War Ina Babylon
An Island Reggae Anthology
RELEASE DATE: 8th June 2009
Label: Island / Universal Music
Format: 3CD & Digital Download
Catalogue number: 531 833-1
In Jamaica in 1959, a 21 year-old music fan called Chris Blackwell created a seemingly insignificant music label that over time would become one of the most powerful and influential record companies in the world.
Three years after its launch, having established his Island Records as a hit-making enterprise, the young entrepreneur transplanted the operation to London, where he set about releasing the best in authentic West Indian sounds for a growing British fan-base. And while ventures into Rock and Pop later brought his celebrated imprint even greater success, works by an array of talent, from Jimmy Cliff and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to Bob Marley and Sly & Robbie, always ensured Island’s heartbeat remained Jamaican - a tradition that has continued to the present day.
Charting Island’s rise from its very origins into the modern age, ‘War Inna Babylon’ not only provides a fascinating insight into the changing sound of Jamaican music over the past 40 years, but also brings together some of the greatest Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae recordings of all time. In doing so, the collection tells the story of both Reggae and the celebrated label itself, through the 64 essential tracks and the fascinating narrative in the accompanying booklet.
War Ina Babylon
An Island Reggae Anthology
DISC 1: THE HARDER THEY COME, SKA TO REGGAE 1959 to 1973
- Boogie in My Bones - Laurel Aitken
- We're Gonna Love - Wilfred 'Jackie' Edwards
- Darling Patricia - Owen Gray
- Forward March - Derrick Morgan
- Housewives Choice - Derrick Morgan & Patsy
- Honour Your Mother and Father - Desmond Dekker
- King Of Kings - Jimmy Cliff
- Exodus – Ernest Ranglin
- Eastern Standard Time - Don Drummond & The Skatalites
- My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small
- Carry Go Bring Come - Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
- Bonanza Ska - Carlos Malcolm & His Afro Jamaican Rhythms
- Sweet William - Millie Small
- Dance Crasher - Alton Ellis & The Flames
- Guns Fever – The Baba Brooks Band
- Take It Easy - Hopeton Lewis
- On The Beach - The Paragons
- You Don’t Care (You’ll Want Me Back) - The Techniques
- Stop That Train - Keith & Tex
- Rock Steady - Alton Ellis & The Flames
- My Conversation - The Uniques
- Ride Your Donkey - The Tennors
- Take Five - Val Bennett
- Hold You Jack - Derrick Morgan
- The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
- Breakfast In Bed - Lorna Bennett
- This Is Reggae Music - Zap Pow
DISC 2: PARTY TIME, ROOTS, DUB & LOVERS 1973 to 1979
- Book Of Rules – The Heptones
- Marcus Garvey - Burning Spear
- King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown - Augustus Pablo
- Carry Go Bring Come (Reggae version) - Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
- Reggae Got Soul - Toots & The Maytals
- Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin
- Soldier And Police War - Jah Lion
- War Ina Babylon - Max Romeo
- Back To Africa - Aswad
- Roast Fish And Corn Bread - Lee Perry
- Cokane In My Brain - Dillinger
- Ballistic Affair - Leroy Smart
- Party Time - The Heptones
- 96 Degrees In The Shade - Third World
- Ska Wars – Rico
- Prodigal Son - Steel Pulse
- Want Fi Goh Rave - Linton Kwesi Johnson
- Love And Devotion - Jimmy Riley
- Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner - Black Uhuru
DISC #3: WELCOME TO JAMROCK, 1980 to 2005
- (Stalk Of) Sensimilla – Black Uhuru
- Warrior Charge - Aswad
- The Bed’s Too Big Without You - Sheila Hylton
- Fort Augustus - Junior Delgado
- One Love Jamdown - Papa Michigan & General Smiley
- Sitting And Watching - Dennis Brown
- Night Nurse - Gregory Isaacs
- Pass The Kouchie - The Mighty Diamonds
- What Is Life - Black Uhuru
- Revolution - Dennis Brown
- Trouble You A Trouble Me - Ini Kamoze
- Oh What A Feeling - Gregory Isaacs
- Don’t Turn Around – Aswad
- Tease Me - Chaka Demus & Pliers
- Boom Shack A Lack - Apache Indian
- Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus & Pliers
- Whine And Grine - Prince Buster
- Welcome To Jamrock - Damian Marley