Various Artists - 'Young, Gifted and Black' (Trojan) Released 29/08/05

 

20 classic reggae tunes from the archives of Trojan records, just the trusty compilation every household ought to have. It's a trip down Jamaicas Kingston Town with the roots reggae riddims that inspired and flava'd what became 80's Two Tone and that still continue to inform all manner of genres. Lots of tracks feature that you'd longed to snaggle.

Down the years these tracks have been covered by the likes of Blondie doing 'The Tide is High', Nina Simone taking on 'Young, Gifted and Black', and The Specials doing ' Long Shot Kick De Bucket' and  'Message to You Rudy' - this is the original recordings with all its tropical spendour. Trojan have been turning out box sets and compilations galore, competing with Soul Jazz Records for the tidiest collections. Whilst Rude Boys and Rude Girls will find nothing new here, it's a compilation loaded with inspiration and a crunchy nut topping with the real vanilla.

Althea and Donna swing and sway, singing "...see in my heels and ting...uptown top ranking"- one of the finest roots reggae tracks to grace the Planet - keys like they no longer use, class brass, funky bass-line and lyrical play that lifts souls and bodies. Desmond Dekker & the Aces with 'Israelites', The Maytals court 'Monkey Man', funky monkey bass and Toots ripping it up, "Aii ai aiiy". Tracks like 'Let Your Yeah Be Yeah' by The Pioneers And 'Black and White' by Greyhound that'll have yer ma dancing 'round the dinner table.

Esteemed  pioneers feature - Jimmy Cliff pops up with 'Wonderful World, Beautiful People', and the Revered Bob Marley brings on 'Sun is Shining', tints of dub thrown in with the melodica. There's more than shades of Motown in these early sounds and lovey-dovey songs, but its a Jamaican oddessey. With virtuoso muscianship throughout - magic organ-grinding, riffing guitars and chugging bass lines which helped to define the reggie sound, it's the Crucial Brew.