Trojan Presents: Dancehall - 40 Sound System Favourites

Trojan Presents: Dancehall - 40 Sound System Favourites

Discover the foundations of Jamaican dancehall with Trojan Presents: Dancehall - 40 Sound System Favourites, a 40-track compilation celebrating the vocal talent, distinctive rhythms and sound system culture that shaped reggae during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Bringing together an impressive selection of established reggae voices and influential dancehall artists, this collection offers a rewarding snapshot of a pivotal period in Jamaican music.

Featuring legendary singers including Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Junior Delgado, Barrington Levy, Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor and John Holt, alongside groups such as Black Uhuru, Wailing Souls, The Tamlins and Israel Vibration, the compilation moves between roots-conscious reggae, soulful vocal performances, heavyweight rhythms and the emerging dancehall sound. The result is a varied selection that reflects the depth of Jamaica's musical output during an era of significant stylistic change.

The transition from roots reggae towards early dancehall brought a stronger emphasis on rhythm, groove and the relationship between performers, producers and sound systems. These tracks capture different sides of that evolution, from the conscious reggae traditions represented by Israel Vibration and Peter Broggs to the unmistakable vocal styles of Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown. Barrington Levy's distinctive delivery, Sugar Minott's dancehall sensibility and the contributions of Junior Delgado and Tristan Palmer further demonstrate the diversity of the period.

There is plenty here for listeners drawn to the more soulful side of reggae, too. John Holt, Cornell Campbell and The Tamlins bring the melodic vocal traditions that remained central to Jamaican music, while artists such as Johnny Osbourne, Anthony Johnson and Ini Kamoze represent the increasingly rhythm-driven direction of the scene. With 40 selections spanning a broad range of performers and styles, the collection offers an accessible introduction for newcomers and an enjoyable overview for established reggae enthusiasts.

The track selection includes familiar favourites alongside less obvious choices, making this compilation useful for exploring beyond individual artists' best-known recordings. Its focus on the late-1970s and early-1980s dancehall era also makes it relevant to listeners interested in the development of Jamaican sound system culture and the musical foundations that influenced later reggae and dancehall generations.

For fans of classic Jamaican reggae, early dancehall, roots music and vocal-led productions, Trojan Presents: Dancehall - 40 Sound System Favourites brings together a substantial selection of artists in one collection. Whether you're expanding a reggae library, revisiting the golden years of Jamaican music or exploring the roots of dancehall, these 40 tracks provide plenty to discover.

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. Black Uhuru – Sensimelia
2. Junior Murvin – Cool Out Son
3. Junior Delgado – Fort Augustus
4. Dennis Brown – Sitting And Watching
5. Cornell Campbell – Rope In
6. Gregory Isaacs – Next To You
7. Junior Delgado – Merry Go Round
8. The Tamlins – Smiling Faces Sometimes
9. Barrington Levy – Rob And Gone
10. Wailing Souls – Sweet Sugar Plum
11. Madoo – Joe Grine
12. The Viceroys – Heart Made Of Stone
13. Israel Vibration – Why You So Craven
14. Gregory Isaacs – Oh What A Feeling
15. Linval Thompson – Look How Me Sexy
16. Sly Dunbar – Hot You're Hot
17. Tristan Palmer – Peace And Love In The Ghetto
18. Wailing Souls – Old Broom
19. Freddie McGregor – No Competition
20. Peter Broggs – Blood Stain

Disc 2

1. Third World – Roots With Quality
2. Chalice (3) – Good To Be There
3. The Tamlins – My Whole World Is Falling Down
4. Cornell Campbell – Boxing Around
5. Dennis Brown – Revolution
6. John Holt – Sweetie Come Brush Me
7. Roland Burrell – Johnny Dollar
8. Sugar Minott – Lover's Race
9. Dennis Brown – Halfway Up, Halfway Down
10. Gregory Isaacs – Cool Down The Pace
11. Anthony Johnson – Gun Shot
12. Johnny Osbourne – Lend Me Your Chopper
13. Barrington Levy – My Woman
14. Ini Kamoze – A Trouble You, A Trouble Me
15. Tristan Palmer – Settle Down Girl
16. Sugar Minott – Devil's Pickney
17. Carlton Livingston – Those Tricks
18. Cocoa Tea – I've Lost My Sonia
19. Sugar Minott – Rub A Dub Sound
20. Ini Kamoze – World A Music