Toots & The Maytals ADD
100 Classic Reggae Albums: 1968-1973
BOOK
Release date: 02/17/2024
by John Bailey
Every album featured includes a scan of the original album sleeve (front and back), vinyl label scan and a complete track listing with selected reviews of 100 vintage reggae albums released from 1968 through to 1973. A great companion for the music now being re-released in digital form. The book is a veritable treasure chest of albums released during the embryonic early years of reggae, with the connoisseurs of Jamaican music often citing the period as the golden age of reggae or the Boss Reggae years. What is in no doubt there were numerous quality albums released by Trojan, Pama and Island, over sixty by Trojan alone in 1970, with many having remained overlooked for over half a century. The majority of the albums at the time would have been out of reach as very few could afford to purchase half a dozen albums a month, despite the budget cost of around 14/6.
There is no set criteria as to what defines a classic album, especially with reggae. All the artists have their own unique identity, be it the unmistakable trade-mark falsetto voice of Eric Donaldson, the distinctive style of Toots And The Maytals fronted by Toots characteristic vocals or The Pioneers, greatly influenced by the legendary producer Leslie Kong.
100 Classic Reggae Albums is a celebration of some of the finest recording to come out of Jamaica and a snap-shot on the shift from rocksteady to reggae from 1968 -1973.
