Trojan Records marked the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence with the release of Freedom Sounds, a collection of over 100 tracks spread across 5 CDs from influential Jamaican artists etc. that have influenced popular music across the past five decades.

That set me thinking, there’s never been much in the way of Ska, Reggae, Dancehall etc. on the blog. It’s quite strange seen as I’ve been a big fan since my Dad introduced to the genres when I was younger. This stuff, Ska in particular,  just struck a chord with me (no pun intended). It’s hard not to like, it is, for the most part upbeat, bright and fun. It is music with stories to tell, of love, life and struggles, but just as important, you can nod along and dance to it quite happily. It is probably only matched by Hip Hop in that regard. 

I have compiled some of my favourite from the various albums, compilations and box sets I have acquired throughout the years. Some are fairly well known, others less so. I can’t guarantee they all appeared on Trojan (but ‘Trojan Warriors’ has a nice ring to it), see it as an introduction if nothing else.

If you fancy delving a bit further, I suggest checking out BBC 4’s ‘Reggae Britannia‘ or getting your hands some of the many excellent Trojan Records Boxsets. Consequently this happens to be the 1,000 post on the blog, no better way to celebrate eh? Enjoy!

Tracklisting: 

01 Rupie Edwards – Ire Feelings
02 Jah Lion – Wisdom
03 Junior Marvin – Police & Thieves
04 Zap Pow – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
05 Althea and Donna – Uptown Top Rankin
06 The Paragons – The Tide Is High
07 The Slickers – Johnny Too Bad
08 The Valentines – Stop The Violence
09 Lloyd & Glen – Jezebel
10 The Valentines – Guns Fever (Blam Blam Fever)
11 Harry J Allstars – Liquidator
12 The Ethiopians – Train to Skaville
13 Horace Andy – Money Money
14 Baba Brooks & His Band – Guns Fever
15 Desmond Dekker – 007 (Shanty Town)
16 Lord Tanamo – I’m In The Mood For Ska
17 The Skatalites – Guns Of Navarone
18 The Upsetters – Return of the Django
19 Toots & The Maytals – Monkey Man
20 Jimmy Cliff – King of Kings
21 Johnny “Dizzy” Moore – Sudden Destruction
22 Derrick Harriott – Monkey Ska
23 Jimmy Cliff – Miss Jamaica
24 Simple Simon – Obey Your Mother & Father