Island Reggae Greats
1985 Island Records reggae compilation series.
In 1985, Island Records launched a series of reggae compilations called *Island Reggae Greats*. The set highlighted artists signed to the label and covered three reggae subgenres: DJ, lovers, and rockers. A separate sampler pulled tracks from the rest of the series. Trevor Wyatt put the albums together, each one came with detailed liner notes, and the cover art was painted from photographs. The series was initially sold at a discount to spark fresh interest in reggae. It later appeared on CD in the late 1980s and early 1990s under the Island Masters and Reggae Refreshers banners. In the United States, the albums came out on Island’s subsidiary Mango, and some had different cover designs. The discography includes titles by Toots & the Maytals, Gregory Isaacs (live), Steel Pulse, a DJ compilation, Burning Spear, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Sly & Robbie (a dub set), a lovers rock compilation, Third World, Pablo Moses, Jacob Miller & Inner Circle, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, the Wailers, a rockers compilation, and two samplers (*Island Reggae Greats* and *The Greatest Of Reggae Greats*). In 1997, Universal’s UK budget label Spectrum reissued the series as the *Island Reggae Greats Collection*, with slightly reworked cover art and liner notes that were either changed or left out. That reissue added Aswad to the lineup and dropped Pablo Moses, the Wailers, and the various-artist compilations.
- Field
- Reggae compilation series
- Label
- Island Records
- Released
- 1985
- Compiler
- Trevor Wyatt
- Styles
- DJ, lovers, rockers
Lore & Background
The Island Reggae Greats series was released in 1985 by Island Records, initially offered at a special price to create new interest in reggae. The albums were compiled by Trevor Wyatt and featured extensive liner notes, with cover art painted by artists based on photographs. The series included albums dedicated to individual artists such as Toots & the Maytals, Gregory Isaacs, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Sly & Robbie, Third World, Pablo Moses, Jacob Miller & Inner Circle, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, and The Wailers, as well as various artists compilations focusing on DJs, lovers, and rockers styles.
Reader's Guide
The Island Reggae Greats series holds significance as a curated introduction to reggae music through Island Records' catalog, highlighting both prominent artists and stylistic subgenres. The series saw CD release in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the Island Masters and Reggae Refreshers series. In America, the series was released on Island's subsidiary label Mango, with some titles having different covers. A later reissue in 1997 on Universal's UK budget label Spectrum rebranded the series as Island Reggae Greats Collection, with slightly reworked cover art and altered or omitted liner notes; Aswad was added, while Pablo Moses, the Wailers, and the various artist albums were deleted.
Did You Know?
- The series was compiled by Trevor Wyatt and featured covers painted by artists based on photos.
- The series saw CD release in the late '80s and early '90s as part of the Island Masters and Reggae Refreshers series.
- A 1997 reissue on Universal's Spectrum label rebranded it as Island Reggae Greats Collection, adding Aswad and deleting Pablo Moses, the Wailers, and the various artist albums.
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