Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan

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Trojan Carnival Box Set

Released on 8 September 2003.

Released to coincide with this years Carnival this compilation traces some of the sounds that evoke the spirit of carnival. Virtually all of the songs come from the seventies which is fine but as a historical perspective that can't be right, but they do capture the Jamaican, possibly even London side of Carnival, which was neither a Jamaican or London thing originally.

However aside from that the sounds are all uplifting. Some will bring back memories of carnivals that you have attended, the others will make you want to go to the next one. Happy and Uplifting is the key, not necessarily (in retrospect) whether they are any good – some are plain irritating like The Doctors.

But let's concentrate on the positives, there are amongst the 50 cuts, some great tunes, none more so than Freddie Notes Unity. You can feel the sound systems banging out this tune under the arches, with a message too. You see sometimes you get the Roots side of things becoming popular , sometimes the happy poppy summertime cuts, depending on your recollections and perspectives.

I'll take you there was based on a reggae track anyway and it comes back full circle with the Deltones- gospel reggae. Part of carnival undoubtedly is recollections of home (I love Jamaica, Caribbean Rock, Living in Sweet Jamaica and so on) but also having a good time (Feeling High), interspersed with cultural vibes (Jah Jah Train, Lively Up Yourself) and just feeling good (Ain't it a beautiful Morning). There are also plenty of covers of pop hits, Mother and Child reunion and so on and soul covers (Groove me and Groovy situation). For me when I was attending carnival Lovers was a big thing, such like Marie Pierre and Walk Away. Humor also abounds in Duppy Gun Man by Ernie Smith.

Classic tunes always of course swing it in the compilation stakes, such as the murderous Techniques (one of the earlier cuts on show)and Lloyd Parks with Drink more wine and the sweet Everybody need love, to the overpopularised but still strong Lively Up Yourself and Pressure Drop.

Also worthy of a mention is Zap Pow's seminal This is reggae Music, Sensations (Those guys) – you see I always big up the male vocal groups with their distinctive sweet Jamaican harmonies, the rootsy Twinkles, classic Joya Landis Moonlight Serenade complete with Dennis Al's toast

Of course the flipside and observing Riot Inna Notting Hill is actually a great tune.

Two that evoke memories of carnival as much as any is the wonderful Carey & Lloyd's Come down and the classic party anthem by Roy Shirley, Hold Them.




return to search resultsVARIOUS ARTISTS: Trojan Carnival Box Set (TJETD132)

Compiled and annotated by Reggae authority Stephen Nye, this set features 50 Caribbean classics that have long since been widely considered Carnival favorites. With many of the recordings included appearing for the first time on CD, this set is sure to appeal to both party goers and collectors alike, and, with its release coinciding with London's annual Notting Hill festivities, perhaps more than just the odd Reggae DJ too!


Tracklisting

  3-CD SET

  DISC 1 (POP NO STYLE):

  Unity - Freddie Notes & The Rudies -

  Dancing In The Sun - Daniel In The Lions Den -

  Jamaica Jerk Off - The Pioneers -

  In The Summertime - The Doctors -

  I’ll Take You There - The Deltones -

  I Love Jamaica - Neville Willoughby -

  Happy People - The Cimarons -

  Feeling High - Sydney George & Jackie -

  Reggae From The Ghetto - John Holt -

  Ain’t It A Beautiful Morning - Danny Ray -

  Caribbean Rock - Dandy Livingstone -

  Mother And Child Reunion - The Uniques -

  Mule Train - Count Prince Miller -

  Sugarloaf Hill - Del Davis -

  Walk Away - Marie Pierre -

  You Can Get It If You Really Want - The Cimarons -

  Walk The World Away - Teddy Brown -

  DISC 2 (GROOVERS STYLE):

  Drink More Wine - The Techniques -

  Everybody Needs Love - Lloyd Parks -

  Everything For Fun - The Bleechers -

  Groove Me - Keeling Beckford -

  Groovy Situation - Derrick Harriott -

  Jah Jah Train - Barrington Spence -

  Lively Up Yourself - Bob Marley & The Wailers -

  Living In Sweet Jamaica - Jackie Brown -

  Music Keep On Playing - Cornel Campbell -

  My Jamaican Girl - The Gaylads -

  Pressure Drop `72 - Toots And The Maytals -

  This Is Reggae Music - Zap Pow -

  Those Guys - The Sensations -

  Young Gifted And Black - The Gaylads -

  Best Is Yet To Come - The Twinkle Brothers -

  Best Time Of My Life - Pat Kelly -

  DISC 3 (BASEMENT STYLE):

  Riot Inna Notting Hill - The Pioneers -

  Big Bamboo - The Merrymen -

  Brown Girl In The Ring - The Maytones -

  Festival 10 - Derrick Morgan -

  Come Down - Carey (Johnson) & Lloyd (Young) -

  Face Dog - Derrick Harriott -

  Duppy Gunman - Ernie Smith -

  Hold Them - Roy Shirley -

  Irie Festival - Turnell McCormack & The Cordells -

  Mama Dee - The Starlites -

  Mo’ Bay - Selwyn Baptiste -

  Moonlight Lover - Joya Landis -

  Wake Up Jamaica - Dennis Alcapone -

  Play De Music - Tinga Stewart -

  Wheel And Jig - The Viceroys -

  Soldering - The Starlites -

  Shaving Cream - The Fab 5 Inc -











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