Island Reggae Greats

This article is part of the Island Records discography

Island Records discography

Given the longevity of the Island Records record label it is inevitable that a large amount of data has to be gathered, managed and presented not only correctly but also usably...

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Island Reggae Greats is a series of reggae compilation albums, released by Island Records

Island Records

Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...

in 1985. The series showcases selected Island reggae

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...

artists and three reggae styles (DJ, lovers and rockers), plus there was also a sampler featuring selected tracks from the series. The albums were compiled by Trevor Wyatt

Trevor Wyatt

Trevor Wyatt is a British record company manager and record producer.Wyatt was Chris Blackwell's first employee at Island Records London. Trevor drove the Island cab, delivering records to the stores as well as taking the artists around when they came to town...

, contain extensive liner notes and the covers were painted by artists based on photos.

The series, initially offered at a "special price", was intended to create new interest in reggae. It saw CD release in the late '80s and early '90s, as part of the Island Masters and Reggae Refreshers series.

In America the series was released on Island's subsidiary label Mango, and some of the titles were released with different covers.

Toots & the Maytals

Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...

LP: Island IRG 1 (UK); Mango MLPS 9781 (US); Island 207131 (Germany)
CD: Island Masters IMCD 38 (UK); Mango CIDRG 1 (UK); Mango 539 781-2 (US)

Gregory Isaacs

Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....

Live

LP: Island IRG 2 (UK); Island 207 132 (Germany)

Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...

LP: Island IRG 3 (UK); Mango MLPS 9783 (US); Island 207133 (Germany)
CD: Island Masters IMCD 14 (UK); Island 207132 (Germany)

various artists DJs

LP: Island IRG 4 (UK); Island 207134 (Germany)

Burning Spear

Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...

LP: Island IRG 5 (UK); Island 207135 (Germany)

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...

LP: Island IRG 6 (UK); Island 207136 (Germany)
CD: Island Masters IMCD 14/824 693-2 (UK)

Sly & Robbie A Dub Experience

LP: Island IRG 7 (UK); Island 207137 (Germany)

various artists Strictly For Lovers

LP: Island IRG 8 (UK); Island 207138 (Germany)

Third World

LP: Island IRG 9 (UK); Island 207139 (Germany)
CD: Island Masters IMCD 36 (UK)

Pablo Moses

LP: Island IRG 10 (UK)

Jacob Miller

Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...

& Inner Circle

LP: Island IRG 11 (UK); Island 207141 (Germany)
CD: Mango CIDRG 11 (UK)

Lee "Scratch" Perry

LP: Island IRG 12 (UK); Simply Vinyl SVLP 190 (UK, reissue); Island 207142 (Germany); Island 210855 (Germany, reissue)
CD: Island RRCD 10 (UK)

Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...

LP: Island IRG 13 (UK); Island 207143 (Germany)
CD: Island Masters IMCD 3 (UK)

Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...

LP: Island IRG 14 (UK); Mango MLPS 9787 (US) Island 207144 (Germany)
CD: Mango 539794-2 (US); Spectrum 554459-2 (UK, reissue)

The Wailers

LP: Island IRG 15 (UK); Island 207145 (Germany)

various artists Strictly For Rockers

LP: Island IRG 16 (UK); Island 207 146 (Germany)

various artists Island Reggae Greats

A selection of tracks from the series.
LP: Island IRGS 1 (UK)

various artists The Greatest Of Reggae Greats

A selection of tracks from the series.
LP: Island ISP 2-1036

Island Reggae Greats Collection

The latest reissue of the series, which rebranded it Island Reggae Greats Collection, was in 1997 on Universal's UK budget label Spectrum. The cover art was slightly reworked, and the liner notes either altered or omitted. Also, Aswad were added to the series, while the Pablo Moses, Wailers and various artist albums were deleted.

External links

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