History of Trojan Records, Vol. 2: 1972-1995

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 05, 1996
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Reggae

Review

This 150-minute, two-disc set is one of the best overviews of classic reggae available. Volume 1 focused on ska and rock steady tracks from the 1960s, and this one consists primarily of material from the '70s and '80s, reggae's classic period. Though Trojan has a reputation for mediocre production quality and shady business dealings with its artists, the sound on these two discs is consistently quite good (and the company does attempt, though not entirely convincingly, to defend itself against its critics in the extensive liner notes). The 48 songs that make up this collection cover the whole range of classic reggae, from the sing-jay stylings of Big Youth ("S90 Skank") to Gregory Isaacs at his lonely best ("Loving Pauper") and the stentorian pronouncements of the immortal Prince Far I ("Under Heavy Manners"). The material is divided about equally between cultural and romantic tunes and steers clear of beat-heavy dancehall, which will please some and disappoint others. There is the occasional misstep -- John Holt's yucky version of "Help Me Make It Through the Night" is completely unnecessary, and Cornel Campbell's fine cover of "Duke of Earl" is unfortunately followed up by an ersatz dub version (it's really just an instrumental with sax solo). Overall, though, this set is excellent and cannot be recommended too strongly, especially as an introduction for newcomers to reggae. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Them a Fe Get a Beatin'	Peter Tosh	Peter Tosh	(1:58)
This Beautiful Land	Tony Brevett, Renford Cogle	The Melodians	(2:29)
Addis Ababa	Keith Hudson	Delroy Wilson	(2:49)
(Festival) Da Da	Junior Byles, Lee "Scratch" Perry	Junior Byles	(3:28)
Merry Up	Dennis Brown		(3:13)
Keep on Moving	Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield	Bob Marley & the Wailers	(3:09)
All That We Need Is Love	Alton Ellis, Keith Hudson	Alton Ellis	(2:29)
S90 Skank	Keith Hudson	Big Youth	(3:03)
The Time Has Come	Slim Smith	Slim Smith	(4:20)
Yim Mas Gan	Ansel Collins	The Abyssinians	(3:25)
Lorna Banana	Dennis Alcapone	Dennis Alcapone, Prince Jazzbo	(3:04)
Money in My Pocket (Lyrics)	Dennis Brown, Joe Gibbs	Dennis Brown	(2:31)
Salvation Train	The Charmers	Scotty	(3:42)
Loving Pauper		Gregory Isaacs	(3:46)
Pauper and the King	I-Roy	I-Roy	(3:50)
African Queen	Joe Gibbs	Augustus Pablo	(2:21)
Words of My Mouth	Lee "Scratch" Perry		(3:22)
Purify Your Heart	Johnny Osbourne, Lloyd James	Johnny Osbourne	(3:22)
Higher the Mountain	Ewart Beckford	U-Roy	(2:31)
Stranger on the Shore	Acker Bilk, Robert Mellin	David Isaacs	(3:07)
John Devour	Lee "Scratch" Perry	Dillinger	(2:26)
Have I Sinned	Felix Mendelssohn, Donnie Elbert	Lloyd Charmers	(3:07)
Hail Rasta Brother Hail	Leonard Dillon	The Ethiopians	(3:19)
Everything I Own (Lyrics)	David Gates	Ken Boothe	(3:48)
Help Me Make It Through the Night	Kris Kristofferson	John Holt	(3:05)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Fire Burning	Keith Anderson	Bob Andy	(3:33)
Sweet Bitter Love	Van McCoy	Marcia Griffiths	(3:13)
Stalag 17	Ansel Collins, Winston Riley	Ansel Collins	(3:03)
Here I Am Baby	Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges	Al Brown	(4:16)
None Shall Escape the Judgement	Johnny Clarke	Johnny Clarke	(3:14)
Ire Feelings	Rupie Edwards	Rupie Edwards	(3:47)
Play de Music	Slim Smith	Tinga Stewart	(3:14)
Forward Jah Jah Children	Jacob Miller, Roger Lewis	Inner Circle	(2:53)
Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks	Bunny Lee	The Mighty Diamonds	(2:51)
Hurt So Good	Phillip Mitchell	Susan Cadogan	(3:07)
Duke of Earl	Eugene Dixon, Earl Edwards, Bernie Williams	Cornel Campbell	(3:34)
Duke of Earl Dub	Rupie Edwards, Eugene Dixon, Bernie Williams	Tommy McCook	(3:32)
Soldering	Ewart Beckford, Alvin Ranglin	Starlights	(3:02)
Keep Cool Babylon	Zion, Tarig Abubakar	Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus	(3:17)
Baby Hang Up the Phone		Lloyd Parks	(3:13)
Dreadlocks	Leroy Sibbles	The Heptones	(3:30)
Ram Goat Liver	Pluto Shervington	Pluto Shervington	(3:11)
Heavy Manners	Joe Gibbs	Prince Far I	(3:16)
Key of Keys	Michael Rose, Keith Anderson	Michael Rose	(2:53)
The People Got to Know	Sugar Minott	Sugar Minott	(3:23)
Love the Dread		Mikey Dread	(2:56)
I Am a Madman	Lee "Scratch" Perry	Lee "Scratch" Perry	(5:48)
You Are the Sun		Frankie Paul	(3:35)

Credits

The Abyssinians (Performer), Bob Andy (Performer), Big Youth (Performer), Ken Boothe (Performer), Dennis Brown (Performer), Johnny Clarke (Performer), Mikey Dread (Performer), Alton Ellis (Performer), The Heptones (Performer), John Holt (Performer), I-Roy (Performer), Inner Circle (Performer), The Melodians (Performer), The Mighty Diamonds (Performer), Johnny Osbourne (Performer), Frankie Paul (Performer), Prince Far I (Performer), Ras Michael (Performer), Slim Smith (Performer), Dillinger (Performer), Scotty (Performer), Al Brown (Performer), Cornel Campbell (Performer), Dennis Alcapone (Performer), Junior Byles (Performer), Rupie Edwards (Performer), Tinga Stewart (Performer), Prince Jazzbo (Performer), Lloyd Charmers (Performer), Marcia Griffiths (Performer), Gregory Isaacs (Performer), David Isaacs (Performer), Tommy McCook (Performer), Peter Tosh (Performer), Sugar Minott (Performer), Augustus Pablo (Performer), Lloyd Parks (Performer), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Performer), Michael Rose (Performer), Starlights (Performer), Delroy Wilson (Performer), Bob Marley & the Wailers (Performer), Laurence Cane (Liner Notes)