Since 1968, Trojan Records has been synonymous with the reggae, rocksteady, dub, and ska genres.  The U.K. label founded by Lee Gopthal and Island Records’ Chris Blackwell was instrumental in spreading those Jamaican sounds throughout the world and popularizing such key artists as Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and The Maytals.  By 1971, Trojan – with its focus on 45 RPM singles – had amassed enough hit records to release a label anthology.  On June 18, that seminal release, The Trojan Story, will receive a reimagined 50th anniversary reissue from Trojan/BMG in 3CD, 3LP, and digital formats.

The Trojan Story was the first large-scale release to celebrate the music of Jamaica to the world at large.  The three-disc, 50-song anthology was curated by Trojan label manager Rob Bell, Dandy Livingstone, Webster Shrowder, and Joe Sinclair.  Bell has returned to oversee BMG’s new version of the title.  In addition to the above-named artists, the box featured music from the illustrious likes of Phyllis Dillon, Duke Reid, Alton Ellis, and The Ethiopians.  Today, these tracks are regarded as cornerstones of Jamaica’s rich musical legacy that continues to grow to this day.

The new Trojan Story boasts an illustrated booklet (50 pages in the LP edition and 28 pages in the CD version) featuring memories from Rob Bell and reggae artist Rusty Zinn.  It’s housed in the original artwork (which had been modified for subsequent reissues) and features replica labels on the discs.

The Trojan Story captures the first three years of the label.  It subsequently went through many ownership changes, beginning with Chris Blackwell’s pulling out in 1972, resulting in its current position as part of the BMG family.  This collection proves a great place to start for those interested in digging into Trojan’s history.  It’s due on June 18 and can be pre-ordered at the links below.

Various Artists, The Trojan Story (Trojan TALL 1, 1971 – reissued Trojan/BMG, 2021)

Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

LP 1

Side A

1. Invitation To Jamaica – Lord Tanamo
2. Fat Man – Derrick Morgan
3. Tell Me Darling – Jackie Edwards
4. Running Around – Owen Gray
5. Miss Jamaica – Jimmy Cliff
6. Housewife’s Choice – Derrick And Patsy
7. Give Me All Of Your Love – The Continentals
8. Darling Patricia – Owen Gray

Side B

1. Rough And Tough – Stranger Cole
2. Man To Man – Kentrick Patrick
3. Uno-Dos-Tres – Stranger & Ken
4. Slow Boat – Al T. Joe
5. Rude Boy – Duke Reid’s Group
6. Gone Is Yesterday – Higgs & Wilson
7. I’m In The Mood For Ska – Lord Tanamo
8. Virginia Ska – The Baba Brooks Band
9. Satan – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes

LP 2

Side A

1. One Eyed Giant – Baba Brooks & His Band
2. Every Night – Joe White and Chuck
3. King Size – Baba Brooks & His Band
4. Syncopate – The Astronauts
5. Keep The Pressure On – Winston & George
6. Oh Babe – The Techniques
7. Train To Skaville – The Ethiopians
8. Rudy, A Message To You – Dandy Livingstone

Side B

1. Dreader Than Dread – Honey Boy Martin & The Voices
2. It’s Raining – The Three Tops
3. The Whip – The Ethiopians
4. Pretty Africa – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
5. Rock Steady – Alton Ellis & The Flames
6. Rock Steady Train – Ewan & Jerry
7. King Without A Throne – Sugar Simone
8. Perfidia – Phyllis Dillon

LP 3

Side A

1. Musical Train – Roy Shirley
2. Do The Beng Beng – Derrick Morgan
3. Way Of Life – Lynn Taitt & The Jets
4. Second Fiddle – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics
5. People Funny Boy – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
6. I’ve Got To Get You Off My Mind – The Tennors
7. Do The Reggay – The Maytals
8. Nana – The Slickers

Side B

1. Tell Me Baby – Delano Stewart
2. Mama Look Deh – The Reggae Boys
3. Hong Kong Flu – The Ethiopians
4. Pressure Drop – The Maytals
5. Them A Laugh And A Ki ki – The Soul Mates
6. Walking In The Rain – The Melodians
7. Satisfaction – Carl Dawkins
8. Black And White – The Maytones
9. Rasta Never Fails – The Charmers

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1

1. Invitation To Jamaica – Lord Tanamo
2. Fat Man – Derrick Morgan
3. Tell Me Darling – Jackie Edwards
4. Running Around – Owen Gray
5. Miss Jamaica – Jimmy Cliff
6. Housewife’s Choice – Derrick And Patsy
7. Give Me All Your Love – The Continentals
8. Darling Patricia – Owen Gray
9. Rough And Tough – Stranger Cole
10. Man To Man – Kentrick Patrick
11. Uno-Dos-Tres – Stranger & Ken
12. Slow Boat – Al T. Joe
13. Rude Boy – Duke Reid’s Group
14. Gone Is Yesterday – Higgs & Wilson
15. I’m In The Mood For Ska – Lord Tanamo
16. Virginia Ska – The Baba Brooks Band
17. Satan – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes

CD 2

1. One Eyed Giant – Baba Brooks & His Band
2. Every Night – Joe White and Chuck
3. King Size – Baba Brooks & His Band
4. Syncopate – The Astronauts
5. Keep The Pressure On – Winston & George
6. Oh Babe – The Techniques
7. Train To Skaville – The Ethiopians
8. Rudy, A Message To You – Dandy Livingstone
9. Dreader Than Dread – Honey Boy Martin & The Voices
10. It’s Raining – The Three Tops
11. The Whip – The Ethiopians
12. Pretty Africa – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
13. Rock Steady – Alton Ellis & the Flames
14. Rock Steady Train – Ewan & Jerry
15. King Without A Throne – Sugar Simone
16. Perfidia – Phyllis Dillon

CD 3

1. Musical Train – Roy Shirley
2. Do The Beng Beng – Derrick Morgan
3. Way Of Life – Lynn Taitt & The Jets
4. Second Fiddle – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics
5. People Funny Boy – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
6. I’ve Got To Get You Off My Mind – The Tennors
7. Do The Reggay – The Maytals
8. Nana – The Slickers
9. Tell Me Baby – Delano Stewart
10. Mama Look Deh – The Reggae Boys
11. Hong Kong Flu – The Ethiopians
12. Pressure Drop – The Maytals
13. Them A Laugh And A Ki ki – The Soul Mates
14. Walking In The Rain – The Melodians
15. Satisfaction – Carl Dawkins
16. Black And White – The Maytones
17. Rasta Never Fails – The Charmers