K Tells Vol. 07
K Tells Vol. 07 ‘Reggae’ for It Now!
K-tells:
The Best of Reggae - Original Stars - Original Hits (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1973) It's great news that Cherry Red's Doctor Bird label recently released this best selling TV advertised album from the 70s on CD. In fact, this is the very first time any K-tel album has ever been officially released on CD. K-tel originally released 'The Best of Reggae' 30 track double album set in the UK only in 1973. Doctor Bird have expanded the original album to include a second disc of 27 bonus tracks, but unfortunately two tracks are missing from the original album, as they couldn't be licensed: 'Wonderful World, Beautiful People' by Jimmy Cliff and 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by Toots & the Maytals, plus the running order has been changed in a few places.
https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Best-Of-Reggae/release/3387507
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-best-of-reggae-expanded-original-album/
Here is my fully restored 30 track compilation with the correct and original running order on disc 1, plus the second Doctor Bird bonus disc of 27 tracks. The second disc contains a few tracks which have never been released on CD before, so makes for a very interesting compilation.
24 Reggae Greats - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 501 UK) (2021 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1974) Originally released in the UK only in 1974 this K-tel album has been compiled from scratch using the latest digital remasters. I've now expanded the original 24 track album to a 27 track 78:38 minute CD length compilation. The 3 added tracks were all featured on K-tel albums all released before and during 1974, the original album year of release. Someone posted this comment about the original album: "Appalling mastering - way muddy, far too much either side." Hopefully my remasters help to rectify the 'appalling mastering' on the original album!
https://www.discogs.com/Various-24-Reggae-Greats/release/1597677
Magic Reggae (K-tel TG 1229 GER - NE 1074 UK) (2022 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1979) Magic Reggae was originally released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by K-tel in 1979. They all had the same 16 track track listing. It was released a year later in the UK in 1980 with different (and far superior) cover art, along with a considerably different 20 track track listing. I have chosen the 22 very best song selections from all versions to now create a 77:23 running time CD length compilation.
Enjoy!
K
Hi all downloaders.
Just a gentle reminder to acknowledge K. who goes to a lot of effort to ensure you have a wonderful listening experience on these compilations. Very rarely do I see thanks to him for his genuine hard work and the time and effort to make 100% sure all tracks are the original 7” single edits and mixes featured on most of his album posts. Let him know what you think of the albums, your thoughts on the sound quality, digital editing, consistent volume levels throughout, artwork and research, etc. A message can always be sent later, after listening to the shares. There is no tmelimit on comments.
Please take that step further and thank K for these posts. Appreciated.
Cheers
BB
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Track lists
The Best of Reggae - Original Stars - Original Hits (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition) (1973)
CD1
01 Jimmy Cliff Wonderful World, Beautiful People 0:03:14
02 Bob & Marcia Young, Gifted and Black 0:03:08
03 Greyhound Moon River (Original 1971 Trojan 7" Single Version) 0:03:31
04 The Pioneers Let Your Yeah Be Yeah 0:03:08
05 The Harry J. All Stars Liquidator 0:03:07
06 Nicky Thomas Love of the Common People 0:02:19
07 Desmond Dekker & The Aces Israelites 0:02:35
08 Dandy Livingstone Suzanne Beware of the Devil 0:02:36
09 Greyhound Black and White 0:02:57
10 Horace Faith Black Pearl 0:02:36
11 Desmond Dekker You Can Get It If You Really Want 0:02:38
12 Desmond Dekker & The Aces It Mek 0:02:34
13 Toots and the Maytals 54-46 That's My Number (Original 1968 Pyramid 7" Single Version) 0:02:53
14 Toots and the Maytals Take Me Home, Country Roads 0:03:24
15 Boris Gardiner & the Love People Elizabethan Reggae 0:02:38
16 The Upsetters Return of Django 0:02:33
17 Bob & Marcia Pied Piper 0:02:46
18 Dandy Livingstone Come Back Liza 0:02:44
19 The Chosen Few Everybody Plays the Fool 0:03:31
20 The Pioneers Roll Muddy River 0:02:34
21 Judge Dread Oh! She Is a Big Girl Now 0:02:37
22 Greyhound Floating 0:02:30
23 Bruce Ruffin Mad About You 0:03:29
24 Bruce Ruffin Rain 0:02:22
25 Greyhound Dream Lover 0:02:44
26 Tito Simon Build It Up 0:02:34
27 Dandy Livingstone Big City 0:02:41
28 The Hotshots Snoopy vs. the Red Baron 0:03:10
29 The Pioneers I Need Your Sweet Inspiration 0:02:43
30 Dave and Ansel Collins Double Barrel 0:02:43
CD2
01 Desmond Dekker & The Aces 007 (Shanty Town) 0:02:31
02 The Pioneers Long Shot Kick de Bucket 0:02:49
03 The Maytals Monkey Man 0:03:45
04 Greyhound I Am What I Am 0:02:46
05 Teddy Brown What Greater Love 0:02:47
06 Desmond Dekker & The Aces Pickney Gal 0:02:55
07 Bruce Ruffin One Big Happy Family 0:02:57
08 John Holt The Further You Look (The Less You See) 0:03:08
09 The Pioneers Give and Take (Give a Little, Take a Little) 0:02:22
10 Dave and Ansel Collins Monkey Spanner 0:02:29
11 Owen Gray Suffering in the Land 0:02:55
12 Daniel in the Lion's Den Dancing in the Sun 0:02:47
13 Danny Ray I'm Gonna Get Married 0:02:55
14 The Melodians Sweet Sensation 0:03:54
15 The Ethiopians Train to Skaville 0:02:51
16 Tony Tribe Red Red Wine 0:02:57
17 Jackie Edwards Come On Girl 0:03:04
18 The Paris Connection Who's That Lady 0:03:09
19 Nicky Thomas Yesterday Man 0:02:46
20 John Holt Reggae from the Ghetto 0:02:50
21 Desmond Dekker Sing a Little Song 0:03:00
22 Delroy Williams Down in the Boondocks 0:02:47
23 Dandy Livingstone Think About That 0:02:51
24 The Melodians Rivers of Babylon (Original 1970 Beverley's Records 7" Single Version) 0:03:26
25 Freddie Notes & The Rudies Montego Bay 0:02:25
26 Lord Creator Kingston Town 0:03:11
27 Zap Pow This is Reggae Music 0:03:03
24 Reggae Greats - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 501 UK) (2021 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1974)
01 Jimmy Cliff Wonderful World, Beautiful People 0:03:14
02 Bob & Marcia Young, Gifted and Black 0:03:09
03 Greyhound Moon River (Original 1971 Trojan 7" Single Version) 0:03:30
04 The Pioneers Let Your Yeah Be Yeah 0:03:08
05 Harry J Allstars Liquidator 0:02:53
06 Desmond Dekker & the Aces Israelites 0:02:36
07 Dandy Livingstone Suzanne Beware of the Devil 0:02:36
08 Toots & the Maytals 54-46 That's My Number (Original 1968 Pyramid 7" Single Version) 0:02:53
09 Toots & the Maytals Take Me Home Country Roads 0:03:26
10 Byron Lee and the Dragonaires feat. Boris Gardiner Elizabethan Reggae 0:02:36
11 The Upsetters Return of Django 0:02:33
12 Nicky Thomas Love of the Common People 0:02:18
13 Bob & Marcia Pied Piper 0:02:46
14 Desmond Dekker You Can Get It If You Really Want 0:02:38
15 Horace Faith Black Pearl 0:02:37
16 The Chosen Few Everybody Plays the Fool 0:03:27
17 Bruce Ruffin Mad About You 0:03:29
18 Tito Simon Build It Up 0:02:35
19 Greyhound Black and White 0:02:57
20 The Pioneers I Need Your Sweet Inspiration 0:02:42
21 Dave and Ansel Collins Double Barrel 0:02:47
22 The Hotshots Snoopy vs. the Red Baron 0:03:09
23 Greyhound I Am What I Am 0:02:45
24 Bruce Ruffin Rain 0:02:24
25 Johnny Nash I Can See Clearly Now (Bonus Track) 0:02:49
26 Ken Boothe Everything I Own (Bonus Track) 0:03:45
27 Lord Creator Kingston Town (Bonus Track) 0:03:11
Magic Reggae (K-tel TG 1229 GER - NE 1074 UK) (2022 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1979)
01 Johnny Nash I Can See Clearly Now 0:02:49
02 Desmond Dekker & the Aces Israelites 0:02:36
03 Dandy Livingstone Take a Letter, Maria 0:03:04
04 Bob & Marcia Young, Gifted and Black 0:03:09
05 Jimmy Cliff The Harder They Come (Original 1972 7" Single Version) 0:03:08
06 The Melodians Rivers of Babylon (Original 1970 7" Single Version) 0:03:24
07 Zap Pow This Is Reggae Music (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 0:03:01
08 Eddy Grant Living on the Front Line (Original 1979 7" Single Version) 0:05:58
09 Dennis Brown Money in My Pocket (Original 1979 7" Single Version) 0:03:50
10 Althea & Donna Uptown Top Ranking (Original 1977 7" Single Version) 0:03:53
11 Bill Lovelady Reggae for It Now 0:03:22
12 Toots & the Maytals Reggae Got Soul 0:03:04
13 Bob & Marcia Pied Piper 0:02:46
14 The Harry J Allstars Liquidator (Original 1969 7" Single Version) 0:03:07
15 Barry Biggs Sideshow (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 0:03:36
16 Janet Kay Silly Games (Original 1979 7" Single Version) 0:03:41
17 Owen Gray Guava Jelly 0:03:00
18 Jimmy Cliff You Can Get It If You Really Want 0:02:45
19 The Pioneers Long Shot Kick de Bucket 0:02:49
20 Steel Pulse Ku Klux Klan (Original 1978 7" Single Version) 0:03:37
21 Junior Murvin Police & Thieves (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 0:03:46
22 Bob Marley and the Wailers No Woman, No Cry (Live at the Lyceum Theatre, London, July 18, 1975) (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 0:07:09
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thanks much these are great
ReplyDeleteThanks doors97426.
DeleteAlways great music in these sets.
Cheers.
K.,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to each new release. The quality is great. Ktel was a big deal back when I was a kid in the 70s/80s and it's fun to be able to add them to my collection. In fact, my digital music collection recently reached 15,000 albums and 240,000 songs and these releases are some of the most fun to listen to. I appreciate the effort and time.
Best regards,
Fiscian
Hi Fiscian,
DeleteThanks for sharing your like of these K-tell sets.
Your kind words are really appreciated.
Cheers.
Good Morning BB and K. These Reggae tunes are just great, really enjoying them. Much appreciated. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi clarissa.
DeleteThat what we like to here.
The music is so good it helps make one's day.
Cheers.
Morning BB and K
ReplyDeleteK, thanks so much for the care and attention you're putting into these releases. They're absolutely taking me back to my formative musical years in the 70s. I remember the TV ads for K-Tel releases. I look forward to the new batch every week now. Keep the happiness coming!!! SleepyPete
Thank you SleepyPete.
DeleteThere are many more to come. Such good memories.
Cheers.
thank you B.B love this tks mate
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Aussie, always.
DeleteCheers.
Thanks, both of you, these look great!
ReplyDeleteThank Gummo,
DeleteThere are many more to come and due to their popularity I will occasionally post some larger compilations by K that supports the theme of the posts.
Cheers.
Back in the mists of time a friends dad had bought a B&O stereo. we couldn't wait to hear our records on this expensive system. It sounded just the same as my cheap little record player. It occurred to me that the vinyl pressing was the problem. Years later the half speed masters came out and things got better. Now we have digital tracks and we listen on headphones. This is the ultimate for now.
ReplyDeleteThese K-tel posting bring the whole thing around, old songs that thrill us to hear so clearly.
Thank you K for doing such a good job and thank you BB for this platform that gives so much.
Thanks lemonflag.
DeleteK will enjoy your comments. You idea that these K-tel posting bring the whole thing around, old songs that thrill us to hear so clearly, is so true.
Cheers.
Great work, lads! I am storing these in a special section of my collection - "K-Tel corner". There's probably another 3 or 4 of these collections to go? Very grateful - keep 'em coming!
ReplyDeleteHi Simon,
DeleteWill definitely keep them coming. Great to hear you are enjoying them.
FYI there is around 30 to 40 more to go...
Cheers.
Gotta catch 'em all!
DeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, g8rrick.
DeleteCheers.
@Butterboy and K Can you re-up K Tells Vol. 07? Thanks in advanve. And thanks for your work (both of you). Best regards.
ReplyDeleteHi joaoabel.
DeleteNew links established, tested and working.
Cheers.