Laurel Aitken has long deserved wider recognition for his often excellent music. Perhaps because he changed labels so often, perhaps because of his choice often of small labels, or for whatever reason he has been much neglected. There have been endless reissues of the works of reggae giants or of major labels such as Trojan, and this has been understandable. But Laurel Aitken's work has reached far fewer people. This is a pity. Much of his work was both pioneering and outstanding.
This double CD provides 29 tracks selected from his output between 1957 and 1967. I found the Jamaica recordings 1957-60 recordings such as 'Boogie Rock' (1959),'Mary Lee' (1960) and 'Railroad Track' (1960) both very enjoyable and very interesting. There is a blues to early rhythm and blues flavour in these that to me could have come from Memphis or even New Orleans (though specialist may well differ on this). With his early recording in London, 'Bartender', his sound is verging on early rock'n'roll. However, from 1963 he is developing ska and later rock steady. The second CD with 23 tracks from 1969 to 1989 takes us to his better known work such as 'Landlords and Tenants'(1969). The package as a whole is highly enjoyable. If it attracts the attention it deserves justice may be done at last to the memory of a very fine musician