From: Robert Nelson Newsgroups: rec.music.reggae Any way, this list is basically a guidepost of 250 titles for nascent reggae fans who have most of the popular reggae titles from Bob, Peter, Jimmy Cliff, Melody Makers, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse and UB40 and now want to broaden their horizons into other worthy reggae titles. About the list itself: It's not "politically correct". There are no dancehall titles; no American reggae listings. Very little released after 1982 or so; even less so in the 90s. It's probably under-represented in terms of ska and rocksteady. Plus there isn't as much deejay and dub as some would like. (I've discovered that many new reggae fans are a little hesitant to dive right into those variants, for some reason). Overall it is heavily weighted to the cream of Jamaican blues from the 70s; singers and harmony groups prevail throughout. I generally take a dim view of "greatest hits" releases, because I think they're shortcuts and people generally are less likely to seek out the individual albums for fear of "over duplication". There are certain artists tho who a greatest hits package is the best place to start if much of their catalog is not yet on CD or still out of print. Considering that the true power of reggae is in the hard hitting seven inch singles, there are several various artists titles on the list, at the end, that are essential. Also, I tried to keep in mind titles that are still in print. Titles like Mutabaruka's "Check It" for example are left off for that reason. Obviously this list is skewed towards the biases of its creator. There's lots of room for interpretation of what is left off. But I feel that of the titles included, it would take convincing to strike them from the list. Let me know what you think. Robert ROOTS REGGAE CORE LIST Abyssinians Arise (Virgin) Abyssinians Satta Massa Gana (Heartbeat) African Head Charge Songs of Praise (ON U) Alcapone, Dennis Guns Don't Argue (Jamaican Gold) Andy, Bob Fire Burning (Trojan) Andy, Bob Retrospective (I Anka) Andy, Horace Hits From Studio One (Rhino) Andy, Horace In the Light/In the Light Dub (Blood and Fire) Andy, Horace Pure Rankin (Clocktower) Aswad Aswad (Mango) Aswad Hulet (Mango) Aswad New Chapter of Dub (Mango) Aswad Showcase (Mango) Big Youth Dreadlocks Dread (Virgin) Big Youth Screaming Target (Trojan) Bingy Bunny Kingston 12 Toughie (RAS) Black Uhuru Anthem (Mango) Black Uhuru Dub Factor (Mango) Black Uhuru Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Heartbeat) Black Uhuru Liberation Anthology (Island) Black Uhuru Red (Mango) Black Uhuru Sinsemilla (Mango) Blondy, Alpha Apartheid is Nazism (Shanachie) Blondy, Alpha Jerusalem (Shanachie) Broggs, Peter Rastafari Liveth (RAS) Brown, Barry Far East (Hitbound) Brown, Dennis Musical Heatwave (Trojan) Brown, Dennis Visions (Shanachie) Brown, Dennis Words of Wisdom (Shanachie) Brown, Glen/King Tubby Termination Dub (Blood and Fire) Burning Spear Chant Down Babylon (Chronicles/Island) Burning Spear Man in the Hills (Mango) Burning Spear Marcus Garvey/Garvey's Ghost (Mango) Burning Spear Social Living (Blood and Fire) Byles, Jr. Jordan (Heartbeat) Cables What Kind of World (Heartbeat) Campbell, Al Rasta Time (Esoldun) Campbell, Cornell Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm (Striker Lee) Campbell, Cornell Silver Jubilee (Rhino) Carlos, Don Plantation (Tamoki Wambesi) Carlos, Don Time Is the Master (RAS) Chaplin, Charlie Red Pond/Chaplin Chant (Tamoki Wambesi) Cimarons People Say (Lagoon) Clarke, Johnny Authorised Rockers (Caroline) Clarke, Johnny Originally Mr. Clarke (Clocktower) Cocoa Tea Rocking Dolly (RAS) Congos Heart of the Congos (Blood and Fire) Count Ossie Grounation (Dynamic) Count Ossie Tales of Mozambique (Dynamic) Cousins, Roy & Royals Pick Up the Pieces (Tamoki Wambesi) Culture Cumbolo (Shanachie) Culture International Herb (Shanachie) Culture Trod On (Heartbeat) Culture Two Sevens Clash (Shanachie) Dekker, Desmond Music Like Dirt (Trojan) Dr Alimontado Best Dressed Chicken in Town (Keyman) Dr Alimontado Born For a Purpose (Greensleeves) Donaldson, Eric Very Best Of (Rhino) Dread, Mikey African Anthem (RAS) Dub Specialist 17 Dub Shots From Studio One (Heartbeat) Dub Syndicate Echomania (ON U) Dunkley, Errol Darling Ooh (Attack) Earth and Stone Kool Roots (Pressure Sounds) Eccles, Clancy Joshua's Rod of Correction (Jamaican Gold) Eek a Mouse Wa Do Dem (Greensleeves) Ellis, Alton Best of (Studio One) Ellis, Alton Cry Tough (Heartbeat) Ethiopians Original Hit Sound (Trojan) Ethiopians Owner Fe De Yard (Heartbeat) Fred Locks Black Star Liner (VP) Gladiators Dreadlocks the Time is Now (Virgin) Gladiators Symbol of Reality (Nighthawk) Griffiths, Albert Whole Heap, A (Heartbeat) Griffiths, Marcia Naturally (Shanachie) Griffiths, Marcia Steppin' (Shanachie) Half Pint Classics (Hightone) Heptones Night Food (Mango) Heptones On Top (Studio One) Heptones Party Time (Mango) Higgs, Joe Life of Contradiction (Esoldun) Hines, Justin Jezebel (Mango) Hinds, Justin Ska Uprising (Trojan) Hinds, Justin Travel With Love (Nighthawk) Holt, John Police and Helicopter (Greensleeves) Hudson, Keith Greatest Hits (Sky High) I Roy Black Man Time (Jamaican Gold) I Roy Great Godfather (Rhino) Isaacs, Gregory Best of: Volume One and Two (Heartbeat) Isaacs, Gregory Cool Ruler (Virgin) Isaacs, Gregory Extra Classic (Rohit) Isaacs, Gregory Love is Overdue (Heartbeat) Isaacs, Gregory My Number One (Heartbeat) Isaacs, Gregory Night Nurse (Mango) Israel Vibration Same Song (Pressure Sounds) Israel Vibration Strength of My Life (RAS) Israel Vibration Unconquered People (RAS) Itals Brutal Out Deh (Nighthawk) Itals Early Recordings 1971-79 (Nighthawk) Jah Lion Colombia Colly (Mango) Jah Stitch Original Ragamuffin (Blood and Fire) Jahson, David Natty Chase the Barber Away (Crocodisc) Jamaicans BaBa Boom Time (Jamaican Gold) Johnson, Linton Kwesi Bass Culture (Mango) Johnson, Linton Kwesi Forces of Victory (Mango) Jolly Brothers Conscious Man (Seven Leaves) King Tubby Prophesy of Dub (Blood & Fire) King Tubby Special (Trojan) Kingstonians Sufferer (Attack) Knowledge Stumbling Block (Tamoki Wambesi) Levi, Ijahman Are We a Warrior (Tree Roots) Levi, Ijahman Haile I Hymn (Tree Roots) Levy, Barrington Englishman/Robin Hood (Greensleeves) Levy, Barrington Prison Oval Rock (RAS) Levy, Barrington Time Capsule (RAS) Little Roy Tafari Earth Uprising (Pressure Sounds) Lone Ranger M16 (Hitbound) Marley, Bob Rarities I (Jamaican Gold) Marley, Bob Rarities II (Jamaican Gold) Marley, Bob Upsetter Record Shop I (Esoldun) Marley, Bob Upsetter Record Shop II (Esoldun) Marley, Rita Harambe (Shanachie) Marley, Rita Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) Marshall, Larry I Admire You (Heartbeat) Marshall, Larry Presenting (Heartbeat) Maytals Sensation Ska Explosion (Jamaican Gold) Maytones Brown Girl in the Ring (Trojan) Maytones Funny Man (Jamaican Gold) McGregor, Freddie Bobby Bobylon (Heartbeat) McGregor, Freddie Zion Chant (Heartbeat) McLeod, Enos Genius of Enos (Pressure Sounds) Meditations Deeper Roots (Heartbeat) Melodians Irie Feeling (RAS) Melodians Sweet Sensation (Mango) Melodians Swing and Dine (Heartbeat) Michigan & Smiley Rub a Dub Style (Heartbeat) Mighty Diamonds Best Of: 20 Hits (Hitbound) Mighty Diamonds Go Seek Your Rights (Virgin) Mighty Diamonds Pass the Kouchie (Musidisc) Mighty Diamonds/Don Carlos Meets Don Carlos and Gold at Channel One (Hitbound) Miller, Jacob Collectors' Classics (RAS) Miller, Jacob Who Say Jah No Dread (Greensleeves) Minott, Sugar Showcase (Heartbeat) Misty Forward (Kaz) Misty Live at the Counter Eurovision (Kaz) Mittoo, Jackie Tribute to Jackie Mittoo (Heartbeat) Morgan, Derrick I Am the Ruler (Trojan) Moses, Pablo A Song (Mango) Moses, Pablo Revolutionary Dream (Shanachie) Mowatt, Judy Black Woman (Shanachie) Mundell, Hugh/A. Pablo Africa Must Be Free By 1983/Dub (RAS) Mundell, Hugh Arise (Munich) Murvin, Junior Police and Thieves (Mango) Mutabaruka Outcry (Shanachie) Myton, Cedric Image of Africa (VP) Osbourne, Johnny Fally Lover/Never Stop Fighting (Greensleeves) Pablo, Augustus East of the River Nile (Shanachie) Pablo, Augustus King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown (Shanachie) Pablo, Augustus Original Rockers (Greensleeves) Paragons My Best Girl Wears My Crown (Trojan) Perry, Lee From the Secret Laboratory (Mango) Perry, Lee Give Me Power (Trojan) Perry, Lee Public Jestering (Attack) Perry, Lee Voodooism (Pressure Sounds) Poet & the Roots Dread Beat & Blood (Virgin) Prince Alla Only Love Can Conquer (Blood & Fire) Prince Fari Black Man Land (Virgin) Prince Fari Cry Tuff Chapter III (Pressure Sounds) Prince Fari Psalms For I (Carib Gems) Prince Fari Under Heavy Manners (CR) Prince Fari Voice of Thunder (Trojan) Prince Jazzbo Ital Corner (Clocktower) Prophet, Michael Gunman/Righteous Are the Conqueror (Greensleeves) Ras Michael Kibir Am Lak (Greensleeves) Ras Michael Nyabinghi (Crocodisc) Ras Michael Rastafari (Crocodisc) Reid, Duke Ba Ba Boom (Trojan) Reid, Jr. Big Timer (VP) Revolutionaries I Came I Saw I Conquered (Hit Bound) Revolutionaries Jonkanoo Dub (Hit Bound) Romeo, Max War Ina Babylon (Mango) Scientist Dub in the Roots Tradition (Blood and Fire) Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) Sherman, Bim Crucial Cuts v.I (Century) Sherman, Bim Crucial Cuts v.II (Century) Singers & Players Golden Greats I (On U) Singers & Players Golden Greats II (ON U) Sister Carol Black Cinderella (Heartbeat) Smart, Leroy Let Everyman Survive (Jamaican Gold) Smith, Slim Rain From the Skies (Trojan) Starlights Soldering (Heartbeat) Techniques Run Come Celebrate (Heartbeat) Tenor Saw Fever (Blue Mtn.) Third World 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mango) Thompson, Linval Cool Down (Clocktower) Thompson, Linval I Love Marijuana (Trojan) Thompson, Linval Six Babylon (Clocktower) Toots/Maytals Funky Kingston (Mango) Toots/Maytals Reggae Got Soul (Mango) Toots/Maytals Time Tough (Island) Twinkle Bros. Rasta Pon Top (Twinkle) U Roy Dread in a Babylon (Virgin) U Roy Version of Wisdom (Virgin) UB40 Baggariddim (DEP) UB40 Present Arms (DEP) UB40 Signing Off (DEP) Upsetters Build the Ark (Trojan) Upsetters Upsetter Compact Set (Trojan) Viceroys At Studio One: Ya Ho (Heartbeat) Wailer, Bunny Blackheart Man (Mango) Wailer, Bunny Crucial (Shanachie) Wailer, Bunny Rootsman Skanking (Shanachie) Wailer, Bunny Sings the Wailers (Mango) Wailing Souls Firehouse Rock (Shanachie) Wailing Souls Very Best of the Wailing Souls (Greensleeves) Wailing Souls Wild Suspense (Island Jamaica) Walker, Sylford Lamb's Bread (Greensleeves) Williams, Willie Armagideon Time (Heartbeat) Wilson, Delroy Best of Delroy Wilson (Heartbeat) Wilson, Delroy Greatest Hits (Jamaican Gold) Yabby You Chant Down Babylon Kingdom (Yabby You) Yabby You Fleeing From the City (Shanachie) Yabby You Meets Tommy McCook (Peacemaker) Yellowman Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt (Shanachie) Yellowman Zunguzunguzeng (Shanachie) Zap Pow Jungle Beat (Esoldun) Zephaniah, Benjamin Rasta (Workers Playtime) Zukie, Tappa From the Archives (RAS) Zukie, Tappa In Dub (Blood and Fire) Soundtrack Harder They Come (Mango) Soundtrack Rockers (Mango) Various Babylon A Fall Down (Trojan) Various Best of Studio One (Heartbeat) Various Calling Rastafari (Nighthawk) Various Channel One Hitbound (Heartbeat) Various Classics 1975 (Rhino) Various Duke Reid's Treasure Chest (Heartbeat) Various Holy Ground (Heartbeat) Various Keep on Coming Through the Door (Trojan) Various Larks From the Ark (Nectar) Various Lloyd Daley's Matador (Heartbeat) Various Mojo Rocksteady (Heartbeat) Various Open the Gate (Trojan) Various Reggae Archive Vol.1 (ON U) Various Reggae Train (Heartbeat) Various Roots of David (Tamoki Wambesi) Various Trojan Story Part I (Trojan) Various Trojan Story Part II (Trojan) Various Wicked a Go Feel It (Trojan) Various Women in Reggae: Roots Daughters (Shanachie) Various Word Sound 'Ave Power: Dub Poets/Dub (Heartbeat)