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CD Description
This five CD set highlights the leading performers, producers and studios that over the past half-century have shaped Jamaica’s national sound, with the 100-plus recordings included showcasing a diverse range of musical styles and topics, ranging from strident proclamations of freedom, hope and pride to songs of love and everyday life on the island. With the majority of the recordings previously unavailable outside Jamaica, this essential collection illustrates the depth of talent that the island has produced over the past 50 years.
Along with the five discs of music, Trojan Presents Freedom Sounds box set also includes a 50-page A5 booklet featuring detailed commentary on the history of Jamaica and its musical heritage, embellished with an array of rare photos and memorabilia. And as an added bonus, a selection of celebratory cards is also included.
Along with the five discs of music, Trojan Presents Freedom Sounds box set also includes a 50-page A5 booklet featuring detailed commentary on the history of Jamaica and its musical heritage, embellished with an array of rare photos and memorabilia. And as an added bonus, a selection of celebratory cards is also included.
Product Description
5CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It is a superbly presented set with great looking packaging and a well written book by Ian McCann, the Editor of Record Collector.
Discs 3 and 5 contain mainly Ska, Rock Steady and early Reggae tracks, and are in my opinion, the best cds in the set. Discs 1 and 4 are also excellent, and contain mostly late 1970s Rockers and Steppers tracks. There are many tracks on these 4 discs that I don't have elsewhere on cd, and quite a few that I'm not familiar with.
Disc 2 'Jamaican Hits', contains the usual suspects, and in my opinion, lets the set down. It's a shame Trojan keep having to include the same old well-known 'hit' tracks on each new set. I'm sure it doesn't help sell a set like this, which I would have thought appealed to the Reggae specialist and not the casual buyer.
I'd not heard the Jamaican Mix of 'Let Your Yeah Be Yeah' without strings/horns before; very nice. However, I assume it's still a UK recording (backed by the Rudies/Greyhound?). I've also not heard Toots & The Maytals' 'Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa' in years. It's obviously Toots on lead vocals, with silent background vocals by The Maytals, presumably recorded in a different building!
To summarise, my overall assessment is 9 out of 10 for the set (5 stars). A very attractive package, with an interesting and well written/presented book. My only criticisms being the:
- need for disc 2,'Jamaican Hits',
- inclusion of a few token late '80s early '90s tracks, and
- absence of some notes about each of the tracks.
Money well spent!
Discs 3 and 5 contain mainly Ska, Rock Steady and early Reggae tracks, and are in my opinion, the best cds in the set. Discs 1 and 4 are also excellent, and contain mostly late 1970s Rockers and Steppers tracks. There are many tracks on these 4 discs that I don't have elsewhere on cd, and quite a few that I'm not familiar with.
Disc 2 'Jamaican Hits', contains the usual suspects, and in my opinion, lets the set down. It's a shame Trojan keep having to include the same old well-known 'hit' tracks on each new set. I'm sure it doesn't help sell a set like this, which I would have thought appealed to the Reggae specialist and not the casual buyer.
I'd not heard the Jamaican Mix of 'Let Your Yeah Be Yeah' without strings/horns before; very nice. However, I assume it's still a UK recording (backed by the Rudies/Greyhound?). I've also not heard Toots & The Maytals' 'Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa' in years. It's obviously Toots on lead vocals, with silent background vocals by The Maytals, presumably recorded in a different building!
To summarise, my overall assessment is 9 out of 10 for the set (5 stars). A very attractive package, with an interesting and well written/presented book. My only criticisms being the:
- need for disc 2,'Jamaican Hits',
- inclusion of a few token late '80s early '90s tracks, and
- absence of some notes about each of the tracks.
Money well spent!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Dan Davids
Format:Audio CD
2012 marked Jamaica's 50th year of independence and to celebrate this historic year, a number of labels have released commemorative sets. Among these were Island's luxurious, yet pricey 'Soul System' box and VP's '50th Anniversary' collection, but to this reviewer's mind, by far the most entertaining and best value for money Trojan Records' excellent 'Freedom Sounds' collection.
Handsomely packaged, the 5CD box set explores a number of interesting avenues, commencing with disc 1, which explores the recurring theme of liberation in Jamaican music. Setting the tone for all that follows, few of the tracks are widely known outside Reggae circles, with a number making their debut on CD, yet the music remains of the highest quality.
Disc 2 features a selection of major Jamaican hits since independence, a number of which will not be familiar to the more casual fan, while the third and fourth discs highlight many of the island's most successful and influential artists and producers over the same period, kicking off with proto-Ska from 1962 before taking us on a fascinating musical journey that comes to an end in the nineties. The final disc focuses on rare and previously unissued material, with the emphasis very much on the music of the sixties and seventies. In addition, there is an additional disc of rare music that can be downloaded upon registering the album on Trojan's `Appreciation Society' website.
Intelligently compiled and strikingly presented, the package includes a set of four suitably attractive postcards, a sticker and a nicely designed 52-page book featuring a typically entertaining essay on Jamaican music over the past half century, courtesy of writer, Ian McCann.... Read more ›
Handsomely packaged, the 5CD box set explores a number of interesting avenues, commencing with disc 1, which explores the recurring theme of liberation in Jamaican music. Setting the tone for all that follows, few of the tracks are widely known outside Reggae circles, with a number making their debut on CD, yet the music remains of the highest quality.
Disc 2 features a selection of major Jamaican hits since independence, a number of which will not be familiar to the more casual fan, while the third and fourth discs highlight many of the island's most successful and influential artists and producers over the same period, kicking off with proto-Ska from 1962 before taking us on a fascinating musical journey that comes to an end in the nineties. The final disc focuses on rare and previously unissued material, with the emphasis very much on the music of the sixties and seventies. In addition, there is an additional disc of rare music that can be downloaded upon registering the album on Trojan's `Appreciation Society' website.
Intelligently compiled and strikingly presented, the package includes a set of four suitably attractive postcards, a sticker and a nicely designed 52-page book featuring a typically entertaining essay on Jamaican music over the past half century, courtesy of writer, Ian McCann.... Read more ›
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The classic trojan sound
8 Sep 2012
By Comment Man
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Trojan released and released a huge amount of old reggae in its box sets, so it is astonishing so much good material remains for this new fancy box set. One of the discs, called the Jamacian hits, has the same familiar hits that have been recycled again and again--Love of the Common People, Cherry-O etc.--but the others have songs that are either obscure or new to CD and all are quite good. These are almost all vocal tracks with the characteristic melodic sound Trojan once advertised as the Trojan sound. Almost no dub tracks and no dee-jay tracks are included on this set, so it is more a collection of extremely good songs than a historical overview of Jamacian music. There are a handful of songs post 1980 but these songs sound just as melodic and "Trojan" as the earlier.
I have been enjoying listening to these CDs very much and my only caveat is about the price. I paid the Amazon price of 77 dollars for it and while the CDs are worth that much, this is definitely on the high side for a current CD (if I except the CD of hits--more or less a waste for me as I had almost every song in my collection--that is four CDs for 77 bucks or almost 20 dollars each). The extras are not all the special either. However, as the other review correctly states, you don't have to pay this much for the CD set--just look at the alternative merchants Amazon lists--and at a lower price this CD set is a steal.
A fine CD set which no serious reggae collection should be without.
I have been enjoying listening to these CDs very much and my only caveat is about the price. I paid the Amazon price of 77 dollars for it and while the CDs are worth that much, this is definitely on the high side for a current CD (if I except the CD of hits--more or less a waste for me as I had almost every song in my collection--that is four CDs for 77 bucks or almost 20 dollars each). The extras are not all the special either. However, as the other review correctly states, you don't have to pay this much for the CD set--just look at the alternative merchants Amazon lists--and at a lower price this CD set is a steal.
A fine CD set which no serious reggae collection should be without.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A GOOD COLLECTION OF WELL KNOWN TUNES AND RARITIES
12 Oct 2012
By Stuart Jefferson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This set comes in a thick cardboard lidded box. Inside there's a set of reproduced large-size postcards advertising Jamaican music. They're not really essential, but they are pretty cool to look at. Each disc comes in a color coded cardboard envelope that matches the disc. The 48 page paperback book size booklet is well worth having. There are many photographs that tie into Jamaican freedom and the music, a two page map of Jamaica, and many photos of Jamaican artists. There's a complete list of all the tracks in this collection including the year date for each song. The music has been remastered to what may be the best these tracks will ever sound.
The five discs are split into individual categories-"Songs of Freedom", "Jamaican Hits", "Pioneers", "Innovators", and "Forgotten Treasures". The first disc, titled "Songs of Freedom", with a number of familiar artists (Bob Marley & The Wailers ("Rainbow Country"), Bob Andy ("Stepping Free"), The Heptones ("I Shall Be Released"), Culture ("Trod On"), Third World ("Freedom Song"), Burning Spear ("Shout It Out"), etc.), is still a great collection of songs. Long time fans will recognize some of these tunes, but there's no denying this disc is full of great songs. Prince Far I is also here with "Jamaica's National Heroes", as is Alton Ellis with "If I Could Rule This World", alongside "Born Free" by Michael Rose & Black Uhuru, and Judy Mowatt's "My My People", sometimes titled "You're My People".
"Jamaican Hits" is just that. Many of these songs you probably already own, but their inclusion is proper since this set celebrates Jamaican freedom and the music from the era. And, quite frankly, many of these tunes are so good that hearing them once again is no real chore. From "Forward March" by Derrick Morgan, to "Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis & The Flames, to "007" by Desmond Decker & The Israelites, to "Wear You To The Ball" by U Roy & John Holt, to "Police and Thieves" by Junior Murvin, to "Night Nurse" by Gregory Isaacs, the list of great songs continues.
Disc Three, "Pioneers", is where things begin to get interesting. The Vibrators, The Sensations, Clancy Eccles, The Uniques, Ken Boothe, The Chuckles, and many others make this disc worthwhile. Other artists include Ernest Raglin ("Flaming Rock Steady"), Derrick Harriott ("No Man Is An Island"), Niney & The Big Youth ("Blood and Fire" extended version), The Gladiators ("Freedom Train"), Phyllis Dillon ("Midnight Confessions" extended version), and many others are well worth hearing in this context.
"Innovators" is just that. Artists like Johnny Clarke & King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Dillinger, Horace Andy, Barrington Levy, Johnny Osbourne, Charlie Chaplin, and others each are represented by songs that (at the time) pushed the boundaries a bit in Jamaican music circles. From the smooth, almost r&b sounds of The Heptones ("Brother"), to an extended version of Johnny Clarke's "None Shall Escape The Judgement" (with King Tubby), to "Sea of Love", by Horace Andy, to Luciano's "Never Give Up My Pride", produced by "Fatis" Burrell, there's a lot of great music on this disc.
The final disc, "Forgotten Treasures", too, is well named. The Spanishtonians, The Carib-Beats, The Little Wonder All Stars, The Sparkers, Ska Campbell, The Prophets, and many others are here with many forgotten tunes-and forgotten doesn't mean worthless-not on your life. This is a great way to end this fine collection of music. From the early sounds of The Planners, The Spanishtonians, and The Carib-Beats, to an extended version of "Chase The Devil", by Max Romeo and Prince Jazzbo, to the smooth vocals of Delroy Wilson, to "Socialism Train" by The Ethiopeans, to "Jerusalem", by Devon Irons, there's a lot of musical ground covered, much of it very fine. Even "Ode To Billy Joe" is here by the great Tommy McCook & The Specialists. Needless to say this disc covers a lot of ground with songs most of us (if not everyone) is unfamiliar with.
Currently there's a number of good box sets being released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaican freedom. Is this set all inclusive? No. But it doesn't claim to be. This is a good collection of music-much of it unheard until now-from the Trojan label. Of the many sets recently released, this is certainly one of the best-if not the best-that has been released of late. Are there artists/songs that should've been included? Yes. But that would've been prohibitive, so the folks at Trojan/Sanctuary had to make some hard choices. And on hearing this collection, I think you'll hear a lot of great music-both well known and rare. I hesitated to purchase yet another large size box set-but I'm glad I did.
The five discs are split into individual categories-"Songs of Freedom", "Jamaican Hits", "Pioneers", "Innovators", and "Forgotten Treasures". The first disc, titled "Songs of Freedom", with a number of familiar artists (Bob Marley & The Wailers ("Rainbow Country"), Bob Andy ("Stepping Free"), The Heptones ("I Shall Be Released"), Culture ("Trod On"), Third World ("Freedom Song"), Burning Spear ("Shout It Out"), etc.), is still a great collection of songs. Long time fans will recognize some of these tunes, but there's no denying this disc is full of great songs. Prince Far I is also here with "Jamaica's National Heroes", as is Alton Ellis with "If I Could Rule This World", alongside "Born Free" by Michael Rose & Black Uhuru, and Judy Mowatt's "My My People", sometimes titled "You're My People".
"Jamaican Hits" is just that. Many of these songs you probably already own, but their inclusion is proper since this set celebrates Jamaican freedom and the music from the era. And, quite frankly, many of these tunes are so good that hearing them once again is no real chore. From "Forward March" by Derrick Morgan, to "Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis & The Flames, to "007" by Desmond Decker & The Israelites, to "Wear You To The Ball" by U Roy & John Holt, to "Police and Thieves" by Junior Murvin, to "Night Nurse" by Gregory Isaacs, the list of great songs continues.
Disc Three, "Pioneers", is where things begin to get interesting. The Vibrators, The Sensations, Clancy Eccles, The Uniques, Ken Boothe, The Chuckles, and many others make this disc worthwhile. Other artists include Ernest Raglin ("Flaming Rock Steady"), Derrick Harriott ("No Man Is An Island"), Niney & The Big Youth ("Blood and Fire" extended version), The Gladiators ("Freedom Train"), Phyllis Dillon ("Midnight Confessions" extended version), and many others are well worth hearing in this context.
"Innovators" is just that. Artists like Johnny Clarke & King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Dillinger, Horace Andy, Barrington Levy, Johnny Osbourne, Charlie Chaplin, and others each are represented by songs that (at the time) pushed the boundaries a bit in Jamaican music circles. From the smooth, almost r&b sounds of The Heptones ("Brother"), to an extended version of Johnny Clarke's "None Shall Escape The Judgement" (with King Tubby), to "Sea of Love", by Horace Andy, to Luciano's "Never Give Up My Pride", produced by "Fatis" Burrell, there's a lot of great music on this disc.
The final disc, "Forgotten Treasures", too, is well named. The Spanishtonians, The Carib-Beats, The Little Wonder All Stars, The Sparkers, Ska Campbell, The Prophets, and many others are here with many forgotten tunes-and forgotten doesn't mean worthless-not on your life. This is a great way to end this fine collection of music. From the early sounds of The Planners, The Spanishtonians, and The Carib-Beats, to an extended version of "Chase The Devil", by Max Romeo and Prince Jazzbo, to the smooth vocals of Delroy Wilson, to "Socialism Train" by The Ethiopeans, to "Jerusalem", by Devon Irons, there's a lot of musical ground covered, much of it very fine. Even "Ode To Billy Joe" is here by the great Tommy McCook & The Specialists. Needless to say this disc covers a lot of ground with songs most of us (if not everyone) is unfamiliar with.
Currently there's a number of good box sets being released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaican freedom. Is this set all inclusive? No. But it doesn't claim to be. This is a good collection of music-much of it unheard until now-from the Trojan label. Of the many sets recently released, this is certainly one of the best-if not the best-that has been released of late. Are there artists/songs that should've been included? Yes. But that would've been prohibitive, so the folks at Trojan/Sanctuary had to make some hard choices. And on hearing this collection, I think you'll hear a lot of great music-both well known and rare. I hesitated to purchase yet another large size box set-but I'm glad I did.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Freedom Sounds
9 Sep 2012
By Bigga Numba 6
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Some of these songs may sound familar but with the downloadable album and the unreleased tracks this box set is worth the $43 I spent. If you love reggae music and think you have heard it all get this.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
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