production work, and of these few made the transition more effectively than Linval Thompson.Having already made his mark as one of the island’s premier roots performers, the singer-songwriter launched his Thompson Sound label in 1977, finding immediate success with a series of best-selling recordings, all produced at Kingston’s revered Channel One studio, where he enlisted the services of celebrated in-house band, the Revolutionaries.Among the first artistes to benefit from Thompson's talents as a producer were leading dee-jays, Big Joe and Trinity, whose work spawned two popular long-players, 'African Princess' and 'Rock In The Ghetto'.Released by Trojan Records in 1978 and 1979, respectively, both of these lauded collections finally see their official reissue with this 2CD set, which also includes Thompson’s own best-selling album, 'I Love Marijuana', and ten bonus tracks, first issued by the famed London-based reggae company on its Attack subsidiary.

Arguably the greatest Jamaican record producer of all time, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was instrumental in transforming the island’s national sound throughout the Sixties and Seventies, with his unique approach to music making pushing the music beyond previously perceived boundaries. To mark the first anniversary of his passing, the very best of his work is showcased across a number of products, all of which effectively demonstrate why Perry was widely venerated figure for so long…
The deluxe box set comprises four vinyl LPs and four CD's featuring his best known and most influential recordings including a previously unreleased mix of Junior Murvin’s powerful ‘Police And Thieves’, UK chart-buster ‘Hurt So Good’ by Susan Cadogan and the Upsetters’ boss reggae classic ‘Return Of Django’, as well as numerous major Jamaican hits.

The first British reggae sub-genre to achieve ‘outernational’ success and influence the music of Jamaica, lovers rock was a dominating force in the UK scene, from the mid-Seventies through to the close of the Eighties. Developed largely as a counterpoint to the more militant style of roots reggae, the romantically-themed genre was heavily influenced by the styles of US R&B and the predominantly soulful Jamaican rock steady sound of the Sixties. Despite the style achieving mainstream success with a number of major UK chart hits, lovers rock received scant attention in the mainstream media until the screening of Steve’s McQueen’s award-winning 2020 BBC TV series, “Small Axe”, the highlight of which was an aptly titled episode that paid tribute to the style and its impact upon British culture. Since then, interest in the genre has continued to grow internationally and reflecting this trend comes this handsomely packaged album which is presented in 2 physical formats – 2x LP and 3CD.