Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan

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Trojan Ganja Reggae Box

Released on 21 July 2003.

The widespread use of ganja by Jamaican acts during the mid-seventies and early eighties is clearly illustrated by the 50 tracks on this set. From DJ to Dub, Roots to Dancehall, the theme inspired countless Reggae acts, from leading figures to lesser lights. Even if the week is not your thing, this comprehensive collection of collie-themed tracks is sure to leave you feeling high.

Taking aside the subject matter this is a general meandering through Jamaican output from about 1970 through to 1985. Consequently al the different nuances and styles are in evidence from late ska, early reggae through toasting and a great preponderance of roots. Many of thegreat voices are in evidence from Marley downwards.

Of the early cuts it is odd that one of the great cuts is an instrumental Lloyd Charmers and Ishan Cut. Whizzing through in chronological order and picking out a few cuts of major interest we can first (or is that second now!) home in on Glen Brown's Collie and Wine with great vocals. Bob's early and best cut of Kaya is included which on this album is the first track that leads to roots and rastafarianism.

Heavy dub and toast of the best kind came around1971 , 1972 with the Roy's , Youth and all dem followers – Jah T's Lick the pipe, and Youth's own half ounce. Slightly more bouncy was Clancy Eccles' call Ganja Free. Hit wise Rupie Edwards Feeling High skanga hit the top.

One of the great voices of reggae is Horace Andy featured on Better Calley, complete with the heavy dubversion by the Aggrovators. Johnny Clarke's infectious Collie Dread. Another track that is a bit different yet still retains a great feel is Bush Weed Contrash by Bunny and Ricky, though it sounds different to my vinyl version – different cut I guess.

One of my favourite albums of a type from the mid 70's was Tappa Zukie's MPLA, which featured the wonderful Chalice to Chalice. Another voice I seem to be rediscovering and liking a lot is Cornel Campbell, back to 1977 for A Hundred Pounds of Collie, with a track similar in style to A hundred ponds weight by – it escapes me, one of the vocal groups, Diamonds maybe , Culture. This leads to the thought that there probably are a million and one other tracks that could have been included , and would have been equally as good as the 50 that got through. We'' into thaat late 70's mellow, dubby reggae, carnival festival dancehall beat, you can feel the outdoors in one respect, or the stack of bass speakers in another, on something like Linval Thompson's 'I Love Marijuana' and Big Joe toast, and then kicking into Ranking Dread.

More Horace Andy opening CD3 as we head to the 80's when the dancehall was a bit more jumpy to the likes of Ina Komoze (who isn't featured here but could have been) and a proficient and distinctive Barrington Levy. We git his Collie Weed and Sensimelia. Lesser known but great vocally was Mikey Brooks on Sensi Man

3-CD SET

DISC 1 (KUTCHY SKANK):

Herbsman - King Stitt & Andy Capp

Ganja Plane - The G.G. All Stars

Ishan Cup - Lloyd Charmers

Collie And Wine - Glen Brown

Free The Weed - Joe Gibbs All Stars

Kaya - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Kaya Version - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Lick I Pipe - Carl Murphy

Lick The Pipe, Peter, Part 4 - Jah T

Pass The Pipe - The Observers

Herb Tree - Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett

Ganja Free - Clancy Eccles

Kutchi Skank - The Upsetters

My Jamaican Collie - Max Romeo

Feeling High - Rupie Edwards

Half Ounce - Big Youth

Herb Vendor - Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace

DISC 2 (A HUNDRED POUNDS OF COLLIE):

Better Calley (aka Better Collie) - Horace Andy

Calley Version - The Aggrovators

Bring The Couchie Come - The Reggae Crusaders

Coutchi Dub - Niney & The Soul Syndicate

Ganja - Joe White

Collie Dread - Johnny Clarke

Ashanti Ganja Dub - Leslie Butler

Free The Weed - Rupie Edwards

Free The Weed Dub - Rupie Edwards All Stars

Bush Weed Contrash - Bunny & Ricky

Callying Butt - The Upsetters

Chalice To Chalice - Tappa Zukie

A Hundred Pounds Of Collie - Cornell Campbell

I Love Marijuana - Linval Thompson

Jamaican Colley (Version) - Linval Thompson

Smoke Marijuana - Big Joe

Marijuana In My Soul - Ranking Dread

DISC 3 (MARIJUANA IN MY BRAIN):

Collie Weed - Horace Andy

Marijuana - Sly & The Revolutionaries

Marijuana In My Brain - Dillinger

Herb - Sly & The Revolutionaries Collie Weed - Barrington Levy

Collie - Sly & The Revolutionaries

Scientist Ganja Dub - Scientist & The Roots Radics

Sensimilea - Barrington Levy

Cannabis Dub - Scientist & The Roots Radics

The Great Collie Herb - Derrick Morgan

Babylon Don’t Touch My Sensi - Neville Brown

Babylon Don’t Touch My Sensi Dub - Neville Brown & The Roots Radics

Sensi Man - Mikey Brooks

Ganja Baby - Clint Eastwood

Kaya - Ronnie Davis

Sensi For Sale - The Tufftones

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