The Best Of Reggae (Expanded Original Album)

by Jul 7, 2021Mini-Review, Reviews

Release Info

The Best Of Reggae (Expanded Original Album)

Label: Doctor Bird Records | Format: DR/DBLCD | Street date: June 11, 2021

Tracklist
  • Disc One: The Best Of Reggae
  1. Young Gifted And Black – Bob & Marcia
  2. Moon River – Greyhound
  3. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah – The Pioneers
  4. Liquidator – Harry J All Stars
  5. Love Of The Common People – Nicky Thomas
  6. Israelites – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
  7. Suzanne Beware Of The Devil – Dandy Livingstone
  8. Black And White – Greyhound
  9. Black Pearl – Horace Faith
  10. You Can Get It If You Really Want – Desmond Dekker
  11. It Miek – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
  12. 54 46 That’s My Number – The Maytals
  13. Elizabethan Reggae – Boris Gardiner
  14. Return Of Django – The Upsetters
  15. Pied Piper – Bob & Marcia
  16. Come Back Liza – Dandy Livingstone
  17. Everybody Plays The Fool – The Chosen Few
  18. Roll Muddy River – The Pioneers
  19. Oh! She Is A Big Girl Now – Judge Dread
  20. Floating – Greyhound
  21. Mad About You – Bruce Ruffin
  22. Dream Lover – Greyhound
  23. Rain – Bruce Ruffin
  24. Build It Up – Tito Simon
  25. Big City – Dandy Livingstone
  26. Snoopy Versus The Red Baron – The Hotshots
  27. I Need Your Sweet Inspiration – The Pioneers
  28. Double Barrel – Dave & Ansel Collins
  • Disc Two: The Best Of Reggae Part 2
  1. 007 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
  2. Long Shot Kick The Bucket – The Pioneers
  3. Monkey Man – The Maytals
  4. I Am What I Am – Greyhound
  5. What Greater Love – Teddy Brown
  6. Pickney Gal – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
  7. One Big Happy Family – Bruce Ruffin
  8. The Further You Look – John Holt
  9. Give And Take – The Pioneers
  10. Monkey Spanner – Dave & Ansel Collins
  11. Suffering In The Land – Owen Gray
  12. Dancing In The Sun – Daniel In The Lion’s Den
  13. I’m Gonna Get Married – Danny Ray
  14. Sweet Sensation – The Melodians
  15. Train To Skaville – The Ethiopians
  16. Red Red Wine – Tony Tribe
  17. Come On Girl – Jackie Edwards
  18. Who’s That Lady – The Paris Connection
  19. Yesterday Man – Nicky Thomas
  20. Reggae From The Ghetto – John Holt
  21. Sing A Little Song – Desmond Dekker
  22. Down In The Boondocks – Delroy Williams
  23. Think About That – Dandy Livingstone
  24. Rivers Of Babylon – The Melodians
  25. Montego Bay – Freddie Notes & The Rudies
  26. Kingston Town – Lord Creator
  27. This Is Reggae Music – Zap Pow
The Best Of Reggae (Expanded Original Album)
In 1973 K-Tel released a double lp, The Best Of Reggae, collecting 30 tracks, including numerous chart-busting hits and dancefloor-fillers, performed by some of the best-known Jamaican performers of the era. K-Tell was the brainchild of Canadian salesman Philip Kives who released in 1966 the company’s first compilation album, a collection of 25 country songs entitled 25 Country Hits. The idea of compilation albums was new, and the venture’s unexpected success led to further releases. Most of the compilation albums relied on the pop charts of the day, while some focused on hits from a specific genre, such as the 1973 double lp. It became a bestseller and introduced many young people to the catchy music from Jamaica.

Doctor Bird Records, a division of Cherry Red Records, specializes in vintage Jamaican sounds licensed from the legendary catalog of Trojan Records. One of their current releases is the expanded version of this album, a two cd package containing no less than 55 tracks. It will come as no surprise that this collection mainly consists of the best-known reggae cross-over hits from the late Sixties and early Seventies. To meet the taste of the white pop audience, strings, synths, or extended backing vocals were added to a number of songs. The most famous example remains Young, Gifted And Black by Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths. Singer John Holt also made regular use of this, check the song The Further You Look. The producers often used covers of pop and soul hits.

Of course, the undiluted Jamaican hits are not missing. Check out and enjoy the Desmond Dekker hits Isrealites and 007 (Shanty Town) or the unadulterated rocksteady sounds brought by The Melodians and Lord Creator. You can also enjoy some popular, raw early reggae tunes such as Return Of Django by The Upsetters, The Maytals with 54 46 That’s My Number and Monkey Spanner by Dave & Ansel Collins. The Ethiopians’ rock-solid tune, Train To Skaville is also a timeless favorite on this album.

Although most seasoned hardcore reggae fans will not really get excited about this release, we still enjoyed hearing the golden oldies again

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