PLAYLIST NEW ALBUM RELEASES REGGAE'S ROOTS IN THE U.K. VARIOUS: THE HISTORY OF TROJAN RECORDS VOL. 1 (1968-71).Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer THE HISTORY of Britain's Trojan Records Trojan Records is a British record label specialising in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. Beginnings and heyday label is also the history of reggae music. In the 1960s and 1970s, Trojan built a huge archive of recordings, issuing a string of influential tracks from mostly Jamaican acts that consistently hit the U.K. charts starting in 1968. As the new curators of the massive Trojan catalog, Sanctuary Records Sanctuary Records is a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Records.[1] Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world. has launched an extensive reissue program of classic Jamaican music, including special sets devoted to rock steady, dub, ska, DJ and other genres. One of the best overviews of the label's reach can be found in ``The History of Trojan Records Vol. 1 (1968-71),'' which features 60 highly entertaining tracks over two CDs, including remastered gems from Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs (born 15 July, 1950) is a Jamaican reggae musician. Isaacs was born in Fletchers Land, Kingston, Jamaica. In the 1970s, he emerged as one of the most prolific and popular recording artists in Jamaica. , Jimmy Cliff, the Pioneers, Desmond Dekker and, of course, Bob Marley & the Wailers. A 50-page booklet is included. Los Angeles-based reggae historian, author and archivist ARCHIVIST. One to whose care the archives have been confided. Roger Steffens Roger Steffens (born June 17, 1942) is a Brooklyn, New York born actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist. Roger is perhaps best known for his reggae archives, in particular his archives of Bob Marley. , just back from Tokyo, where he'd lectured on the life of Bob Marley, gives us his take. Q: There are a lot of very good reggae anthologies on the market. What makes the Trojan series worthwhile? A: It's a pretty fair picture. We have enough historical perspective now to understand the various cycles of Jamaican music. Their anthologies and single-artist sets are superb. Trojan had access to some important and pretty fantastic music. Q: Isn't there some controversy about the label in reggae circles? A: It's about royalties, which is often the case. Seen through the eyes of disfranchised artists, to put it delicately, there've always been questions about accounting - about who is or isn't getting paid. Q: What's the latest on your vast archive of reggae memorabilia and recordings? A: The Jamaican government has been in touch about turning the collection into the island's museum of music. I mean, this is stuff they should've been collecting for decades. Emotionally and spiritually, it belongs there. But things are in upheaval in the country and safety is an issue. So, we'll see what happens. CHECK THESE OUT (other new releases): XAVIER CUGAT Francesc d'Asís Xavier Cugat Mingall de Bru i Deulofeu (1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Catalan-Cuban bandleader whom many consider to have had more to do with the infusion of Latin music into United States popular music than any other musician. , ``The Original Latin Dance The term Latin dance has two meanings, depending on whether the context is social or ballroom dance. Dances from Latin America First, dances originating in Latin America. Typically these are Cha cha cha, Rumba, Samba, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Bolero. King'': Remember those elegant Latin nightclub scenes in '40s movies? These guys usually provided the soundtrack. SOLOMON BURKE Solomon Burke (born March 21 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a soul and country music pioneer and member of the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Career He began his adult life as a preacher in Philadelphia, and soon moved on to hosting a gospel radio show. , ``Don't Give Up on Me'': Star songwriters like Dan Penn, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison provide tunes for one of the last of the great '60s soul crooners. MACHITO & HIS AFRO-CUBAN ORCHESTRA, ``Mambo Mucho Mambo: The Complete Columbia Masters``: A key innovator in Latin jazz, percussionist Frank ``Machito'' Grillo fused deep grooves and high-intensity horns for some of the most sizzling siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. rhythms ever. Next Tuesday: KENNY BURRELL: ``MOTEN SWING!'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1) The Trojan compilation features Gregory Isaacs. (2 -- 4) no caption (CD covers) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion