Club Reggae ’69

A landmark examination of late-60s British working-class youth culture. Includes eleven UK chart hits. Numerous tracks new to CD In 1969, the bold new sound of reggae hit Britain like a shockwave, challenging the music establishment and rewriting the rules of popular taste. Dismissed by mainstream critics as repetitive and unsophisticated, this electrifying music from Jamaica struck an immediate chord with young working class record buyers, for whom the increasingly psychedelic excesses of prog rock held little appeal. By the end of the year, a wave of reggae singles had stormed the national charts despite virtually no support from the UK’s only nationwide radio, the BBC, and the fact that sales from specialist record shops across the country were routinely overlooked by chart compilers. This essential 3CD collection brings together over 80 tracks from the late 1960s, spanning major breakthrough hits, dancefloor favourites and long-lost obscurities, many unavailable since their original release nearly 60 years ago. Compiled by people who lived it first hand, these are the records that offered Britain’s working-class youth a vivid alternative to the increasingly self-indulgent rock favoured by the middle classes and the mainstream media; raw, immediate and impossible to ignore. TRACK LISTING DISC ONE CHART HITS & CLUB CLASSICS 1. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites 2. Max Romeo – Wet Dream 3. The Pioneers – Long Shot Kick de Bucket 4. Pat Kelly – How Long 5. The Maytals – Monkey Man 6. Tony Scott – What Am I To Do 7. Jackie Bernard & The Tennors – Another Scorcher 8. Dennis Walks – The Drifter 9. John Holt – Ali Baba 10. Lloyd Robinson – Cuss Cuss 11. Laurel Aitken – Jesse James 12. Slim Smith – Everybody Needs Love 13. The Ethiopians – Everything Crash 14. Derrick Morgan – Seven Letters 15. The Bleechers – Ease Up 16. The Gaylads – There’s A Fire 17. Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling – Pretty Cottage 18. George Williams – No Business Of Yours 19. Vincent Foster – Shine Eye Gal 20. Dice The Boss – Brixton Cat, Big And Fat 21. Symarip – Skinhead Moonstomp 22. King Horror aka Young Growler – Loch Ness Monster 23. Tony Tribe – Red Red Wine 24. The Melodians – Sweet Sensation 25. Marcia Griffiths – Don’t Let Me Down 26. Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World, Beautiful People 27. Johnny Nash – Cupid DISC TWO HIDDEN TREASURES 1. Laurel Aitken – Skinhead Train 2. Sugar Simone – Come and Try 3. Audrey – Pledging My Love 4. The Megatons – I’m Thirsty 5. Girlie – Madam Streggae 6. The Arabis – Jump High Jump Low 7. Anonymously Yours – Dream Baby 8. The Bleechers – Yo Yo 9. David Isaacs & The Race Fans – Time Marches On 10. The Melodians – Ring Of Gold 11. Tony Scott – The Moon Is Playing Tricks On Me 12. Tony King & The Hippy Boys – Feel So Glad 13. Ken Boothe – Mr Tambourine Man 14. The Dials – Love Is a Treasure 15. Samuel Edwards – Want It, Want It 16. John Holy – Have Sympathy 17. Johnny Youth & The Nyah Shuffle – Darling It Won’t 18. Pama Dice – Dice Is Back 19. Les Foster – Because You’re Mine 20. King Horror aka Young Growler – Frankenstein 21. Lloyd Robinson – Lavender Blue 22. The Harmonians – Come Running Back 23. Anderson’s All Stars – Jump and Shout 24. Danny & Joe – Please Be Mine 25. The Beltones – I’ll Follow You 26. The Eagles – Rudam Bam 27. Winston Groovy – Leaving Me Standing 28. Sprong & The Nyah Shuffle – Think DISC THREE INSTRUMENTAL GOLD 1. The Harry J Allstars – Liquidator 2. Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole – Bangarang 3. The Upsetters – Return Of Django 4. The Dynamites – John Public 5. Richard Ace – Hang ‘Em High 6. Karl ‘King Cannon’ Bryan – Overproof 7. Ansel Collins & The Beverley’s All Stars – Night Of Love 8. The Family Circle – Stagger Back 9. The Rudies – Wheels 10. Rico & Laurel Aitken Band – A Message To You 11. Sweet Confusion – Elizabethan Serenade 12. The Upsetters – Soulful I 13. Karl ‘King Cannon’ Bryan & The Harry J All Stars – Wha’pen 14. Anonymously Yours – Organism 15. George Lee – Music Box 16. Joe’s All Stars – Hey Jude 17. The Rudies – Downtown Jump 18. Winston Wright & The G.G. All Stars – Flight 404 19. Drumbago & The Dynamites – Dulcemania 20. Don Drumond Junior – Tribute To Don Drummond 21. Lloyd Charmers – 5 To 5 22. Karl ‘King Cannon’ Bryan & The Jay Boys – Soul Special 23. Hugh Hendricks & The Buccaneers – To Each His Own 24. The Family Circle – By The Time I Get To Phoenix 25. Rico & The Rudies – The Bullet 26. The Beverley’s All Stars – Double Shot 27. Roland Alphonso – A Thousand Tons Of Megaton 28. The Upsetters – Clint Eastwood