This double-disc set from Trojan includes classic ska, rocksteady and reggae tracks from Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Jimmy Cliff, Lee Perry & the Upsetters, the Melodians, Toots & the Maytals, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Ken Boothe, John Holt and many others. Though there are quite a few Jamaican classics missing from this history of the music, all the tracks included are quite solid.

In 1963, a 21-year-old welder with dreams of becoming a full-time singer-songwriter, auditioned for one of Jamaica’s new elite record producers, Leslie Kong, owner of the recently launched Beverley’s Records label. After performing a number of original compositions, a deal was secured and within weeks the first of Desmond Dekker’s many 7” singles hit Kingston’s record stores. The record, which coupled two of his own songs, ‘Honour Your Mother And Father’ and ‘Madgie’, became an instant best-seller and heralded the beginning of a long and immensely successful run of hit singles by Dekker throughout the remainder of ska era and well beyond. This 2xCD set showcases both sides of Dekker’s first twenty singles for Kong’s esteemed Beverley’s label that set him on the path to international stardom.

In 1963, a 21-year-old welder with dreams of becoming a full-time singer-songwriter, auditioned for one of Jamaica's new elite record producers, Leslie Kong, owner of the recently launched Beverley's Records label. After performing a number of original compositions, a deal was secured and within weeks, Desmond Adolphus Dacres saw his name in print as 'Desmond Dekker' on the labels of what would prove to be the first of his catalogue of 7-inch singles.The record, which coupled two of his own songs, 'Honour Your Mother and Father' and 'Madgie', became an instant best-seller and heralded the beginning of a long and immensely successful run of singles by Dekker, both as a solo artist and later, as lead singer for The Aces.To mark what would have been Desmond's 80th birthday on 16th July 2021, this 2xCD set showcases Dekker's first twenty singles for Kong's Beverley's labels which established him as a true Jamaican superstar.The 2xCD set is presented in a fold out digipack, along with a 12 page booklet with fascinating sleeve notes written by journalist Winston Smith.

Long before Bob Marley's rise to pre-eminence, the title of the world's leading reggae performer rested firmly with another young singer from Kingston, Jamaica: Desmond Dekker. Between 1967 and 1970, Desmond enjoyed a succession of international hit singles, breaking new ground with singles such as ‘007’, the first Jamaican-produced single to break into the UK top twenty, and ‘Israelites’, the first reggae single to reach the Number One spot in Britain and to breach the US chart. Further triumphs followed thereafter, with major chart hits including ‘It Mek’, ‘Pickney Gal’, ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ and ‘Sing A Little Song’, all of which cemented his place in history as Jamaica's first global superstar. All these works, along with the best of his remaining recordings from the ska, rock steady and reggae eras are featured on the latest collection in Trojan’s newly launched ‘Essential Artist Collection’ series. Released physically as a 50-track 2CD compilation, featuring extensive liner notes and imagery, the set pays due respect to the original King of Reggae and superbly demonstrates the immense talent that set Desmond Dekker apart from his peers during the Golden Age of Jamaican music.

An unpretentious collection of classic, commercial reggae tracks from the biggest names of the genre. What better way to celebrate the sun shining than by listening to Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Dawn Penn, Peter Tosh, Shabba Ranks, Aswad and Diana King? Ultimate Reggae also contains classic hits from Desmond Dekker, Toots & The Maytals, Black Uhuru, The Paragons, Sly & Robbie, Freddie McGregor, Tippa Irie and Sugar Minott, plus big carnival hits from Beenie Man, Barrington Levy, Tenor Saw, Sean Kingston, Yellowman, Mr Vegas and Sean Paul.

If a story of a music as expansive as Jamaica's can be told over four CDs, then TOUGHER THAN TOUGH is as close as you'll ever likely get. Bookended by the unrefined charm of the Folkes Brothers' 1960 "Oh Carolina" and Shaggy's 1993 dancehall adaptation of the same tune, this collection attempts to chart the music's diversity and development through ska, rock-steady, reggae, and dub, to dancehall and ragga.