TROJAN RARE GROOVE BOX SET (TRBCD011) - THE TERM 'RARE GROOVE' is one normally associated with Soul music, although why this should be is something of an enigma. There are enough 'rare' Reggae records in Trojan's back catalogue alone, to fill a dozen or more box sets. With that in mind, we proudly present 50 of those extremely hard to find, and expensive singles from the late Sixties and early Seventies. Intended as a companion to the Trojan Singles Box Set, which presents sides issued on Trojan, this set draws on no less than twenty two of the company's original subsidiary labels (of which there were more than fifty!). However, rarity value alone was not the over riding factor in the track selection. Instead, we have placed the emphasis squarely on good music, from some of Jamaica's premier record producers. Whatever your personal taste, from Rock Steady to hard Reggae, you're sure to enjoy this sampler.

The first set of tracks covers the period between 1968 and 1970, opening with the Pioneers, who turn in a classic rude boy outing over a menacing rhythm track, originally released in the UK on Blue Cat. The next two cuts are also Rock Steady, issued on Explosion, and Duke respectively. Bigger Boss, featuring Sir Harry, is a rare cut to the Everything Crash rhythm, whilst Poppy Show is a further take on Derrick Morgan's Fat Man rhythm. Other versions appear in the form of Music House, a cut to Pat Kelly's Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, followed by Sweet Like Candy which uses the same singers How Long Will It Take, and the superb Tea House From Emperor Rosko - a next cut to Reco's The Bullet, released on the Joe Label. Disc 1 closes with the extremely rare original rhythm to Bob Andy's You Don't Know, and finally Sweet Musille, one of the theme tunes used by Steve Bernard on his Reggae Time radio show.

DISC 2 covers the period between 1971 (tracks 1 to 8) and 1972 (tracks 9 to 16), a time in which the basic beat slowed down, and a number of newer producers gained a much wider audience in the UK through licensing deals with Trojan. These include the likes of Herman Chin-Loy at Aquarius, Fud Christian, Keith Hudson, Phil Pratt, Lloyd Daley, and Winston Riley. All of the aforementioned are represented here by sides which have mostly never appeared on album before. And like Disc 1, we have included a number of originals, alongside a selection of rhythm versions for your enjoyment. Amongst these, Nuclear Weapon will be instantly recognisable as an alternative cut to Double Barrel, released only as a 7" on Techniques. In addition, Chairman Of The Board is another cut to Liquidator, whilst African Breakfast versions the Lorna Bennett hit Breakfast In Bed - both produced by Harry J.

Looking at the remaining tracks, we have included two interesting Joe Gibbs productions from the Pressure Beat subsidiary. Medicine Man features an uncredited Melodica, possibly from Augustus Pablo, over a rhythm track that alternates between Nicky Thomas's If I Had A Hammer, and Time Is Tight. The second Gibbs cut comes from a previously unknown DJ called King Smiley, over a rhythm track also used by Augustus Clarke for Big Youth's Tippertone Rock the same year. Phil Pratt was the producer for Horace Andy's cover of Delroy Wilson's Studio One classic Feel Good All Over, while Rupie Edwards produced Ken Parker's Genuine Love, a next cut to Burning Fire by Joe Higgs (both of the latter were originally issued on Big. Winston Heywood's Never Fall In Love done for Fud Christian, was versioned a number of times, with Jet747 being the fourth cut. We close with a heavyweight number from Keith Hudson.

THE FINAL SELECTION of tracks, were issued during 1973, and will provide a delightful feast for all DJ/Version addicts. Although U. Roy pioneered the recording of DJ music in 1969, it wasn't until 1973 that the style reached it's peak in terms of popularity, and to this writer's mind, quality. Big Youth and I. Roy both came through with excellent albums, recorded for Augustus Clarke, and released in the UK by Trojan that year (although Big Youth's Screaming Target set was issued at home in 1972). A number of cuts featured here are connected to the aforementioned artists and producer. In addition, we also include three shining examples of Keith Hudson's work. The first, Peter And Judas, is the next version of True True To My Heart which closed Disc 2, whilst Big Youth's Can You Keep A Secret (issued on the second series of Pyramid releases) can be found alongside Melody Maker, from the Summit subsidiary.

Looking at those Gussie Clarke sides, K. C. White's Anywhere But Nowhere provided the basis for Big Youth's Solomon A Gundy and Lee A Low. The original vocal appears here, complete for the first time, with the backing track. Likewise, I. Roy's cut to the Skylarking rhythm (High Jacking), is complemented by it's bare rhythm track as well. Joining these, we also have the Pablo version of Cowtown Skank, plus I. Roy's rare Clappers Tail, and Great Great Great (recorded for Rupie Edwards), all on album for the first time. Added to these, check out Delroy Wilson's much sought after vocal Trying To Wreck My Life (issued on Smash), Cornell Campbell's superb Girl Of My Dreams (Duke), and Jerry Lewis's cut to Slim Smith's Stand Up And Fight, produced by Bunny Lee. Finally, Ration will be instantly recognisable as another cut to Dennis Brown's Money In My Pocket.

Chris Pete (Let's Catch The Beat)

DISC 1

DISC 2

DISC 3

Some Having A Brawl
Pioneers
Slippery
Crystalites
Help Wanted
Stranger Cole
Lover Boy
Rolando Alphonso
Bigger Boss
Sir Harry & Ansel Collins
Belittle Me
Carlton Alphonso
Reggae Dance
Owen Gray
I Like Your Smile
Roy Shirley
Poppy Show (Part 2)
Andy Capp
Music House
Rolando Alphonso
Sweet Like candy
Winston Williams
Do It Madly
Chuck Jnr.
Why Why Why
Betty Sinclaire
Teahouse From Emperor Rosko
Dice The Boss
Jennifer
Junior Soul
Tilly
Jay Boys
Sweet Musille
The Corporation

Love Brother
Herman
Love Uprising
Jamaicans
Never Fall In Love
Winston Heywood
Jet 747 (Version 4)
The Jet Scene
Genuine Love
Ken Parker
Nuclear Weapon
Ansel Collins
Uganda
Herman
Bongo Man
The Linkers
Repatriation
Audley Rollins
Repatriation Version
Hugh Roy Junior
Chairman Of The Board
Bongo Herman, Les & Bunny
Medicine Man
Love Generation
Feel Good
Horace Andy
Tipatone
King Smiley
African Breakfast
Bongo Herman
True True To My Heart
Keith Hudson

Peter And Judas
Earl Flute & Horace Andy
Rhythm Pleasure
Jerry Lewis
Doctor Seaton
Aggrovators
High Jacking
I. Roy
The Murderer
Simplicity People
Anywhere But Nowhere
K. C. White
Nowhere
Simplicity People
Cowtown Skank Version 2
Augustus Pablo
Clappers Tail
I. Roy
Pity The Children
Eternals
Trying To Wreck My Life
Delroy Wilson
Girl Of My Dreams
Cornell Campbell
Ration
Bongo Herman & Bingy Bunny
Great Great Great
I. Roy
Great Great Great Version
Rupie Edwards All Stars
Melody Maker
Keith Hudson
Can You Keep A Secret
Big Youth

Time - 46:53

Time - 45:47

Time - 49:19

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