Reggae Power, Various Artists, 2CD
• 17 tracks new to CD
• First ever compilation of J.J. Johnson’s productions
• Features some of the biggest Jamaican hits from 1968 to 1972
By the close of the Sixties, record retailer and jukebox businessman Karl ‘J.J.’ Johnson was firmly established as one of Jamaica’s leading record producers, having released a string of best-selling rock steady and proto-reggae 45s by such noted local acts as Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the Rulers, Carl Dawkins, the Kingstonians and the Ethiopians.
Early in 1969, a lucrative agreement with British record label, Trojan, emboldened the ambitious entrepreneur to release an album comprising a dozen of his latest recordings in the new reggae style. Entitled “Reggae Power”, the LP was dominated by regular hit-makers, the Ethiopians, whose recent singles had proved so popular in Britain that the group had been prompted to make a promotional tour of the country. Their trip led to Trojan dramatically reworking the ‘Reggae Power’ long-player for its UK release, replacing all but two non-Ethiopians tracks with further J.J.-produced works by the trio, before issuing it in new artwork.
But with the Ethiopians collection already available on the Doctor Bird CD, “Reggae Power & Woman Capture Man”, it is the Jamaican version of the album that provides the inspiration for this exciting double-disc compilation, which collects the bulk of J.J. Johnson’s output from 1968 to 1972, including numerous reggae hits and 17 recordings new to CD.
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE: REGGAE POWER 1968-1970
1. DANCE UP THE REGGAE – Roy Shirley
2. MIX IT UP – The Kingstonians
3. LOVE IS NOT YOUR GAME – V. Vinstrick*
4. ONE DOLLAR OF MUSIC – The J.J. All Stars
5. I’LL MAKE IT UP – Carl Dawkins
6. MUSICAL PRIEST – Roy Shirley
7. BIGGER BOSS – Cool Sticky & Ansel Collins
8. LIVE LIFE – The Vibrators
9. I’LL BE AROUND – The Kingstonians
10. FIVE MILES HIGH – Winston Wright*
11. GLAD YOU’RE LIVING – Stranger Cole
12. BRIGHT LIFE – Roy Shirley
13. R.F.K. – The J.J. All Stars
14. ISRAEL MUST WIN – The Ethiopians*
15. GOT TO BE FREE – The Rulers
16. NECK TIE – Winston Wright
17. THE ONLY GIRL – Carl Dawkins*
18. I LIKE YOUR SMILE – Roy Shirley
19. MEMPHIS UNDERGROUND – The J.J. All Stars
20. HERE YAH – The Scorchers
21. HELP WANTED – Stranger Cole
22. MANGO TREE – Ansel Collins
23. HERE I COME – The Ethiopians
24. SATISFACTION – Carl Dawkins
25. POPPY COCK – Winston Wright
26. WHAT A SITUATION – The Rulers
27. ROOK MA DINE – The Ethiopians
28. THE REMOVERS – Ansel Collins
29. CABBAGE LEAF – Val Bennett
DISC TWO: WRECK IT UP 1970-1972
1. THIS LAND – Carl Dawkins*
2. TRY TO BE HAPPY – The Clarendonians*
3. DROP HIM – The Ethiopians
4. VERSION DROP – The J.J. All Stars
5. COOLIE MAN – The Cambodians*
6. GET TOGETHER – Carl Dawkins
7. INSTALMENT NO.3 – Family Man
8. NUMBER ONE VERSION – Tony*
9. WRECK IT UP VERSION – The J.J. All Stars*
10. COME ALONG – The Clarendonians*
11. I’LL NEVER BE BLUE – Carl Dawkins*
12. I’LL NEVER BE BLUE (INSTR.) – The J.J. All Stars*
13. DON’T GO (ALT. VERSION) – The Ethiopians*
14. MAKE GOOD – Stranger & Gladdy
15. PUT IT GOOD – The Bleechers
16. PERSEVERANCE – Carl Dawkins*
17. HE’S NOT A REBEL – The Ethiopians
18. NYAH MAN STORY – The Linkers
19. LION’S DEN – The Kingstonians
20. I FEEL GOOD – Carl Dawkins*
21. SELAH – The Ethiopians
22. SELAH – The J.J. All Stars
23. ROCKING TO ETHIOPIA – Dennis Alcapone
24. HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART – Carl Dawkins*
25. SLIM GIRL – The Kingstonians*
26. I’M A BELIEVER – The Ethiopians
27. MY WHOLE WORLD HAS ENDED – Carl Dawkins*
28. SOUP – Lloyd Young
29. COLLECTING COINS – The J.J. All Stars
* NEW TO CD
The Chosen Few: The Trojan Albums Collection, 2CD
• CD debut for “Hit After Hit” LP
• 10 tracks new to CD
• Includes some of Jamaica’s biggest hits from 1970 to 1975
Soon after forming in the late Sixties, the Chosen Few became widely regarded as one the most accomplished harmony groups on the Jamaican music scene, as demonstrated by a series of hits for local producers, Derrick Harriott and ‘Prince’ Tony. A subsequent collaboration with Florida-based ex-pat, Noel Williams aka King Sporty spawned the reggae-funk masterpiece, ‘In Miami’ featuring backing from leading soul outfit K.C. & the Sunshine Band.
The enduring popularity of the quartet, comprising Franklyn Spence and the three Browns – Busty, Noel and Errol – was demonstrated by the release of three acclaimed long players between 1973 and 1975, all of which were issued in the UK by the country’s premier Jamaican music record company, Trojan Records.
This trio of albums form the basis of this superb collection of classic soulful reggae sounds, which is further enhanced by 11 bonus tracks from the period.
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE: HIT AFTER HIT
1. YOU’RE A BIG GIRL NOW (VERSION 1)
2. YOU’RE A BIG GIRL NOW (VERSION 3)*
3. SHAFT
4. STRANGER ON THE SHORE*
5. I’M SORRY*
6. MEXICAN DIVORCE*
7. PEOPLE MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND
8. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL
9. I WANNA GO BACK HOME*
10. MELTING POT*
11. EBONY EYES
12. DO YOUR THING
BONUS TRACKS
13. WHY CAN’T I TOUCH YOU
14. UM-BA-YA*
15. TIME IS HARD*
16. EVERYBODY JUST A STALL*
17. AM I BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU
18. FAT BOY
LLOYD CHARMERS SELECTION
19. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
20. STONED IN LOVE
21. IT’S TOO LATE
22. YOU ARE EVERYTHING
DISC TWO: EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL
1. I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE (PART 1)
2. I SECOND THAT EMOTION
3. MAKE WAY FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS
4. HIDE & SEEK
5. REGGAE STUFF
6. MY THING
7. TEARS OF A CLOWN
8. HANG ON SLOOPY
9. QUEEN MAJESTY
10. LA LA AT THE END
11. I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE (PART 2)
BONUS TRACK
12. COLLIE STUFF*
THE CHOSEN FEW IN MIAMI
13. NIGHT AND DAY
14. I AM A MAN
15. IN THE RAIN
16. WANDERING
17. FUNKY BUTTERCUP
18. CANDY I’M SO DOGGONE MIXED UP
19. WHY CAN’T WE LIVE
20. DRIFT AWAY
21. DANIEL
22. HIT ME WITH THE MUSIC
* NEW TO CD
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