Randy’s 50th Anniversary CD & DVD Collection Celebrates It’s Role In The Birth Of Reggae And Evolution Into The World’s Largest Caribbean Music Label

MIRAMAR – From Kingston, Jamaica to Jamaica, New York, respect is due to Randy’s because the former Kingston-based retail shop and studio, which eventually grew into the world’s leading reggae label VP Records, set the trend.

Celebrating 50 years in the business on a 2 CD/DVD collection (in stores Oct. 28, 2008), Reggae Anthology: Randy’s 50th Anniversary brings together 50 of the studio’s greatest productions organized by era and features musical icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, The Skatalites and Dennis Brown.

With extended liner notes from esteemed historians Steve Barrow and David Katz and a complementary 40-minute DVD loaded with interviews, Randy’s 50th Anniversary provides an in-depth audio/visual experience on the birth of reggae during what is arguably its most creative period.

Founded in 1958 by Vincent and Patricia Chin, Randy’s was the first complete package – studio, distribution, sales and most importantly vibes. Producers and artists crowded Idler’s Rest—a famous spot around the corner of Randy’s—to get a chance to record in the studio.

Many legends today made their mark at this historic location from Bob Marley and The Wailers’ ground-breaking album Catch A Fire to Peter Tosh’s first two solo albums Legalize It and Equal Rights. According to reggae luminary Pat Kelly, Randy’s had “the sound people want. We can call it the ghetto sound. The real roots sound.”

From the very start, Randy’s linked itself to the popular yet controversial musical styles of the day – particularly ska, roots and dub reggae. Disc One 1960-1971 features the early politically motivated ska tunes “Independent Jamaica” from Lord Creator and “Malcolm X” from the Skatalites, the Bob Marley & The Wailers cover of the Archie’s pop single “Sugar Sugar” and “John And James” by a youthful Toots & The Maytals displaying their spiritual and subtly subversive style. The first album also features musical pioneers like the great trombonist Don Drummond on “Machine Shop”, organ player Jackie Mittoo on “End Dust” and the original sound system deejay Winston ‘Count Machukie’ Cooper on “Warfare”.

The special significance of singers in the 1970s is reflected on Disc Two 1971-1976 with “Don’t Go” by Horace Andy, “Lonely Soldier” by Gregory Isaacs, “For The Love of You” by John Holt, and “Cheater” from Dennis Brown. Randy’s critical role in the birth of reggae was re-confirmed with the release of Augustus Pablo’s “Java”. This Clive Chin production was an instant hit not to mention the “1972 Instrumental of the Year” and title track to the first ever dub album, “Java, Java, Java, Java”. DJ I-Roy’s “Hospital Trolley” (recorded on the “Java” riddim), Peter Tosh’s “You Can’t Fool Me Again” and Junior Byles’ “King of Babylon” are also must-listen recordings included on this extraordinary bicentennial release.

Sly Dunbar one half of the famed riddim twins Sly & Robbie sat in on many Randy’s Studio 17 sessions. He describes in the DVD how the Randy’s sound was one that “sounds ten times better than the stuff being put out today. We are [now] trying to get back that sound but we can’t get it back.”

From ska to reggae, to dub to Jamaica’s leading singers, Reggae Anthology: Randy’s 50th Anniversary is a history of reggae culture from its beginnings in the 1960s to perhaps its most ingenious peak in the 1970s. This commemorative release puts these influential music-makers in their proper place, the hands of reggae collectors and music fans everywhere. Respect to Randy’s every time.

DISC 1 – 1960 TO 1971

Independent Jamaica – Lord Creator
Like A Dream – Alton & Eddie
Since You’re Gone – Roy & Paulette
Rico Special – Rico Rodriquez
We Will Be Lovers – Lord Creator & Norma Fraser
Don’t Stay Out Late – Lord Creator
Goodbye Pretty Darling – Basil Gabbidon
Make Hay – Cornell Campbell
Royal Charlie – Charlie Organaire
Blow Roland Blow – Joanne Gordon & Roland Alphonso
Portrait Of My Love – Baba Brooks
Malcolm X – The Skatalites
Mouth A Massy – Alton Ellis
Rum Bumpers – John & Alton
John And James – The Maytals
Yagga Yagga – Delroy Byfield
Machine Shop – Don Drummand
Home Home Home – Stranger & Ken
Such Is Life – Lord Creator
Sugar Sugar – Bob Marley & The Wailers
You Can’t Fool Me Again – Peter Tosh
Wha She Do Now – The Gaylads
Warfare – Count Machukie
End Dust – Randy’s All Stars
True Man – Ethiopians

DISC 2 – 1971 – 1976

Java – Augustus Pablo
Hospital Trolley – I-Roy
King Of Babylon – Junior Byles
Don’t Go – Horace Andy
A Little Love – Jimmy London
Cheater – Dennis Brown
For The Love Of You – John Holt
Too Late To Turn Back Now – Alton Ellis
Be Thankful – Donovan Carless
Woman Of The Ghetto – Hortense Ellis
Children Of The Ghetto – Senya
Lonely Soldier – Gregory Isaacs
Going To Zion – Black Uhuru
Ordinary Man – Lloyd Parks
Ordinary Man Version 3 – Impact All-Stars
Hold Tight – African Brothers
Righteous Man – Keith Popin
Created By The Father – Errol Dunkley
The Race – The Gladiators
My Guiding Star – The Heptones
Something On Your Mind – Hubert Lee
Country Boy – Charlie Ace & Dirty Harry
No Jestering – Carl Malcolm
Knotty No Jester – Big Youth
Fattie Bum Bum – Carl Malcolm