TROJAN ROOTS BOX SET

One of the first of Trojan's 3-CD box set releases that package a good portion of their vast catalogue, the roots set has to be at the top of the heap.

Though not comprehensive (Since it's limited to Trojan's archives, artists are repeated.), this is about as good an embodiment of roots reggae as there is available. Included are well-known standards -- like Prince Far I's "Under Heavy Manners," The Silvertones' "Rejoice Jah Jah Children" (along with a clearer dub version, "African Dub"), Johnny Clarke's rocking "None Shall Escape the Judgement," Dennis Brown's classic "Africa," and Lee "Scratch" Perry's "Words" (AKA "Words of My Mouth") -- but it is the more obscure tunes that truly make this set memorable (I only wish that Trojan would've put some more effort into their liner notes so we could find out more about them.).

Where else can you find gems from unfamiliar acts like The Jay Boys, The Shadows, Truth Fact & Correct, The Sons of Selassie, Lizzard, and The Velvet Shadows? Even though you probably don't know them, believe me, their anonymity doesn't take away from the quality of their work. Although most of this music harks from the '70s, they ring like new in the ears of those many listeners who haven't previously had the privilege of experiencing them.

Disc One contains the most sure-shots -- from "Rejoice Jah Jah Children" to Cornell Campbell's "Jah Jah Me No Born Yah" to Johnny Osbourne's "Purify Your Heart" to the lesser-known "Burn Babylon" by Sylford Walker and "Brother Noah" by The Shadows, among others.

Disc 2 (the weakest of the 3) highlights include "Africa," "Under Heavy Manners," The Abyssinians' "Yim Mas Gan," and The Ethiopians' "Hail Brother Rasta Brother Hail." Disc 3 concludes the set on a high note with "Words," The Mighty Diamonds' "Ghetto Living," Delroy Wilson's classic (despite sounding like it was recorded in a well) "Adisabab," along with the more obscure duo of Lizzard and The Velvet Shadows performing "Milk and Honey" and "Babylon a Fall Down," respectively.

This is crucial stuff; a must-have for beginners and seasoned roots fans alike.



DISC 1
1. Cool Rasta - The Heptones
2. I a Man African - The Sons of Selassie
3. Rise in the Strength Jah - The Viceroys
4. Rise Jah Jah Children - Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus
5. I And I Are the Chosen One - New Town Sound Ltd.
6. Brother Noah - The Shadows
7. Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks - The Mighty Dreadlocks
8. Africa Is the Black Mans Home - Sugar Minott
9. None Shall Escape the Judgement - Johnny Clarke
10. History - Carlton Jackson
11. Purify Your Heart - Johnny Osbourne
12. Jah Jah Me No Born Yah - Cornell Campbell
13. Rasta Dreadlocks - Heaven Sisters
14. Burn Babylon - Sylford Walker
15. Psalm 68 - Horace Andy
16. Rejoice Jah Jah Children - The Silvertones
17. Dread Is Best - Big Youth




DISC 2
1. Under Heavy Manners - Prince Far I
2. Arise Black Man - Peter Tosh
3. Yim Mas Gan - The Abyssinians
4. Babylon Falling - The Heptones
5. Hail Brother Rasta Hail - The Ethiopians
6. Enter Into His Gates With Praise - Johnny Clarke
7. African People - The Jay Boys
8. City Too Hot - Lee Perry
9. Africa - Dennis Brown
10. Jah Fire - George Boswell
11. Dread in Babylon - Big Youth
12. Talk About It - Mighty Diamonds
13. Free Jah Jah Children - Sugar Minott
14. Blackmans Time - Neville Grant
15. Babylon Wrong - Ashanti Waugh
16. Keep Cool Babylon - Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus



DISC 3
1. Babylon a Fall Down - Velvet Shadows
2. Never Gonna Give Up Jah - Sugar Minott
3. Nyah Man - Johnny Osbourne
4. Unity -- Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus
5. Moving On to Zion - Johnny Clarke
6. African Dub - The Silvertones
7. The Coming of Jah - Max Romeo
8. Ten Dread Commandments - Mr. Bojangles
9. Babylon Deh Pon Fire - Truth Fact & Correct
10. Ghetto Living - The Mighty Diamonds
11. Adisabab - Delroy Wilson
12. Words - Anthony "Sangie" Davis & Lee Perry
13. Condition Bad a Yard - The Ethiopians
14. Milk and Honey - Lizzard
15. The Judgement Come - Cornell Campbell
16. Mistry Babylon - The Heptones
17. I Love Marijuana - Linval Thompson

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