100% Dynamite

Subtitled Ska, Soul, Rocksteady & Funk in Jamaica, this pioneering compilation was a hit when first released almost 20 years ago and remains the largest-selling reggae album on Soul Jazz's rich roster. Remastered and with a few extra tunes added, this explosive new version of 100% Dynamite offers up a rich selection of Jamaican recordings from the 60s to mid-70s. The emphasis here is on lighter, more dance-floor friendly ska and rocksteady than the heavy roots reggae that many listeners favour – which is fine by me. The compiler – Soul Jazz founder Stuart Baker – makes it clear that Jamaicans continued to look to black American music for inspiration across this time with soul and funk influencing the local sound. Yet Jamaica's indigenous music scene was so strong it never sounds like blatant copying. Indeed, Ken Boothe's cover of Syl Johnson's ‘Is it Because I’m Black?’ throbs with a unique, distinctive disaffection. Among the many noted artists here are Horace Andy, Johnny Osbourne, Phyllis Dillon, Jackie Mitto, Toots & the Maytals and The Upsetters. Album opener, Willie Williams’ ‘Armageddon Time’, would become a staple in The Clash's live set. Imaginative choices and Baker's astute album programming make this a hugely enjoyable album.