Various Artists - Observer Master Mix Collection / Various (CD)

Details: Four CD set. Most recordings not officially available for 5 decades. Includes some of the giants of Jamaican music. Features many of the biggest reggae hits of the late 70s. After first being introduced in the early 70s, the 12" single had become the format of choice for many of Jamaica's leading producers by the decade's close, with few Kingston-based music makers more attracted to it's range and flexibility than Winston Holness AKA Niney the Observer. Between 1977 and 1978, Niney released a series of 'disco-mix' singles in both Jamaica and the UK, with a number of these coming housed in eye-catching 'Observer Master Mix'-branded picture sleeves. Popular among DJs and record buyers on both sides of the Atlantic, the singles showcased the work of some of reggae leading artists, whose number included such Jamaican music luminaries as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Horace Andy, Junior Byles and Freddie McGregor. Yet despite the widespread popularity of these extended mixes, most have remained officially unavailable on any format since their original issue almost half a century ago. Now at long last, the best of these recordings can finally be enjoyed once more without the need to pay a small fortune for the privilege, with this anthology comprising a veritable feast of superior roots, dub and DJ sounds. While the tracks range from major hits to painfully rare obscurities, the quality of the material remains of the highest order throughout, culminating in a truly essential collection for all those appreciative of late 70s reggae sounds.

Tracklist:

1. Rock On / Saturday Night - Gregory Isaacs ; Christine
2. Rocking Chair / National Front Rockers - Delroy Wilson ; Dillinger
3. Sufferation - Tyrone Taylor
4. Jah I / Observer Style - The Jewels
5. Stop In The Name Of Love / Stop In The Name Of The Lord – Delroy Wilson ; Dillinger
6. Ja Is My Light / Wicked East Dirt - Leroy Smart ; I Roy
7. Tenement Yard / Kill Landlord - Dennis Brown ; Ranking Buckers
8. Them Never Tell I / Lie Teacher Gal - Horace Andy ; Ranking Buckers
9. Cry Cry - Junior Delgado
10. Black Is The Highest Culture - The Jewels
11. Do Good / Judge Not Observer Style - Freddie McGregor
12. Blessed Are The Men / The Pill - Dennis Brown
13. Rock On / Murder Observer Style - Gregory Isaacs
14. My Heart is Clean - Gate Number - Cornel Campbell ; Dillinger
15. Run Come Rally / Rastaman Rally - Freddie McGregor
16. Run Run - Junior Byles
17. One Little Lick aka Mr. Bigman - The Jewels
18. Zimbabwe - The Soul Syndicate
19. Whole Lot A Fire / Blowing Fire - Big Youth ; The I Frequent
20. Can You Feel It - Junior Byles
21. Jamaican Girl / First Cut And Version - I Roy
22. Move On - The Heptones
23. Rasta Clean / Zig Zag - Niney
24. Crystal Blue Persuasion - The Heptones
25. Through The Fire I Come - The Heptones
26. Rasta Have Faith– Freddie McGregor ; The Observers
27. Here I Come Again / Flat Foot Husting - Dennis Brown ; Dillinger
28. Loosing You - The Heptones
29. Mr Knows It All - Gregory Isaacs
30. Jah Jah Higher Than I - The Rockstones as Mr Stone
31. Mount Zion (vinyl dub) - The Heptones
32. Blood and Fire - Niney The Observer
33. War Of The Stars - Ossie ; The Revolutionaries
34. Every Day Life - The Heptones
35. Oh No Not My Baby - Freddie McGregor
36. Confusion In A Babylon / Mutiny - Niney ; The Heptones
37. Book Of Rules - The Heptones
38. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - Michael Rose
39. Africa - Dennis Brown
40. Bring The Couchie Come - The Reggae Crusaders
41. Clap The Barber / Run Baldhead Dub - Michael Rose ; The Observer All Stars
42. Materialist / Poor Man Style - Horace Andy
43. Paymaster / Captives - Gregory Isaacs ; Ranking Buckner
44. Psalms 68 / Dub 68 – Horace Andy ; The Observer All Stars
45. Wolf ; Leopard / No Conscience - Dennis Brown ; The Soul Syndicate
46. Weeping / Water Rate - Junior Byles ; I Roy
47. Mix Up – Niney ; The Morwells
48. Jah Fire – Niney
49. Trodding Along – Reggae George
50. Jah Guide- Naggo Morris