Classic Reggae: The Soundtrack to Jamaica

Various Artists

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Classic Reggae: The Soundtrack to Jamaica Review

by Steve Leggett

Jamaica has always been about music, and more music is released per capita there than in any other country in the world. The island's wonderfully unique and ever-changing view of pop culture makes the music a fascinating blend of Caribbean folk, kinetic rhumba rhythms, street-corner doo wop, tilted R&B and soul, fractured horn charts, jazz, African percussion, mixing board loops, fisherman's chants, and dancehall toasts that gave way to raps. There's nothing quite like Jamaican music, whether it's mento, ska, rocksteady, roots reggae, dub, or dancehall and beyond, and all of these styles are evident in this two-disc, 40-track set drawn from the Trojan Records vaults. With classics like Desmond Dekker's "007 (Shanty Town)," Lee "Scratch" Perry's "Return of Django," Bob Marley & the Wailers' "Small Axe" and "Trench Town Rock," Chaka Demus & Pliers' "Twist and Shout," and Beenie Man's "Dancehall Queen," among others, this funky little collection makes for a quick dive through the history of Jamaican pop music.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Byron Lee & the Dragonaires 02:30 SpotifyAmazon
2 Desmond Dekker & the Aces / Desmond Dekker 02:34 SpotifyAmazon
3 Dandy Livingstone 02:34 SpotifyAmazon
4 The Ethiopians 02:55 SpotifyAmazon
5 The Upsetters 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
6 Desmond Dekker & the Aces 02:34 SpotifyAmazon
7 Harry J All-Stars 03:07 SpotifyAmazon
8 Tony Tribe 02:56 SpotifyAmazon
9 The Pioneers 02:49 SpotifyAmazon
10 Jimmy Cliff 03:12 SpotifyAmazon
11 The Maytals 03:45 SpotifyAmazon
12 Symarip 03:00 SpotifyAmazon
13 Bob & Marcia 03:08 SpotifyAmazon
14 The Melodians 03:25 SpotifyAmazon
15 The Maytals 03:11 SpotifyAmazon
16 Desmond Dekker 02:38 SpotifyAmazon
17 Dave & Ansel Collins 02:45 SpotifyAmazon
18 Bob Marley & the Wailers 03:55 SpotifyAmazon
19 Greyhound 02:56 SpotifyAmazon
20 Bruce Ruffin 02:23 SpotifyAmazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Bob Marley & the Wailers 03:00 SpotifyAmazon
2 The Pioneers 03:08 SpotifyAmazon
3 John Holt 03:06 SpotifyAmazon
4 Ken Boothe 03:47 SpotifyAmazon
5
Susan Cadogan 03:06 SpotifyAmazon
6 Barry Biggs 03:35 SpotifyAmazon
7 Rupie Edwards 03:46 SpotifyAmazon
8 Dillinger 02:47 SpotifyAmazon
9 Althea & Donna 03:53 SpotifyAmazon
10 Dennis Brown 03:50 SpotifyAmazon
11 Janet Kay 03:54 SpotifyAmazon
12 Errol Dunkley 03:53 SpotifyAmazon
13 Musical Youth 03:23 SpotifyAmazon
14 Sophia George 03:05 SpotifyAmazon
15 Boris Gardiner 02:57 SpotifyAmazon
16 Aswad 03:52 SpotifyAmazon
17 The Taxi Gang / Chaka Demus & Pliers / Jack Radics 03:58 SpotifyAmazon
18 Apache Indian 03:49 SpotifyAmazon
19 Red Dragon / Brian & Tony Gold 04:07 SpotifyAmazon
20 Beenie Man 04:27 SpotifyAmazon
blue highlight denotes track pick