More Info
17 tracks new to CD
First ever compilation of J.J. Johnson’s productions
Features some of the biggest Jamaican hits from 1968 to
1972
By the close of the Sixties, record retailer and jukebox businessman Karl ‘J.J.’ Johnson was firmly established as one of Jamaica’s leading record producers, having released a string of best-selling rock steady and proto-reggae 45s by such noted local acts as Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the Rulers, Carl Dawkins, the Kingstonians and the Ethiopians. Early in 1969, a lucrative agreement with British record label, Trojan, emboldened the ambitious entrepreneur to release an album comprising a dozen of his latest recordings in the new reggae style.
Entitled “Reggae Power”, the LP was dominated by regular hit-makers, the Ethiopians, whose recent singles had proved so popular in Britain that the group had been prompted to make a promotional tour of the country. Their trip led to Trojan dramatically reworking the ‘Reggae Power’ long-player for its UK release, replacing all but two non-Ethiopians tracks with further J.J.-produced works by the trio, before issuing it in new artwork. But with the Ethiopians collection already available on the Doctor Bird CD, “Reggae Power & Woman Capture Man”, it is the Jamaican version of the album that provides the inspiration for this exciting double-disc compilation, which collects the bulk of J.J. Johnson’s output from 1968 to 1972, including numerous reggae hits and 17 recordings new to CD.
Tracklist
DISC ONE: REGGAE POWER 1968-1970
1. DANCE UP THE REGGAE - Roy Shirley
2. MIX IT UP - The Kingstonians
3. LOVE IS NOT YOUR GAME - V. Vinstrick*
4. ONE DOLLAR OF MUSIC - The J.J. All Stars
5. I'LL MAKE IT UP - Carl Dawkins
6. MUSICAL PRIEST - Roy Shirley
7. BIGGER BOSS - Cool Sticky & Ansel Collins
8. LIVE LIFE - The Vibrators
9. I'LL BE AROUND - The Kingstonians
10. FIVE MILES HIGH - Winston Wright*
11. GLAD YOU'RE LIVING - Stranger Cole
12. BRIGHT LIFE - Roy Shirley
13. R.F.K. - The J.J. All Stars
14. ISRAEL MUST WIN - The Ethiopians*
15. GOT TO BE FREE - The Rulers
16. NECK TIE - Winston Wright
17. THE ONLY GIRL - Carl Dawkins*
18. I LIKE YOUR SMILE - Roy Shirley
19. MEMPHIS UNDERGROUND - The J.J. All Stars
20. HERE YAH - The Scorchers
21. HELP WANTED - Stranger Cole
22. MANGO TREE - Ansel Collins
23. HERE I COME - The Ethiopians
24. SATISFACTION - Carl Dawkins
25. POPPY COCK - Winston Wright
26. WHAT A SITUATION - The Rulers
27. ROOK MA DINE - The Ethiopians
28. THE REMOVERS - Ansel Collins
29. CABBAGE LEAF - Val Bennett
DISC TWO: WRECK IT UP 1970-1972
1. THIS LAND - Carl Dawkins*
2. TRY TO BE HAPPY - The Clarendonians*
3. DROP HIM - The Ethiopians
4. VERSION DROP - The J.J. All Stars
5. COOLIE MAN - The Cambodians*
6. GET TOGETHER - Carl Dawkins
7. INSTALMENT NO.3 - Family Man
8. NUMBER ONE VERSION - Tony*
9. WRECK IT UP VERSION - The J.J. All Stars*
10. COME ALONG - The Clarendonians*
11. I'LL NEVER BE BLUE - Carl Dawkins*
12. I'LL NEVER BE BLUE (INSTR.) – The J.J. All Stars*
13. DON'T GO (ALT. VERSION) - The Ethiopians*
14. MAKE GOOD - Stranger & Gladdy
15. PUT IT GOOD - The Bleechers
16. PERSEVERANCE - Carl Dawkins*
17. HE'S NOT A REBEL - The Ethiopians
18. NYAH MAN STORY - The Linkers
19. LION'S DEN - The Kingstonians
20. I FEEL GOOD - Carl Dawkins*
21. SELAH - The Ethiopians
22. SELAH - The J.J. All Stars
23. ROCKING TO ETHIOPIA - Dennis Alcapone
24. HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART - Carl Dawkins*
25. SLIM GIRL - The Kingstonians*
26. I'M A BELIEVER - The Ethiopians
27. MY WHOLE WORLD HAS ENDED - Carl Dawkins*
28. SOUP - Lloyd Young
29. COLLECTING COINS - The J.J. All Stars
* NEW TO CD