Various Artists - Irie Greatest Hits 2CD

As the 70s drew to a close, Joel Augustus Gibbs had precious few serious challengers to his status as Jamaica’s premier record producer. Over the preceding decade, he had released a succession of best-selling 7” singles, with almost every performer of note on the island having worked for him during this time.

The willingness of top performers to record for Gibbs is evidenced by the selection on the ‘United Reggae’ album, which first saw issue in 1979 and finally receives its CD debut more than 40 years later. In traditional Doctor Bird style, the original track-listing has been significantly bolstered by additional Joe Gibbs-produced recordings from the period, with the bonus material offering the very best of his pre-Dancehall output from 1978 and ’79.

Included here are an array of Jamaican chartbusters, alongside lesser-known material, much of which is available on CD for the very first time, ensuring a hugely enjoyable and enlightening listening experience for fans of late 70s Jamaican roots and lovers sounds.

Tracklist:

- DISC ONE -

1 Come On Little Girl – Dennis Brown
2 Lovely Lady – The Mighty Diamonds
3 This Train – Culture
4 The Closer I Get To You – Ruddy Thomas & Marcia Aitken
5 Every Day Is Just A Holiday – Ruddy Thomas
6 Danger In Your Eyes – Marcia Aitken
7 I Can’t Stand the Rain – Hortense Ellis
8 My Number One – Earl Sixteen
9 Slim Thing – Trinity
10 The Greatest Love – Lloyd Parks
11 Loving Pauper – Ruddy Thomas
12 Ina Jah Children – Dhaima
13 I’m Not A Queen – Marcia Aitken
14 Almighty I – Dennis Walks
15 Emotion – Ruddy Thomas & Marcia Aitken
16 I’ve Got A Feeling – Junior Delgado
17 Money Worries – Enos McLeod
18 Let It Be – Bobby Melody
19 Mama Say – Ruddy Thomas
20 Love One Another – Althea & Donna
21 Hard Times – Leo Graham

- DISC TWO -

1 Money In My Pocket – Dennis Brown
2 Can’t Buy My Love – Dhaima
3 Just Like A River – The Mighty Diamonds
4 I’m Just A Dread – Jacob Miller
5 Down Town Thing – Althea Forrest
6 Arm Robbery – Junior Delgado
7 Narrow Minded Man – Marcia Aitken
8 Left With A Broken Heart – George Nooks
9 Can’t Stop Now – Ruddy Thomas
10 Holiday Style – Jem & Dean
11 Keep On Knocking – Jacob Miller
12 More Love – David Isaacs
13 Kong Pow – The Africans
14 Dreadlocks Time – Junior Byles
15 It’s A Good Day – Pat Kelly
16 Hello Carol – Enos McLeod
17 Mash You Down – Cornel Campbell
18 Riding For A Fall – George Nooks
19 Sleepless Nights – Phillip Fraser
20 Rent Man – Black Uhuru
21 Cool Out Son – Junior Murvin