This collection brings together some of the best rocksteady music made. After the first 5 years of the sixties, when Ska had run its course a new slower form of music was playing in the Dancehalls of Jamaica. The whole atmosphere in Jamaica had changed, after the optimism that started with the independence of the island, came the realisation that things hadn't really changed and the people were no better off then before. Now a new music was being made with more prominent (electric) basslines and slower, cooler tempo, that became know as Rocksteady. This was mainly a vocal style of music which was heavy influenced by American R&B, in particular Curtis Mayfield whom is regarded as the 'Godfather of reggae'

The Rocksteady era ran for only 2 years from 1966 until 1968 but it had a lasting impact on Jamaican music as it was the precusor to reggae. The king of Rocksteady was sound system owner Arthur 'Duke' Reid. His Treasure Isle studio on Bond Street put out hit after hit, from such famous artists as Ken Boothe, the Ethiopians and Alton Ellis. Although there were other producers such as Coxesone Dodd, Leslie Kong, Sonia Pottinger, the 'Duke' dominated the era to the extent that one third of the tracks on this album were on his Treasure Isle label.

There are so many good tracks on these 2 CDs that it is difficult to pick out highlights. It doesn't miss out any obvious hits and doesn't include any fillers as is so often the case on such big compiliations. Some of my favourites are Justin Hinds' brilliant "Save a bread" and Alton Ellis's "Rocksteady" which gave the genre a name. Other favourites are "Tonight" by Keith & Tex and "Ba Ba Boom" by the Jamaicans, but the list could go on.

The linear notes are again excellently written by Dave Hendly, who really does know his stuff. The track selection is also very good bringing together 54 tracks from a whole host of artists and producers . All in all this is a highly recommended release from Trojan.






 by Quatty, ReggaeTrain.com
 E-Mail: info@reggaetrain.com