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Sample the Awesome ’50 Years of Reggae Music’ Box Set

The VP record label has been the gold standard for contemporary reggae and dancehall ever since Beenie Man asking “Who Am I?” wasn’t a rhetorical question. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, they’re reaching waaaayyy back into the vaults for what may be the most comprehensive reggae box set in the history of time, Out of Many, 50 Years of Reggae Music. In a Rhino-ready feat of pure nerdery, its three discs feature exactly one iconic song representing every year since 1962. Hearing it in full is like experiencing a Koyaanisqatsi-styled time blur, hearing ska evolve into rocksteady and Augustus Pablo’s dub; roots reggae adopting electronics and evolving into King Jammy’s dancehall; and ultimately hip-hop infiltrating the party and churning out crossover superstars like Sean Paul and Elephant Man. When we finally arrive at 2012, we appropriately get a delectible piece of Retromania from Brooklyn’s own Peetah Morgan and upcoming “tropical pop” artist Hollie Cook, a cover of Lord Creator’s classic “Independent Jamaica.” Hear that song and see the unstoppable 50-years-in-50-tracks that play as its opening act!

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1. Lord Creator – “Independent Jamaica” (1962)
2. Joanne Gordon and Roland Alphonso – “Blow Roland Blow (1963)
3. The Skatalites – “Malcom X” (1964)
4. Alton Ellis – “Mouth A Massy” (1965)
5. Hopeton Lewis – “Take It Easy” (1966)
6. The Jamaicans – “Ba Ba Boom” (1967)
7. Lord Creator – “Such Is Life” (1968)
8. Gaylads – “Love The Reggay” (1969)
9. Nicky Thomas – “Love Of The Common People” (1970)
10. Eric Donaldson – “Cherry Oh Baby” (1971)
11. Augustus Pablo – “Java” (1972)
12. Dennis Brown – “Westbound Train” (1973)
13. Ken Boothe – “Everything I Own” (1974)
14. Junior Byles – “Fade Away” (1975)
15. Marcia Aiken – “I’m Still In Love With You” (1976)
16. Culture – “Two Sevens Clash” (1977)
17. Capital Letters – “Smoking My Ganja” (1978)
18. Freddie McGregor – “We Got Love” (1979)
19. Johnny Osbourne – “Ice Cream Love” (1980)
20. Eek-A-Mouse – “Wah-Do-Dem” (1981)
21. Ranking Dread – “Fattie Boom Boom” (1982)
22. Yellowman – “Zungguzzungguzzunggezeng” (1983)
23. Barrington Levy – “Here I Come” (1984)
24. Wayne Smith – “Under Me Sleng Teng” (1985)
25. Tippa Irie – “Hello Darling” (1986)
26. Gregory Isaacs – “Rumours” (1987)
27. J.C. Lodge – “Telephone Love” (1988)
28. Krystal & Shabba Ranks – “Twice My Age” (1989)
29. Shabba Ranks & Deborah Glasgow – “Mr. Loverman” (1990)
30. Home T, Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks – “The Going Is Rough” (1991)
31. Chaka Demus & Pliers – “Gal Wine” (1992)
32. Ninjaman & Ninja Ford – “The Return – Father & Son” (1993)
33. Barrington Levy & Beenie Man – “Under Mi Sensi (94 Spliff)” (1994)
34. Beres Hammond – “Can’t Stop A Man” (1995)
35. Lady Saw – “Give Me The Reason” (1996)
36. Beenie Man – “Who Am I” (1997)
37. Mr. Vegas – “Heads High” (1998)
38. Beres Hammond & Buju Banton – “Can You Play Some More” (1999)
39. Morgan Heritage – “Down By The River” (2000)
40. Tanto Metro & Devonte – “Give It To Her” (2001)
41. Sizzla – “Just One Of Those Days” (2002)
42. Sean Paul – “Get Busy” (2003)
43. Elephant Man – “Pon De River Pon De Bank” (2004)
44. I Wayne – “Living In Love” (2005)
45. Tanya Stephens – “These Streets” (2006)
46. Mavado – “Weh Dem A Do” (2007)
47. Etana – “Roots” (2008)
48. Beres Hammond – “I Feel Good” (2009)
49. Gyptian – “Hold You” (2010)
50. Yellowman – “Zungguzzungguzzunggezeng (Horsepower Productions Remix)” (2011)
51. Peetah Morgan & Hollie Cook – “Independent Jamaica” (2012 Version)” (2012)