When reggae entered its celebrated golden age in the 70s, many of the music’s hallmarks became permanent signifiers not just for reggae but for Jamaica itself. It happened organically: roots hits like Burning Spear’s ‘Marcus Garvey’ were the climax to years of reflection, awakening and cultural expression, and packed a big political punch. Dreadlocks must ‘step outta Babylon,’ as Max Romeo urgently sang on ‘One Step Forward’. The Roots compilation gives an excellent overview of the hits while providing a few rarities to satisfy devotees.

It accompanies the Lovers Rock compilation, showcasing Britain’s home-grown reggae offering. Packed full of summer anthems that link seamlessly, Lovers Rock captures the optimism and excitement of a fledgling Notting Hill Carnival and flaunts a sexuality unheard of from reggae’s roots counterparts across the Atlantic. The Rastafarian language of classic roots band The Congos, by contrast, is entrenched in Biblical values and repatriation themes that weren’t nearly so meaningful to Britain’s modern black youth. Lovers rock offered a softer, more melodic sound to roots, with female vocalists like Vivian Withers and Sheila Hylton playing a big role. There is an irony here in that, despite its soppy reputation, lovers rock’s relaxed freedom was a bold statement of its own. Besides, the two sub-genres are hardly mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by Junior Murvin, singer of the classic ‘Police and Thieves’, who features on both of these compilations.