Beginner's Guide to Reggae

1. This Is Reggae Music: The Golden Era 1960-1975 - Various Artists

If you're looking for a good box set, this'll do. This focuses on early Jamaican pop, ska, rocksteady and reggae in equal measure. Sadly, it stops kinda short, when there was plenty of great reggae to come after 1975.

Tougher Than Tough - The Story Of Jamaican Music (4 CD Box Set) is a similar collection, and it widens the scale to include plenty of great post '75 roots reggae, dancehall and ragga (up until 1992). Probably the best reggae boxset around.

The Reggae Box: The Routes Of Jamaican Music is another fine 4-cd boxset, leaning a bit more to the contemporary, with roughly one third being reggae from the digital age. Includes great tracks from the likes of Anthony B., Luciano, Capleton and Sizzla.

These collections overlap quite a bit. So basically, get the one that fits your needs and your budget.

2. The Rough Guide to Reggae - Various Artists

This basically tries to fit the entire history of Jamaican popular music onto one disk, which is pretty impossible. However, it does a good job of describing what every scene was about. And the music is fantastic throughout.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The book Rough Guide to Reggae and its companion 100 Essential CDs come highly recommended (especially the big book). So, if you're bitten by the bug, these'll really guide you along.

3. Reggae Gold - Various Artists

A good reggae primer, similar to the one above (but 2 CDs). Featuring: Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Toots & Maytals, Heptones, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, Augustus Pablo, Lee Perry, Dillinger, Justin Hinds & Dominoes, Black Uhuru, Mighty Diamonds, Third World, George Faith, Sheila Hylton, and Jimmy Riley.

4. Studio One Ska - Various Artists

Fresh & wonderful single-disc collection, this would be the ideal introduction to ska. Faultless song selection. And check out the cover for the talent involved! The focus here is solely on the uptempo ravers.

5. Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years - Various Artists

Rough Guide to Reggae rates this 'essential', and with good reason. Big and fat with 44 tracks from Studio One. Great range of material from bouncy dance numbers to raunchy novelty songs, smooth soul ballads and more elevated, jazzy stuff. Great sound, and none of the filler that makes so many ska compilations.

6. Treasure Isle Mood - Various Artists

The rocksteady scene was kinda like Jamaica's motown, with a more rough cut sound - like the crooners just stepped in the studio from the streets, did their two takes, then disappeared again. Sadly, great rocksteady collections can be hard to find. Nothing wrong with this one, though. Pure soul magic from start to finish from the likes of Alton Ellis, The Paragons, The Techniques and The Melodians. If you want to start with an absolutely faultless single disc compilation, this is your best bet.

Followed by two sequels: Treasure Isle Time and More Hottest Hits

NOTE: In fact, this disc used to be disc one of the now deleted Duke Reid's Treasure Chest, which is equally recommended if you can find it. There's always a few competitive Treasure Isle collections around, so it's good to compare tracklistings and check out reviews. The Heartbeat collections get top marks for sound quality.

7. Heptones on Top - Heptones

A stellar rocksteady album from Studio One. A mixture of lovers and cultural material. One of a dozen or so best albums from Jamaica.

These continue the story beyond rocksteady:
Peace & Harmony: The Trojan Anthology (no Studio One or Island material)
Party Time (produced by Lee 'Scratch' Perry)

8. The Best of Delroy Wilson...Original Eighteen - Delroy Wilson

Another rocksteady winner from Studio One, this is just as nice as the above, but more easily available and with better sound. This used to be called Original Twelve and is now bolstered with six bonus tracks.

9. Watch This Sound - The Uniques

The finest vocal group of the rocksteady era? I say it's a tie between these guys and the Heptones.

Listen to "My Conversation" and "Can't Do Without It" on the Pressure Sounds website

10. Trojan Rocksteady Box Set - Various Artists

A neat way to immerse yourself into the rocksteady scene is to grab this, one of the best entries in Trojan's seemingly endless series of budget priced 3CD boxes. Not as perfect as the above collections, but definitely recommended. Heck, MOST of it is great, and the asking price is around 20€/25$.

11. Trojan Roots Box Set - Various Artists

Trojan Roots Box Set and Trojan Rockers Box Set do a similar trick with roots reggae. 3 cd's, cheap price, great great songs. The packaging may be cheap, but you won't ever regret owning these.

Not all the Trojan boxes are as good, and its worth checking some reviews before you buy.

12. Power of the Trinity - Various Artists

A fabulous collection of 70's roots reggae, focusing on the harmony trios. Features The Wailing Souls, Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, The Itals, Culture, The Meditations, Yabby You, The Royals, The Congos, The Gladiators, The Melodians, The Heptones and The Twinkle Brothers.

13. Soul Rebels - Bob Marley and the Wailers

Sick & tired of hearing "No Woman No Cry" on the radio for the zillionth time? Wondering what the fuss is all about?

Get Soul Rebels and African Herbsman (Trojan, with bonus tracks) and you'll have the bulk of their stuff for producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. This is the Wailers pre-Island, back when they were dangerous, kinda like the Jamaican Rolling Stones, with three leading men: Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh - each with the charisma of a Keith Richards. These tracks are wilder, funkier and cooler than anything any of the band members put out since. Some of the best roots reggae ever.

The Wailers' early stuff for Lee Perry and other producers has been repackaged on plenty of different comps as well. It's best to avoid the zillions of cheapo collections, because they often have poor sound, inferior takes, filler tracks, cheesy overdubs... Of the legit comps, The Essential Bob Marley and the Wailers is highly recommended. At 35 tracks it includes all the vital tracks and little filler. Trenchtown Rock - The Anthology 1969-78 includes all the good stuff as well, but with 51 tracks also plenty of filler (and a seriously botched track order). The same goes for the now out of print Charly collection. The Best of the Early Years is ok, but misses plenty of important tracks. This period is also covered by three extensive box sets Fy-Ah Fy-Ah, Grooving Kingston 12 and Man to Man.

14. Burnin' - Bob Marley & The Wailers

All the Island albums are great, but this one's my favourite. More rootsier vibe than on Catch a Fire. Bob, Peter and Bunny were still together at this point.

15. Blackheart Man - Bunny Wailer

An effortlessly charming roots album, and my favourite from the original Wailers since they split. Bunny Wailer was the Curtis Mayfield of reggae, and his dirty angel tenor is heard for wonderful effect on this album.

16. Visions - Dennis Brown

'The Crown Prince of Reggae', Dennis Brown was maybe the finest singer of the roots era. His influence can be heard on modern roots artists like Cocoa Tea, Luciano and Bushman. Visions and Wolf & Leopards are the first-choice albums.

Other fine collections include Some Like it Hot, Open the Gate: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 and The Promised Land

17. Cool Ruler - Gregory Isaacs

Great introduction to Jamaica's number one singer. Gregory Isaacs is loved throughout the reggae world, for his honeyed voice & smooth, soulful style, as well as his vulnerable Lonely Lover persona. He's also a top notch songwriter, effortlessly combining affairs of the heart with roots & culture. Kinda like the Al Green of reggae. Cool Ruler has some of Gregory's finest songs: "Native Woman", "John Public", "Party in the Slum"...

Cool Ruler is universally loved & the most easily available of Gregory's classic albums. However these albums are equally great: Extra Classic, Mr. Isaacs, Soon Forward and Best of Volumes One and Two (not a real best of, but two new albums) - so pick whatever comes in handy.

18. Arkology - Lee "Scratch" Perry

The perfect introduction to the wild, weird and wonderful world of 'The Upsetter', when he was stationed in his Black Ark, and churning out hits like Max Romeo's "War In A Babylon", Junior Murvin's "Police & Thieves" and Junior Byles' "Curly Locks".

This is relatively inexpensive and preferable to individual albums like Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves.

Another great box set I Am the Upsetter: The Story of the Lee "Scratch" Perry Golden Years tells a fuller story, including his western-themed early reggae instrumentals, UK crossover hits, rebel music from the likes of Bob Marley & Junior Byles, as well as his Black Ark material, with one disc devoted solely to dub. Great liner notes and helpful discography to boot.

After you've checked out this one, get the even weirder Open the Gate. Oh yeah, and get Super Ape as well.

19. Heart of the Congos - The Congos

Of all the classic LP's Scratch produced in the mid-70's, this is easily the best. Also quite unique - unlike anything ever recorded anywhere else. Proves once again, that in 70's Jamaica everything was possible.

20. Jesus Dread 1972-1977 - Yabby You

Ok, this might be way too heavy for beginners, but I gotta list it anyway. For this one of the most awe-inspiring collections out there. 2 cd's of the rawest of roots, wickedest toasters & King Tubby dubbing at his most vicious.

21. Marcus Garvey - Burning Spear

A gritty, merciless, horn-driven, no-nonsense platter, this masterpiece pretty much defines roots reggae. The more out-there Social Living is equally great. Also check out the Studio One stuff on Creation Rebel or Sounds From the Burning Spear.

22. Two Sevens Clash: 30th Anniversary Edition (Dlx) - Culture

Another great roots album from the 70's, can't go wrong with this one.

If this one hits also try The Gladiators' Trenchtown Mix Up and The Abyssinians' Satta Massagana.

23. Pick Up the Pieces - The Royals

In the game of 70s roots harmonies, I rank Pick Up the Pieces right at the top (over some tough competition, I assure you!!). Don't look for no heavy horns, militant rhythms, or pain-racked rastaman wailings dubbed deep to the planets. Instead, Pick Up the Pieces offers a great set of songs, gorgeous vocal harmonies, and a wonderfully warm yet streetwise production in the best spirit of rocksteady. This Pressure Sounds reissue has twice as many songs as the original LP, and beautifully restored sound.

Listen to "Pick Up The Pieces" on the Pressure Sounds website

24. The Same Song - Israel Vibration

One of my favourite reggae groups, Israel Vibration is a unique sounding vocal group, who formed at a polio clinic. Their first two albums The Same Song and Unconquered People are both timeless reggae classics. Highly recommended if you already dig Culture, Gladiators or Wailing Souls.

Listen to "The Same Song" on the Pressure Sounds website

25. Bobby Bobylon - Freddie McGregor

A similar artist to Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor effortlessly combines roots & lovers material. Though neither Dennis or Gregory ever got the chance to work with rhythms as sweet as these from Studio One. One of the most beautiful & timeless Jamaican lp's, made even more special by the new special edition.

Similar albums:
Johnny Osbourne: Truths and Rights
Sugar Minott: Sugar Minott at Studio One

26. Red - Black Uhuru

Now, these guys had a really dangerous, hard-edged, militant sound unlike any other reggae giants. Just look at the cover, pretty much captures the mood. Recommended to all punk rockers & gangsta rappers.

27. Microphone Attack 1974-1978 - Niney The Observer

The finest possible introduction to the art of deejaying, the Jamaican precursor to rap. Some of the biggest deejay stars are here, and on top form, toasting over Niney's toughest rhythms, some of the finest rhythms in reggae history. Features Big Youth, I-Roy, U-Roy, Dillinger, Ranking Trevor and Trinity.

If Deejay Was Your Trade: The Dreads at King Tubby's 1974-1977 is an equally great collection from Blood & Fire. Features I-Roy, Dillinger, Prince Jazzbo, Jah Stich, Tappa Zukie, Dr. Alimantado, Little Joe, Big Joe and Prince Far-I.

28. Best Dressed Chicken in Town - Dr. Alimantado

A very colourful & entertaining deejay - if not exactly typical. Also, this works better as an album than most deejay sets. Easily available for mid-price, so it's one of the discs you might wanna get first.

Other great deejay sets:
I-Roy: Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff (1972-1975)
Big Youth: Natty Universal Dread (1973-1979)
Trinity: Shanty Town Determination

29. Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle - Lee 'Scratch' Perry

"Calling the meek & the humble..."

AKA "Blackboard Jungle Dub" One of the first & best dub albums. Also one of the most accessible and entertaining.

A good place to get this: Dub-Triptych (Trojan). Includes original, untampered versions of three classic dub lp's on two cd's: Cloak & Dagger, Blackboard Jungle Dub and Revolution Dub. And did I not tell you to check Super Ape as well!

30. Dub Chill Out - Various Artists

Truly great introduction to classic Jamaican dub, with 18 well-chosen tracks from an all-star cast: King Tubby, Lee Perry, King Jammy, Scientist, Augustus Pablo and Sly & Robbie. The variety of producers, periods and mixing styles makes this very colourful and easy to get into. Also check out:

Scientist: Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires
Augustus Pablo: King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
King Tubby: Dub Gone Crazy
King Tubby & Yabby You: King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub
Keith Hudson: Pick a Dub
Mikey Dread: African Anthem

31. The Biggest Dancehall Anthems, 1979-82: The Birth ... - Various Artists

This outta tell you what early dancehall's about. 2 cd's, 40 tracks, all the biggest stars: Yellowman, Barrington Levy, Johnny Osbourne, Eek-A-Mouse, General Echo etc. Budget price & a great Benz on the cover to boot.

Two other fabulous dancehall collections (singers, deejays, dub):
When the Dances Were Changing - Hitbound Selection
U Brown Hit Sounds from Channel One

32. Bobo Ashanti - Sizzla

'Grow u locks & wear u turban...'

One of the finest modern roots albums, combining classic reggae, hardcore ragga and stylish r'n'b to great effect. A word of warning, though: some of the more fundamendalist teachings of the Bobo Dread can be hard to swallow...

Sizzla is an incredibly prolific artist - Allmusic, for example lists over 40 albums since 1995. Picking up the really good ones can be a daunting task. Black Woman & Child is another winner.