Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan

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The Creole Reggae Box Set –

Released on 15 March 2001.  Founded by Bruce White and Tony Cousins as an artist management co in 1964 eventually to become an influential UK Reggae label.

Quite frankly the imprint brings to my mind some pretty routine and unimaginative tracks.  However memories can be deceiving and this package soon dispels this perception as there is a) plenty of more than decent stuff on here and b) some essential cuts.

CD1 kicks off at the popular end with The Pop Hits from th 1964 Jamaica Ska thru Boris Gardner’s smash I wanna make it with you in 1986.  Some great memories come forth but no more so than John Holt’s epic 1971 piece of lovers Time is my master, which sounded so good.  Most are at the pop end of reggae soul which apart from the catchiness do little for me, but Rupie Edwards Ire Feelings (Leggo skanga) was pretty innovative.  Dat, Sideshow, OK Fred, Girlie Girlie, Midnight Rider to the dreaded (read Dreadful) Big 10 will be known to all.

CD2 starts to get more interesting with Ska and Reggae Classics 1964 to 1980. Kicking off with the classic Behold by the Blues Brothers.  Big names in evidence from the great Toots – you make me feel the way I do, Byron Lee, Upsettere and so on.  Plenty to commend on this Cd such as the soulful voices of Dennis Wilks and particularly the gruff Hopeton Lewis, the wonderful Tighten Up haunting, lazy, summer, bird cheeping instrumental Leaving Rome, the mystical and crazy Upsetter(s), the groovy and sweet In Crowd. Also straight out of the Rodigan, Barry G soundclashes Barrington Levy’s Looking my love and Jimmy Riley’s soulful Love and devotion. Pride of place though to the wonderfully diverse and epic Freedom Street by Eric Donaldson.

CD3 subtitled Sweetie Come Brush me – Dancehall Anthems 1982 to 1994, kicing off with the early 80’s reggae dancehall that I recall so well with Anthony Johnson’s hard Gunshot.  The riddims are distinctive and hard, mellow and tight, some great singers John Holt, Dennis Brown and particularly Beresford Hammond.  The Dj’s too were of an era of emerging dancehall Jah Thomas, Early B.  Towards the end of the 80’s there was a bit of a change emerging Freddie McGregor was becoming pre eminent and Wayne Wonder was starting his journey to ultimate stardom.  Ninjaman and Chaka Demus and Pliers were adding some humour and commerciality to the DJ scene, and we still had the likes of Gregory Isaacs from the older school and Beenie Man from the new.

All in all a surprisingly good package.

Various Artists: Creole Reggae Box Set (TJETD161)

 

Format: Treble CD album
Released:
Availability: Not in stock: order for despatch in 3 to 28 days
Price: £13.99




Featuring a cross section of Jamaican sounds issued by Creole Records since its earliest days as a company, this set highlights recordings by some of the biggest names in the industry from the past 30 years, ranging from storming sixties charts hits and innumerable Jamaican best-sellers, performed by the likes of Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, The Maytals, Boris Gardiner, Barry Biggs and Jamaica's latest top export, Wayne Wonder.

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Tracklisting

  3-CD SET

  DISC 1: Side Show – The Pop Hits

  Jamaica Ska - Keith & Ken - Listen

  Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart - The Mighty Sparrow - Listen

  Time Is The Master - John Holt - Listen

  Mad About You - Bruce Ruffin - Listen

  Sweet Cherrie - Honeyboy - Listen

  Sing A Little Song - Desmond Dekker - Listen

  Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus) - Judge Dread - Listen

  Big Ten - Judge Dread - Listen

  Midnight Rider - Paul Davidson - Listen

  Dat - Pluto Shervington - Listen

  Work All Day - Barry Biggs - Listen

  Side Show - Barry Biggs - Listen

  Three Ring Circus - Barry Biggs - Listen

  O.K. Fred - Errol Dunkley - Listen

  Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones - Listen

  Girlie Girlie - Sophia Goerge - Listen

  I Wanna Wake Up With You - Boris Gardiner - Listen

  DISC 2: Behold! Ska & Reggae Classics, 1964 to 1980

  Behold (Ska Version) - The Blues Busters - Listen

  Oil In My Lamp - Eric 'Monty' Morris - Listen

  You Make Me Feel The Way I Do - The Maytals - Listen

  Frankenstein Ska - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Listen

  Rocksteady - The Fugitives - Listen

  The Drifter - Dennis Walks - Listen

  Leaving Rome - Jo Jo Bennett & The Rhythm Rulers - Listen

  Grooving Out On Life - Hopeton Lewis - Listen

  Cloak And Dagger - The Upsetters - Listen

  Delilah - Horace Andy - Listen

  Titian (aka Tichen) - Junior Delgado - Listen

  Sam's Intro - The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari - Listen

  Freedom Street - Eric Donaldson - Listen

  His Majesty Is Coming - The In Crowd - Listen

  Looking My Love (aka It's Not Easy) - Barrington Levy - Listen

  Golden Locks - Bim Sherman - Listen

  Love And Devotion - Jimmy Riley - Listen

  DISC 3: Sweetie Come Brush Me – Dancehall Anthems, 1982 to 1994

  Gunshot - Anthony Johnson - Listen

  Sweetie Come Brush Me - John Holt - Listen

  As If I Didn't Know - Cynthia Schloss - Listen

  Revolution - Dennis Brown - Listen

  Shoulder Move - Jah Thomas - Listen

  What One Dance Can Do - Beresford Hammond - Listen

  Tiney Winey - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Listen

  Sunday Dish - Early B - Listen

  Miserable Woman - Freddie McGregor - Listen

  One More Chance - Wayne Wonder - Listen

  People Make The World Go Round - Ruddy Thomas - Listen

  Hortical Don - Ninja Man - Listen

  Gal Wine - Chaka Demus & Pliers - Listen

  We Don't Pet Sound Boy - Gregory Isaacs - Listen

  Green Line - Garnet Silk - Listen

  No Mama No Cry - Beenie Man - Listen

 

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