"REGGAE GOLDEN JUBILEE - ORIGINS OF JAMAICAN MUSIC - 50TH ANNIVERSARY" / VARIOUS ARTISTS (4CD BOX SET)

Description

As expansive as the title is, “Reggae Golden Jubilee” does not do justice for just how culturally rich this new box set it is. Spread over four CDs, with an accompanying 64-page booklet rife with photos and commentary, the lavish set is the equivalent of a college course on the past 50 years of Jamaican popular music.

Curated by Edward Seaga, a former prime minister of Jamaica who was born in Boston, educated at Harvard, and also used to be a record producer, the set uses 100 recordings to trace the chronology of the island’s music. Ska gives way to rocksteady and reggae and then to dub, dancehall, and deejay.

Seaga’s track-by-track commentary is fascinating, both scholarly and thorough in its credits (for songwriter, performer, producer, original Jamaican release date, publisher). He gives historical context for the music’s evolution and ends up covering a lot of ground.

Timed to the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from Britain, “Reggae Golden Jubilee” is essential listening to understand how the island blossomed after that milestone.

Disc # 1

1. Easy Snapping - Theophilus Beckford
2. Dumplins - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
3. Manny Oh Aka Oh Manny Oh - Higgs & Wilson
4. Oh Carolina - Folkes Brothers
5. They Got To Go - Prince Buster & The Allstars
6. Independent Jamaica - Lord Creator
7. Blackhead Chinaman - Prince Buster
8. Blazing Fire - Derrick Morgan
9. Wash Wash Aka That Lucky Old Sun - Prince Buster
10. Sammy Dead - Eric 'monty' Morris
11. My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small
12. Carry Go Bring Come - Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
13. Occupation - Don Drummond & The Skatalites
14. Little Did You Know - Techniques
15. Dancing Mood - Delroy Wilson
16. Rough And Tough - Stranger Cole
17. Take It Easy - Hopeton Lewis
18. Every Night - Chuck & Joe White
19. Rock Steady - Alton Ellis
20. Tougher Than Tough - Derrick Morgan & Desmond Dekker & The Aces
21. No More Heartaches - The Beltones
22. The Tide Is High - The Paragons
23. Trench Town Rock - Bob Marley And The Wailers
24. Israelites - Desmond Dekker And The Aces
25. Sweet And Dandy - The Maytals
26. Everything Crash - Ethiopians
27. Satta Massa Gana - Abyssinians
28. Fire Corner - King Stitt
29. Java Dub - Impact All-stars
30. Hypocrite - Heptones
Disc # 2

1. Wear You To The Ball - U-roy & The Paragons
2. Cherry Oh Baby - Eric Donaldson
3. 54-46 Was My Number - The Maytals
4. Them A Fe Get A Beatin' - Peter Tosh
5. Many Rivers To Cross - Jimmy Cliff
6. The Sun Shines For Me - Bob Andy
7. Marcus Garvey - Burning Spear
8. Fade Away - Junior Byles
9. Lady With The Starlight - Ken Boothe
10. Right Time - Mighty Diamonds
11. Police & Thieves - Junior Murvin
12. Ram Goat Liver - Pluto Shervington
13. We De People/the Power And The Glory - Ernie Smith
14. Two Sevens Clash - Culture
15. It's Alright - Bob Marley And The Wailers
16. Forward Ever - Jacob Miller
17. My Number One - Gregory Isaacs
18. Money In My Pocket - Dennis Brown
19. Kaya - Bob Marley & The Wailers
20. Rub A Dub Style - Michigan & Smiley
21. Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna
22. Land Of My Birth - Eric Donaldson
23. Silly Games - Janet Kay
24. Someone Loves You Honey - Jc Lodge
25. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner - Black Uhuru
26. Arleen - General Echo
Disc # 3

1. Over Me - Yellowman
2. One Two - Sister Nancy
3. Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth
4. I'm Getting Married In The Morning - Yellowman
5. Try Jah Love - Third World
6. Push Comes To Shove - Freddie Mcgregor
7. Love Has Found It's Way - Dennis Brown
8. Cottage In Negril - Tyrone Taylor
9. Every Time A Ear De Soun - Mutabaruka
10. Electric Boogie - Marcia Griffiths
11. Under Me Sleng Teng - Wayne Smith
12. Greetings - Half Pint
13. No Way No Better Than Yard - Admiral Bailey
14. Wild World - Maxi Priest
15. Cover Me - Tinga Stewart And Ninjaman
16. Wild Gilbert - Lovindeer
17. Pocomania Day - Lovindeer And Chalice
18. Good Thing Going - Sugar Minott
19. One Blood - Junior Reid
20. Twice My Age - Shabba Ranks Featuring Krystal
21. Hello Africa - Garnett Silk
22. Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus And Pliers
Disc # 4

1. Putting Up Resistance - Beres Hammond
2. You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) - Dawn Penn
3. Murderer - Buju Banton
4. Tour - Capleton
5. Lord Give Me Strength - Luciano
6. Untold Stories - Buju Banton
7. Fed Up - Bounty Killer
8. Sycamore Tree - Lady Saw
9. Black Woman And Child - Sizzla
10. Who Am I - Beenie Man
11. Down By The River - Morgan Heritage
12. Virtuous Woman - Warrior King
13. Gimme Di Light - Sean Paul
14. Pon De River Pon De Bank - Elephant Man
15. Welcome To Jamrock - Damian Marley
16. She's Royal - Tarrus Riley
17. True Reflections - Jah Cure
18. Roots - Etana
19. Boombastic - Shaggy
20. Lioness On The Rise - Queen Ifrica
21. I'm On The Rock - Mavado
22. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff