Trojan Records 2006

For those who don’t know Trojan Records, then I guess you’re not a big reggae fan. From my perspective (limited though it may be), there are only three decent reggae record labels – the first is Studio One, the second is Trojan Records, and by weird default, Island Records is the third (because they had Bob Marley on their label – but they also had U2, Grace Jones and Tom Waits – so you can’t really call them a reggae label).

Trojan Sound System is a compilation album that’s a bit different to most. It’s put together as if it were a live show, with the DJ’s introducing the songs and chanting lyrics in the appropriate rhythm loops. They’ve taken a whole swag of Reggae, Dub and Ska songs and mashed them all together. Some of the songs are pretty well known, like Police And Thieves and Soul Rebel, but others are more obscure. It all flows together very smoothly.

Of course, on an collection like this, there’s a few songs about marijuana: Linval Thompson I Love Marihuana and Richie Spice Marijuana. Hey, they're not just selling music, they’re selling a lifestyle. If that’s your bag, man, then enjoy, but the best songs on the CD are The Heptones Through The Fire I Come and Johnny Osbourne Everything Is Everything.

What I like about this album is that it makes reggae a bit more contemporary again. Let’s face it, as a musical genre it hasn’t really changed much since the early seventies (that’s not to say that there aren’t any fantastic exponents out there – there are). But this kind of remixxing brings the music to anew younger audience, but still retains the heart and soul of the original recordings.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Keith Hudson – Melody Maker
02. Bob Marley And The Wailers – Soul Rebel
03. The Sons Of Light – Land Of Love
04. The Harry J All Stars – Liquidator
05. The Heptones – Through The Fire I Come (Extended Mix)
06. Ronnie Davies – False Leaders
07. Don Carlos – Laser Beam
08. Linval Thompson – I Love Marijuana
09. Michael Rose – Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner
10. Johnny Clarke – Peace And Love In The Ghetto
11. Dennis Brown – Revolution
12. Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves
13. Admiral Bailey – No Wey No Better Than Yard
14. Johhny Osbourne – Everything Is Everything
15. Richie Spice – Marijuana
16. Dandy Livingstone – Rudy, A Message To You

If you’re interested in reggae, dub or ska music but you’ve been a bit afraid to venture beyond Bob Marley and Toots And The Maytals then this (or any) of the Trojan compilations are a good place to start. Most aren’t expensive and have a good spread of music. Once you’ve had a few listens, it’s easier to home in on the artists that you like – and maybe pick up a couple of their albums.

Labels: Reggae