Out of Many – 50 Years of Reggae Music

As we stride into warm weather this summer we can bust out the greatest reggae hits from past and present with some great compilation albums. Set for release later this summer, this album in particular should keep the reggae groove going all through the summer months:

Out of Many – 50 Years of Reggae Music: August 4th will mark Jamaica’s 50th Year of Independence, and Out of Many: 50 Years of Reggae Music will help celebrate that history. Jamaica has helped shape the musical landscape worldwide, and this historical 3-disc box set collection documents the country’s musical evolution. Featuring an important hit from every year since Jamaica’s first year of independence in 1962, the album moves from mento and calypso through ska, rocksteady and reggae, dub and deejays, and many other influential sounds. The album will be made available July 17th, and will feature more than just great music.

The collection also includes notes written by reggae historian Harry Wise discussing the innovation and evolution of Jamaica’s music and how the iconic label VP Records, which was once a small local record store in Kingston, Jamaica, played a crucial role in the development and deployment of these sounds.

Artists included are Lord Creator, Alton Ellis, Skatalites,, Dennis Brown, Culture, Yellowman, Augustus Pablo, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Shabba Ranks, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Ninjaman, Beres Hammond, Eek-A-Mouse, Beenie Man, Sizzla, and many more.

Check out Lord Creator’s Independent Jamaica as part of the reggae’s storied history and this great music collection: