History of Trojan Records Volume 2: 1972-1995 (Trojan, 1996)

Tracing the history of England's Trojan Records is like tracing the history of reggae -- an epic undertaking either way.  Throughout the '60s and '70s, Trojan established an immense catalog of reggae tunes, releasing a string of songs from Jamaican and British artists (most of the hits coming from Jamaica) that consistently hit the UK charts.  The '80s and '90s have seen a near demise and rebirth of the company as a major re-issuer of these classic sounds.  Thus, all but two or three of the 48 tracks on Volume 2 come from the '70s.  Rock steady, roots, lovers rock, instrumentals, and DJ toasters are all represented here, and each artist is detailed in the liner notes, along with an intricate history of not only Trojan Records, but also of the reggae genre.   It is fitting that this double CD set is packaged as a book, with 47 pages of fascinating info, for this album sounds like a history book.  It's impossible to go through all of the seminal tracks that are included, but my personal faves are as follows: On Disc 1, The God Sons' funky melodica-laden instrumental "Merry Up," Slim Smith's "The Time Has Come," Dennis Alcapone & Prince Jazzbo's fun DJ version of Delroy Wilson's "Never Conquer Me," Gregory Isaacs' cover of the classic "Loving Pauper," The Gatherers' Lee Perry-produced "Words of My Mouth," and Lloyd Charmers' superior version of "Have I Sinned," featuring a rocking bass line and church bell (?).  On Disc 2, I most enjoyed Rupie Edwards' "Irie Feelings," one of my favorite toasting tunes -- in which there's not so much "toasting" as there is "scatting" -- Sugar Minott's "The People Got To Know," and Lee Perry's more modern self-evident statement, "I Am a Madman."