Various Artists: The Joe Gibbs DJ Albums Collection, 2CD

• 18 tracks new to CD.
• Includes numerous major reggae hits.
• Four essential classic DJ albums - 2 new to CD.

By the close of the 1970s, the DJ style had been long established as one of reggae music’s most popular subgenres - and few producers embraced the style more enthusiastically than Kingston-based hitmaker Joe Gibbs.

Throughout the decade and into the next, Gibbs released a wealth of material by almost every talk-over artist on the island, from veteran pioneers such as U Roy and Count Matchuki to the cream of the second generation of toasters, notably the quartet of DJ superstars whose music fills this 2CD set.

The first disc of the collection features a pair of classic 1977 long-players from two giants of the genre, namely Wade Brammer AKA Trinity - best-known for the hugely popular ‘Three Piece Suit’, the inspiration for Althea & Donna’s UK chart-topper, ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ – and Michael Williams, who, as Prince Far I, first achieved international recognition with his hugely popular 1976 hit, ‘Heavy Manners’.

Disc 2 presents a further two albums from 1980 that respectively showcase the talents of the immensely popular Ranking Joe (Jackson) - who throughout the late 70s and early 80s cut a series of major Jamaican hits - and the talented Prince Mohammed, who also enjoyed significant success as a vocalist under his real name of George Nooks.

Now, at long last, these four essential Joe Gibbs-produced LPs from the heyday of the original DJ era are brought together on this double disc set, with the Trinity and Prince Far I albums unavailable on CD for two decades, and both long-players on disc 2 making their long overdue digital debut.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

TRINITY - THREE PIECE SUIT (1977)

1 Song Of The Midnight Hour - Trinity
2 Queen Majesty - Trinity
3 Render Your Heart - Trinity
4 John Saw Them Coming - Trinity
5 Strickly Cash - Trinity
6 Rasta Dub - Trinity
7 Kingston Two Rock – Trinity
8 Mr. Bassie - Trinity
9 Three Piece Suit – Trinity
10 Mohammed Ali – Trinity

PRINCE FAR I ‘UNDER HEAVY MANNERS’ (1977)

11 Rain A Fall – Prince Far I
12 Big Fight – Prince Far I
13 You I Love And Not Another – Prince Far I
14 Young Generation – Prince Far I
15 Shine Eye Girl – Prince Far I
16 Boz Rock – Prince Far I
17 Show Me Mine Enemy – Prince Far I
18 Shadow – Prince Far I
19 Deck Of Cards – Prince Far I
20 Heavy Manners – Prince Far I
21 Heavy Manners (reprise) – Prince Far I
BONUS TRACK
22 Zion Call – Prince Far I *

DISC TWO

RANKING JOE: NATTY SUPERSTAR (1980)

1 Pork In The Corner – Ranking Joe *
2 Sister Pam – Ranking Joe *
3 Jump The Fence – Ranking Joe *
4 Rock It On – Ranking Joe *
5 Something On My Mind – Ranking Joe *
6 Natty Superstar – Ranking Joe *
7 Physical Fitness – Ranking Joe *
8 See A Girls Face – Ranking Joe *
9 Lave Fe Mi Gal Arlene – Ranking Joe

PRINCE MOHAMMED: INNA HIM HEAD

10 Money Man The Gal Want – Prince Mohammed *
11 Tom Tom – Prince Mohammed *
12 Forty Leg (Dread) – Prince Mohammed
13 Some Like It Hot – Prince Mohammed *
14 Harbour View Rock – Prince Mohammed *
15 Sip-Sail Sail Fast – Prince Mohammed *
16 Step Out Of Babylon – Prince Mohammed *
17 Holligan Stop A While – Prince Mohammed *
18 Bubbling Love – Prince Mohammed
19 The Capitols – Prince Mohammed *
BONUS TRACKS
20 Cool Runnings – Prince Mohammed
21 Give I Power – Prince Mohammed *
22 One Time Daughter – Prince Mohammed *
* New to CD