Reggae: starting a collection - where to begin (other than Legend) ?

Just a note on this release. This is excellent later day Michael Rose on the M Records label in the Netherlands. M Records/Twilight Circus Dub Sound System is Ryan Moore's project. Ryan Moore is the former bassist and drummer of the Legendary Pink Dots. Don't think for a minute that you're getting a Legendary Pink Dots album with Reggae vocals. This is a modern day Roots album. If you like this then I would recommend pretty much everything else on M Records/Twilight Circus Dub Sound System.



Here's the Wikipedia link that can tell you much more than I can. It also includes the discography which can help if you want to search out more artists and releases on the label.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Circus_Dub_Sound_System

Thanks for posting this one Riccardo. Excellent album that flies under the radar. I had almost completely forgotten about this release.

 

Red is my personal favorite. I rocked that one to some good times when I was in college.

Another very good Black Uhuru album that doesn't get mentioned much is 1990's Now with the original line-up of Don Carlos, Garth Dennis and Duckie Simpson. Very easy album to listen to with a nice Roots vibe. Nice version of Hey Joe also.

 

These (there were four volumes) are long out of print, but the same type of material has been released on countless Trojan compilations, most recently, as the first "new" release under the current "administration", there was this triple CD:
www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-trojan-mw0002859114
www.amazon.co.uk/This-Trojan-Original-Rocksteady-Reggae/dp/B01005S1UK

Here are a couple of other Trojan box sets that compile this sort of thing (out of print, but of later date than the 20 Reggae Classics series):
www.allmusic.com/album/the-story-of-trojan-records-mw0002194456
www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-reggae-music-the-golden-era-1960-1975-mw0000260203

And here's another box set, from Trojan when they were under Universal, so it has tracks from the Island catalogue as well (out of print, but still available):
www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-Sounds-Various-Artists/dp/B007I6OWDU

Also much recommended is the Trojan Presents series:
www.discogs.com/label/402008-Trojan-Presents

 

I have Roots Controller but would really like the Recall 2CD comp Jah Sees Jah Knows but it's been expensive used forever. I'm surprised none of the U.K. specialist labels have re-released it.

 

Thanks for the tips/links. By browsing at one of them, I saw this one and ordered it:

Thanks for the links! By browsing, I saw another double CD, which I ordered: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Pres..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=1H07XQ2EQGKZZZAMSVSD

 

Oops, something went wrong on the iPad. I think I quoted you two times.

 

My latest CD are all bought after reading something on this forum

 

Yes, just like the Trojan Presents series there are also volumes of Treasure Isle Presents, Island Presents, Top Deck Presents and Front Line Presents, and also another box set, Front Line: Sounds Of Reality. These series were started when the Trojan, Island and Virgin catalogues were together at Universal, Trojan has since been taken over by BMG, but they have reissued their part of these titles, so it's all in print and it's all good stuff.

 

MFSL UDCDs of Bob Marley's Catch A Fire and Exodus sound great.

 

I had to take a box to storage today so I picked up a few Reggae CDs while I was there.

Here's a good Island 3xCD compilation. It's in print and affordable.

The Island Reggae Anthology: War Inna Babylon [3 CD] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002616TBK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_1IOOwbFY5V9ZC

 

Yes, that's the one I recommended back on the first page of the thread. It is of course very "Island-centric", but it's still close to being a budget version of the Tougher Than Tough box set.

 

I guess it depends if you are into the top of the pops Reggie music in Jamaica, or you are into the Roots movement of the time?
Most of the stuff is commercial stuff and that is good I guess, Rasta' s need to comment on the picks about the bands that has been picked in this tread.
Culture, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and Itals where more of the old school scene in Jamaica, just like Marley.
Then you have the Rockers like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Sugar Minott.
Pick you poison? lol

 

I also like " Throw Down Your Arms" by Sinead O'Connor, produced by Sly and Robbie. This album contains reggae classics covered by Sinead, recorded in the Tuff Gong Studio.

 

There is so much good stuff available - old AND new- Last years was a good year for Reggae albums -
Some recent records I like and recommend include - Bugle - Annointed, Popcaan - Where We Come From , Israel Vibration - Play It Real - Keith Hudson - Tuff Gong Encounter /W/Dubs by King Jammy) 1984 unreleased KILLH, Jah Cure - The Cure, Etana - I-Rise, Duane Stephenson- Dangerousely Roots Journey From August Town, Jimmy Riley /Compilation of Hits + dubs), Protoje - 8 Year Affair, Chronic - Dread & Terrible EP,Luciano - Quaballah. I could go on and on...

If I had to shorten the list aboce to 5 I'd keep
Bugle + Popcaan, Israel Vibration and Jimmy Riley plus
Duanne Stepenson and JAH CURE for the best produced Regae album in a long while
Chronixx being the most gifted artist to comefrom Jamaica since Bob Marley !
et his smash hit Smile on the Silly Walks Riddim 'STORMS OF LIFE' or get the 7"with the beautiful talented JAH 9 on the flip side
http://www.discogs.com/Chronixx-Jah-9-Smile-Jamaica-Brothers/release/4591868

 

Peter Tosh - Legalize It, Equal Rights, Wanted Dread and Alive
Alpha Blondy - Jerusalem
The Harder They Come OST
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey, Live
Third World - eponymous first, 96 degrees In The Shade
Steel Pulse - Steppin' Out, Democracy
Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man, Time Will Tell (Tribute to Marley), Roots. Radics, Rockers, Reggae
The Heptones - Night Food, Sweet Talking
The Mighty Diamonds - Go Seek Your Rights
Lee Perry - Ultimate Colllection (my only Lee Perry but a good selection of tracks.
Toots and the Maytals - Funky Kingston, Toots Live, Toots In Memphis, just about anything really but Funky Kingston is as important as any Bob Marley album.

Most of this music came out in the 70s/80s which is when I was in my most intense listening period of the music.

 

I have all those titles you list and bought them on vinyl in the same time period. You can add Brigadier Jerry to that list.

 

I've always enjoyed this one by Peter Broggs...especially the tune

International Farmer

 

International Farmer , Peter Broggs

 

I don't know that one. I'll check it out.

 

This song was made in 2007 and it still has the old vibe.
Link up.