“Uptown Top Ranking: Trojan Ska & Reggae Chartbusters,” a 50 track 2CD set was released by Sanctuary Records with a collection of Jamaican music in their catalog. The compilation has performances by a stellar lineup of Jamaican legends from the 1960s and 1970s is a treasure trove of timeless hits.
Released March 15, 2024, Disc 1 has classic songs such as Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking, which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles chart in December 1978 and has since been certified Silver in the UK for selling 200,000 units. “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” by Dawn Penn and Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites.
“Israelites” written by Dekker and Leslie Kong, was released in 1969, the song also ascended to the summits of numerous charts worldwide. It was the first reggae track to claim the #1 spot in the UK and was among the pioneering few to penetrate the US Hot 100 top ten, peaking at #9 and Britcertified Silver.
Other tracks on Disc 1 include The Pioneers – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah, Susan Cadogan – Hurt so Good and The Maytals – 54-46 Was My Number.
On Disc 2 Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ U.K. top 40 hit 007 (Shanty Town) released in 1967 appears. The archetypal ‘rudebwoy’ song peaked at #14 on the U.K. Singles chart.
Also on CD2 is “Everything I Own” by Ken Boothe and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” by John Holt, “Money in My Pocket” by Dennis Brown and “Red Red Wine” by Tony Tribe.
“Uptown Top Ranking: Trojan Ska & Reggae Chartbusters 2CD”, comes almost 50 years after Trojan Records faced bankruptcy in 1975, leaving unpaid royalties and debts. Colin Newman, an accountant and businessman, took over Trojan Recordings that year and in 2001, Newman sold the Trojan catalogue to Sanctuary Records for £10.25m. Sanctuary Records was later acquired by Universal Music Group in 2007, and then BMG bought Sanctuary’s catalogue in 2013, which included Trojan’s songs. The Trojan catalogue contains over 10,000 songs, featuring early works by artists like Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, and Desmond Decker, Horace Andy and many more notable acts from the era. Despite its past financial struggles, Trojan generated profits of £1.1m from £3.1m in sales for the year ending December 2000.
See full track list for “Uptown Top Ranking: Trojan Ska & Reggae Chartbusters 2CD” below:
CD1:
1. Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
2. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites
3. The Pioneers – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
4. Susan Cadogan – Hurt so Good
5. The Maytals – 54-46 Was My Number
6. Greyhound – Moon River
7. Dave & Ansel Collins – Monkey Spanner
8. Bob & Marcia – (To Be) Young Gifted and Black
9. Desmond Dekker – You Can Get It If You Really Want
10. Nicky Thomas – Love of the Common People
11. Greyhound – Black and White
12. Horace Faith – Black Pearl
13. Bruce Ruffin – Rain
14. Dennis Brown – Man Next Door
15. Ken Boothe – Crying over You
16. Dandy – Let’s Do Rock Steady
17. The Maytals – Monkey Man
18. The Ethiopians – Train to Skaville
19. Derrick Morgan – Moon Hop
20. The Upsetters – Dollar in the Teeth
21. Tito Simon – This Monday Morning Feeling
22. Dandy Livingstone – Think About That
23. John Holt – The Tide Is High
24. Dennis Brown – Halfway Up, Halfway Down
25. Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)
CD2:
1. Ken Boothe – Everything I Own
2. John Holt – Help Me Make It Through the Night
3. Errol Dunkley – OK Fred
4. Sophia George – Girlie Girlie
5. Dennis Brown – Money in My Pocket
6. Bob & Marcia – Pied Piper
7. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – It Miek
8. Dandy Livingstone – Suzanne Beware of the Devil
9. The Melodians – Rivers of Babylon
10. Dave & Ansel Collins – Double Barrel
11. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – 007 (Shanty Town)
12. The Upsetters – Return of Django
13. The Pioneers – Long Shot Kick de Bucket
14. Tony Tribe – Red Red Wine
15. Harry J Allstars – Liquidator
16. Dandy – Rudy, a Message to You
17. Desmond Dekker – Sing a Little Song
18. Dennis Brown – Love Has Found Its Way
19. Errol Dunkley – Sit Down and Cry
20. Greyhound – I Am What I Am
21. The Pioneers – Give and Take (Give a Little, Take a Little)
22. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Pickney Gal
23. The Melodians – Sweet Sensation
24. The Hot Shots – Snoopy Versus the Red Baron
25. Bruce Ruffin – Mad About You
