Trojan Instrumentals Box Set

Trojan Instrumentals Box Set (Trojan, 1999)

Though boasting a bit more variety in its selection of artists, Trojan Instrumentals Box Set is similar in quality to the Trojan Dub Box Set. That is, it has its share of great tracks, but also a good amount of standard fare. Still, instrumentals tend to be a bit more lively than dubs, as they are often more jazzy, driven more by guitars and horns than merely drum and bass. If you're not a fan of the ska/rock steady fan, however, dub might be more up your alley -- though I'm not a big ska man myself, there's not so much included here that it would ruin my enjoyment. As with all of Trojan's box sets, with 3 CDs packed with music, there's plenty of good stuff to find, highlighted by Val Bennett's classic version of the jazz standard "Take Five," The Hippy Boys' airy, eerie "Capo," J.J. All Stars' "Memphis Underground" (which sounds like it should be someone's theme song), Herman Marquis' "Tom's Version" (the rhythm used on Alton Ellis' "These Eyes"), The Upsetters' raucous "Return of Django," and Harry J. All Stars' take on the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down," plus "Liquidator," which served as the basis for the Staples Singers' gospel/soul hit "I'll Take You There."

Track Listing
CD 1:
1. Liquidator -- Harry J. All Stars
2. James Ray -- The Crystallites
3. Capo -- The Hippy Boys
4. Napoleon Solo -- Lyn Taitt & The Jets
5. Fat Dog -- Joe Gibbs & The Love Generation
6. One Eyed Giant -- Baba Brooks
7. Champion -- G.G. All Stars
8. Tom's Version -- Herman Marquis
9. Tribute to King Scratch -- Lester Sterling
10. East of the River Nile -- Augustus Pablo
11. Eastern Standard Time -- Don Drummond
12. Reflections of Don D -- John "Dizzy" Moore
13. Make Yourself Comfortable -- Los Cabbeleros Orchestra
14. The Rooster -- Tommy McCook & His Band
15. In the Spirit -- Lloyd Chambers
16. Tons of Gold -- Val Bennett
17. For a Few Dollars More -- The Upsetters

CD 2:
1. The Russians Are Coming [Take Five] -- Val Bennett
2. Scarface -- Boris Gardiner
3. Soul Scorcher -- Carl "Canonball" Bryan
4. Top Secret -- Winston Wright
5. Return to Django -- The Upsetters
6. Contact -- Roy Richards
7. Guns Fever -- Baba Brooks
8. Memphis Underground -- J.J. All Stars
9. The Hippy's Are Here -- The Hippy Boys
10. Tit for Tat -- Neville Hinds
11. El Torro -- Roland Alphonso
12. Death a Come -- Lloyd Charmers
13. The Saint -- Tommy McCook
14. My Cherie Amour -- Harry J All Stars
15. El Casino Royale -- Lyn Taitt & The Jets
16. Bombshell -- The Crystallites

CD 3:
1. Clint Eastwood -- The Upsetters
2. Way of Life -- Carl Bryan
3. Heads or Tails -- Winston Wright
4. Last Call -- The Silverstars
5. El Pussy Cat Ska -- Roland Alphonso
6. Memories of Love -- Boris Gardiner
7. Decimal Currency -- The Blenders
8. Eight Years After -- Tommy McCook
9. Jumping With Mr. Lee -- Val Bennett
10. The Monster -- The Beverley All Stars
11. Seven Guns Alive -- Baba Brooks
12. Cloudburst -- The Hippy Boys
13. Love Me Forever -- Gladdy Anderson & Lyn Taitt & The Jets
14. Don't Let Me Down -- Harry J. All Stars
15. Green Island -- Don Drummond
16. Barabus -- G.G. All Stars
17. Stop That Man -- The Crystallites