a massive compilation selected by someone who really digs the Dancehall Style . When this form of entertainement rejuvinated Reggae music ; introducing new techniques like heavy Dub-Versions or adding a so called DeeJay or Toaster (who rapped along the singers original vocals on the version side , or even made a brand new tune using the b-side version as background-artists) the audience couldn't get enough . The Rasta Reggae that went international and sang about Love Peace and the Joy of smoking Weed in a language that wasn't spoken by the regular Jamaican , this Dancehall style cried for being played in clubs or outside fields with bamboo fences marking the Dancehall , where Gun Salutes often bellowed for REWIND SELECTOR and the dances lasted the whole night long , the songs had to be longer , too . So the 12" (or later due to the oil-crisis and excessive costs of vinyl in jamaica the 10") so called 'Dub-Disco' was invented . That meant more space and time for the heavy riddims layed in several studios all over town (the best by The Roots Raddics) and Producers like Prince Jammy and his apprentice Scientis or the Dancehall Don Henry "Junjo" Lawes delivered new stuff and added so much feeling , echo and sound effects , that some 12"es were bought just for the Version-side (B-side with a DeeJay added or a pure Dub) . This was a phenomen that was happening in Jamaica excessive ly - hundreds of new 12"es every month . But some of the hottest and more successful Hits were later re-pressed in the UK or the States for that local market .Dancehall never crossed over or sold out and no writer in the big Pop Journals didn't think much of this phenomen , that sounded so different from the Old reggae , they loved and that went out of fashion soon after Bob Marley's death and besides UB 40 or Black Uhuru there were hardly any commercially succesfil Reggae Groups with new albums . Singles ( 7" , 10" or 12") is the medium for Reggae , not albums ! Trojan of course released quite a few 12"es , too . Not that many , but enough for this great 3LP-Box-Set or DoCD - If you would hunt down each original Vinyl on this box-set you'd have to spend half a grand Grand on ebay ..lol Reggae business always Serious ! . You get 5 complete 12"es on here.The first is Track 2 The Morwells - "Kingston 12 Tuffy" (Kingston 12 is "Trenchtown,where living is the hardest" Bob Marley)-One of the strongest songs on this selection , composed and sung by Roots Raddics Rhythm Guitar player Eric 'Bingy Bunny' Lamont - The following tune is called "Jammin For Survival" and is the Version side with the Dub by Prince Jammy - If you get the chance to buy this original 12" under 50,00 € go and buy it - a deal well done!) The final tune 'Living As A Brother' by Barry Brown and 'Caring For My Sister' by Scientist & The Roots Raddics is , as you guessed by now the Dub or Version B-Side of the Barry Brown 12" Single. For a change there are 2 great DJ-version collected here as well 'The Rocking Of The 5000' by Baddo & Toyan (, the great Voice of the Ghetto) and 'Shaolin Temple' Barribgton Levy with JKah Thomas doing the chanting - awesome ! Another fine package is Triston Palma's - 'Spliff Tail' followed by the 'Spliff Dub' from the Black Solidarity Allstars (whoever this musicians may be -probably well known studio musicians payed to be "The Black Solidarity Allstars" for whatever reason - maybe even charity - i don't know. What I know is , that if you're into good Reggae music that is authentic and doesn't always sound the same , you get a good packaged Vinyl Box-set opposed to very long running time of each of the 6 sides sounds crisp and clean (much better than the costly originals for sure ;-) thanks to good pressing and heavy vinyl used .If you prefger to listen to your sound in your car or in one go , a fantastic 2 CD - Compilation for a good price-a bargain .As a treat there is one of Don Carlos finest songs - 'Nice Time (Late Night Blues) and 2 absolute scorchers by the mighty Barrington Levy - (from 2 seperate 12"es) "Hunter Man" + "Sensimillia"
Both in a class of it's own .
For the many of you that bought the Greensleeves 'Best Of Dancehall 1979-1984' (mostly produced by JUNJO Lawes) Box-sets - this one is also all killer, no filler material , but most of the tunes are not so overplayed like the 40 Hits collected from Greensleeves .The subtitle says it best : ***THE DANCE OF THE CENTURY*** all 3 Star General ammunition for your private Dancehall Parties .Tthese early tunes still sound fresh and lovely so many years after they were recorded - Hail Selectah and REWIND !!!