VA - Story of Jamaican Music (Tougher Than Tough) [1993] (4 x CDs)

JAMAICAN MUSIC

VA - Story of Jamaican Music (Tougher Than Tough) [1993] (4 x CDs)

A superlative introduction to the world of Jamaican music, Tougher Than Tough is a treasure trove of information, filled with unforgettable music. Across four discs and 95 songs, this set spans the entire history of the island's vibrant music scene, hitting all the major stylistic bases along the way, and rounding up many of Jamaica's greatest artists. It's evident that a great amount of thoughtful time and effort went into this package and, although collectors will howl at the many omissions and some of the selections, this set wasn't intended for them, but for a general audience interested in beginning to explore the music more deeply. With that in mind, the package includes a lushly illustrated 65-page booklet written by Steve Barrow (author of The Rough Guide to Reggae), who provides an exceptionally lucid historical overview. The rest of the booklet offers information on every track, including producer, composer, and release date. The music itself is sequenced chronologically, allowing the listener to chart the myriad of stylistic changes over the years. Disc one begins in 1958 with the Folkes Brothers' "Oh Carolina," arguably the first ever proto-ska release, cut during producer Prince Buster's first ever recording session. It continues through the rise of pure ska and through the shift to rocksteady. Disc two concentrates on the reggae years and the rise of the DJs, while the third is given over entirely to roots. The final disc brings things bang up to date, following the trajectory of the dancehalls. The set comes full circle with the final track, Shaggy's smash hit cover of "Oh Carolina." From rude reggae to ragga, dulcet vocal groups to dueling DJs, The Story of Jamaican Music is indeed just that. Of course, there's a wealth of equally masterful music that didn't make the cut, and the booklet discusses a multitude of songs not included. But this is history 101; hopefully, students will continue their studies on their own.  (AllMusic Review by Jo-Ann Greene)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Folkes Brothers - Oh Carolina 2:41

02 Laurel Aitken - Boogie in My Bones 2:47

03 Owen Gray - Midnight Track 2:27

04 Theophilus Beckford - Easy Snappin’ 2:50

05 Derrick Morgan & Patsy Millicent Todd - Housewives Choice 2:40

06 Derrick Morgan - Forward March 2:50

07 Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica 2:25

08 Millie Small - My Boy Lollipop 2:01

09 Toots & the Maytals - Six and Seven Books of Moses 2:25

10 Bob Marley & the Wailers - Simmer Down 2:48

11 Don Drummond - Man in the Street 3:23

12 Justin Hinds & the Dominoes - Carry Go Bring Come 2:51

13 Skatalites - Guns of Navarone 2:28

14 Prince Buster - Al Capone 2:57

15 Prince Buster - Hard Man Fe Dead 3:22

16 Derrick Morgan - Tougher Than Tough 2:26

17 Alton Ellis - Girl I’ve Got a Date 2:24

18 Paragons - Happy Go Lucky Girl 3:06

19 Delroy Wilson - Dancing Mood 2:51

20 Ken Boothe - The Train is Coming 3:20

21 Hopeton Lewis - Take it Easy 2:49

22 Jamaicans - Ba Ba Boom 3:20

23 Desmond Dekker - 007 (Shanty Town) 2:42

24 Bob Andy - I’ve Got to Go Back Home 3:05

25 Techniques - Queen Majesty 3:31

26 Dobby Dobson - Loving Pauper 3:15

27 Phyllis Dillon - Don’t Stay Away 2:31

CD2

01 Desmond Dekker - Israelites 2:49

02 Toots & the Maytals - 54-46 (That’s My Number) 2:54

03 Ethiopians - Reggae Hit the Town 2:25

04 Max Romeo - Wet Dream 2:48

05 Uniques - My Conversation 3:38

06 Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling - Bangarang 3:09

07 Upsetters - Return of Django 2:25

08 Harry J. All Stars - The Liquidator 2:52

09 Melodians - Rivers of Babylon 4:16

10 Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come 3:40

11 Bob & Marcia - Young Gifted & Black 3:06

12 U-Roy - Wake the Town 2:27

13 Pat Kelly - How Long 3:54

14 Dave & Ansel Collins - Double Barrel 2:48

15 Niney the Observer - Blood & Fire 3:05

16 Eric Donaldson - Cherry Oh Baby 3:02

17 Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come 2:34

18 Dennis Brown - Money in My Pocket 2:33

19 John Holt - Stick By Me 3:19

20 Dennis Alcapone - Teach the Children 2:30

21 Big Youth - S.90 Skank 2:50

22 Ken Boothe - Everything I Own 3:44

23 Dennis Brown - Westbound Train 3:07

24 Johnny Clarke - Move Out a Babylon 3:38

25 Junior Byles - Curly Locks 3:22

CD3

01 Heptones - Country Boy 2:58

02 I. Roy - Welding 3:48

03 Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey 3:24

04 Mighty Diamonds - Right Time 3:15

05 Roman Stewart - Natty Sing Hit Songs 3:18

06 Leroy Smart - Ballistic Affair 3:06

07 Jacob Miller - Tenement Yard 2:37

08 Max Romeo - War Ina Babylon 4:04

09 Junior Murvin - Police Thieves 3:46

10 Culture - Two Sevens Clash 3:29

11 Delroy Wilson - I M Still Waiting 4:05

12 Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry (Live) 4:04

13 Althia Donna - Uptown Top Ranking 3:54

14 Gregory Isaacs - Number One 3:44

15 Wailing Souls - Bredda Gravalicious 3:52

16 Sugar Minott - River Jordan 3:09

17 Willie Williams - Armagideon Time 5:08

18 Black Uhuru - Guess Who S Coming to Dinner 4:54

19 Junior Delgado - Fort Augustus 4:06

20 Freddie McGregor - Joggin 3:42

21 Dennis Brown - Sitting Watching 3:29

CD4

01 Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse 4:05

02 Yellowman - Mad Over Me 3:13

03 Ichigan and Smiley - Mdiseases 3:31

04 Johnny Osbourne - Water Pumping 3:07

05 Frankie Paul - Pass the Tusheng Peng 3:08

06 Barrington Levy - Here I Come 3:37

07 Tenor Saw - Ring the Alarm 3:13

08 Wayne Smith - Under Me Sleng Teng 4:07

09 Anthony Red Rose - Tempo 3:30

10 Supercat - Boops 3:59

11 Half Pint - Greetings 3:36

12 Dmiral Bailey - A Punanny 3:27

13 Red Dragon - Hol a Fresh 3:54

14 Gregory Isaacs - Rumours 4:09

15 Tinger Stewart and Ninjaman - Cover Me 3:23

16 Pa San and Lady G - Aplegal Rights 4:04

17 Habba Ranks - Swicked Inna Bed 2:58

18 Pinchers - Bandolero 3:32

19 Tiger - Yuh Dead Now 3:49

20 Buju Banton - Bogle Dance 3:01

21 Chaka Demus and Pliers - Murder She Wrote 4:05

22 Shaggy - Oh Carolina 3:10

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