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    • The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough

    The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough

    01/01/1993

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    All Music Guide Review

    A superlative introduction to the world of Jamaican music, Tougher Than Tough is a treasure trove of information, filled with unforgettable music. Across four discs and 95 songs, this set spans the entire history of the island's vibrant music scene, hitting all the major stylistic bases along the way, and rounding up many of Jamaica's greatest artists. It's evident that a great amount of thoughtful time and effort went into this package and, although collectors will howl at the many omissions and some of the selections, this set wasn't intended for them, but for a general audience interested in beginning to explore the music more deeply. With that in mind, the package includes a lushly illustrated 65-page booklet written by Steve Barrow (author of -The Rough Guide to Reggae), who provides an exceptionally lucid historical overview. The rest of the booklet offers information on every track, including producer, composer, and release date. The music itself is sequenced chronologically, allowing the listener to chart the myriad of stylistic changes over the years. Disc one begins in 1958 with the Folkes Brothers' "Oh Carolina," arguably the first ever proto-ska release, cut during producer Prince Buster's first ever recording session. It continues through the rise of pure ska and through the shift to rocksteady. Disc two concentrates on the reggae years and the rise of the DJs, while the third is given over entirely to roots. The final disc brings things bang up to date, following the trajectory of the dancehalls. The set comes full circle with the final track, Shaggy's smash hit cover of "Oh Carolina." From rude reggae to ragga, dulcet vocal groups to dueling DJs, The Story of Jamaican Music is indeed just that. Of course, there's a wealth of equally masterful music that didn't make the cut, and the booklet discusses a multitude of songs not included. But this is history 101; hopefully, students will continue their studies on their own. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide

    The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • Artist
  • time
  • lyrics
  • 1
  • Oh Carolina
  • Folkes Brothers
  • 2:40
  • Sound Clip for Oh Carolina from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 2
  • Boogie in My Bones
  • Aitken, Laurel
  • 2:47
  • Sound Clip for Boogie in My Bones from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 3
  • Midnight Track
  • Gray, Owen
  • 2:27
  • Sound Clip for Midnight Track from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 4
  • Easy Snappin'
  • Beckford, Theophilius
  • 2:50
  • Sound Clip for Easy Snappin' from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 5
  • Housewives Choice
  • 2:40
  • Sound Clip for Housewives Choice from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 6
  • Forward March
  • Morgan, Derrick
  • 2:50
  • Sound Clip for Forward March from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 7
  • Miss Jamaica
  • Cliff, Jimmy
  • 2:25
  • Sound Clip for Miss Jamaica from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 8
  • My Boy Lollipop
  • Small, Millie
  • 2:01
  • Sound Clip for My Boy Lollipop from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 9
  • Six and Seven Books of Moses
  • Maytals
  • 2:25
  • Sound Clip for Six and Seven Books of Moses from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 10
  • Simmer Down
  • Wailers [1]
  • 2:48
  • Sound Clip for Simmer Down from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 11
  • Man in the Street
  • Drummond, Don
  • 3:23
  • Sound Clip for Man in the Street from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 12
  • Carry Go Bring Come
  • Hinds, Justin & Dominoes
  • 2:51
  • Sound Clip for Carry Go Bring Come from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 13
  • Guns of Navarone
  • Skatalites
  • 2:28
  • Sound Clip for Guns of Navarone from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 14
  • Al Capone
  • Prince Buster
  • 2:56
  • Sound Clip for Al Capone from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 15
  • Hard Man Fe Dead
  • Prince Buster
  • 3:22
  • Sound Clip for Hard Man Fe Dead from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 16
  • Tougher Than Tough
  • Morgan, Derrick
  • 2:26
  • Sound Clip for Tougher Than Tough from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 17
  • Girl I've Got a Date
  • Ellis, Alton
  • 2:24
  • Sound Clip for Girl I've Got a Date from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 18
  • Happy Go Lucky Girl
  • Paragons [2]
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for Happy Go Lucky Girl from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 19
  • Dancing Mood
  • Wilson, Delroy
  • 2:51
  • Sound Clip for Dancing Mood from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 20
  • The Train Is Coming
  • Boothe, Ken
  • 3:20
  • Sound Clip for The Train Is Coming from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 21
  • Take It Easy
  • Lewis, Hopeton
  • 2:49
  • Sound Clip for Take It Easy from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 22
  • Ba Ba Boom
  • Jamaicans
  • 3:20
  • Sound Clip for Ba Ba Boom from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 23
  • 007 (Shanty Town)
  • Dekker, Desmond
  • 2:42
  • Sound Clip for 007 (Shanty Town) from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 24
  • I've Got to Go Back Home
  • Andy, Bob
  • 3:05
  • Sound Clip for I've Got to Go Back Home from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 25
  • Queen Majesty
  • Techniques [1]
  • 3:31
  • Sound Clip for Queen Majesty from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 26
  • Loving Pauper
  • Dobson, Dobby
  • 3:15
  • Sound Clip for Loving Pauper from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 27
  • Don't Stay Away
  • Dillon, Phyllis
  • 2:31
  • Sound Clip for Don't Stay Away from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 28 (2)
  • Israelites
  • Dekker, Desmond
  • 2:48
  • Sound Clip for Israelites from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 29 (2)
  • 54-46 That's My Number
  • Maytals
  • 2:54
  • Sound Clip for 54-46 That's My Number from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 30 (2)
  • Reggae Hit the Town
  • Ethiopians
  • 2:25
  • Sound Clip for Reggae Hit the Town from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 31 (2)
  • Wet Dream
  • Romeo, Max
  • 2:48
  • Sound Clip for Wet Dream from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 32 (2)
  • My Conversation
  • Uniques [1]
  • 3:38
  • Sound Clip for My Conversation from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 33 (2)
  • Bangarang
  • 3:09
  • Sound Clip for Bangarang from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 34 (2)
  • Return of Django
  • Upsetters [Reggae]
  • 2:25
  • Sound Clip for Return of Django from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 35 (2)
  • The Liquidator
  • Harry J All-Stars
  • 2:52
  • Sound Clip for The Liquidator from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 36 (2)
  • Rivers of Babylon
  • Melodians
  • 4:16
  • Sound Clip for Rivers of Babylon from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 37 (2)
  • The Harder They Come
  • Cliff, Jimmy
  • 3:40
  • Sound Clip for The Harder They Come from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 38 (2)
  • Young Gifted and Black
  • Bob & Marcia
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for Young Gifted and Black from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 39 (2)
  • Wake the Town
  • U Roy
  • 2:27
  • Sound Clip for Wake the Town from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 40 (2)
  • How Long
  • Kelly, Pat [1]
  • 3:54
  • Sound Clip for How Long from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 41 (2)
  • Double Barrel
  • Collins, Dave and Ansel
  • 2:47
  • Sound Clip for Double Barrel from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 42 (2)
  • Blood & Fire
  • Holness, Winston Niney
  • 3:05
  • Sound Clip for Blood & Fire from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 43 (2)
  • Cherry Oh Baby
  • Donaldson, Eric
  • 3:02
  • Sound Clip for Cherry Oh Baby from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 44 (2)
  • Better Must Come
  • Wilson, Delroy
  • 2:33
  • Sound Clip for Better Must Come from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 45 (2)
  • Money in My Pocket
  • Brown, Dennis
  • 2:33
  • Sound Clip for Money in My Pocket from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 46 (2)
  • Stick by Me
  • Holt, John
  • 3:19
  • Sound Clip for Stick by Me from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 47 (2)
  • Teach the Children
  • Alcapone, Dennis
  • 2:30
  • Sound Clip for Teach the Children from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 48 (2)
  • $.90 Skank
  • Big Youth
  • 2:50
  • Sound Clip for $.90 Skank from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 49 (2)
  • Everything I Own
  • Boothe, Ken
  • 3:44
  • Sound Clip for Everything I Own from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 50 (2)
  • Westbound Train
  • Brown, Dennis
  • 3:07
  • Sound Clip for Westbound Train from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 51 (2)
  • Move Out of Babylon
  • Clarke, Johnny
  • 3:38
  • Sound Clip for Move Out of Babylon from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 52 (2)
  • Curly Locks
  • Byles, Junior
  • 3:22
  • Sound Clip for Curly Locks from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 53 (3)
  • Country Boy
  • Heptones
  • 2:58
  • Sound Clip for Country Boy from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 54 (3)
  • Welding
  • I Roy
  • 3:48
  • Sound Clip for Welding from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 55 (3)
  • Marcus Garvey
  • Burning Spear
  • 3:24
  • Sound Clip for Marcus Garvey from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 56 (3)
  • Right Time
  • Mighty Diamonds
  • 3:15
  • Sound Clip for Right Time from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 57 (3)
  • Natty Sing Hit Songs
  • Stewart, Roman
  • 3:18
  • Sound Clip for Natty Sing Hit Songs from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 58 (3)
  • Ballistic Affair
  • Smart, Leroy [1]
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for Ballistic Affair from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 59 (3)
  • Tenement Yard
  • Miller, Jacob
  • 2:37
  • Sound Clip for Tenement Yard from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 60 (3)
  • War Ina Babylon
  • Romeo, Max
  • 4:04
  • Sound Clip for War Ina Babylon from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 61 (3)
  • Police & Thieves
  • Murvin, Junior
  • 3:46
  • Sound Clip for Police & Thieves from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 62 (3)
  • Two Sevens Clash
  • Culture
  • 3:29
  • Sound Clip for Two Sevens Clash from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 63 (3)
  • I'm Still Waiting
  • Wilson, Delroy
  • 4:04
  • Sound Clip for I'm Still Waiting from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 64 (3)
  • No Woman, No Cry
  • Marley, Bob
  • 4:04
  • Sound Clip for No Woman, No Cry from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 65 (3)
  • Uptown Top Ranking
  • Althia & Donna
  • 3:54
  • Sound Clip for Uptown Top Ranking from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 66 (3)
  • Number One
  • Isaacs, Gregory
  • 3:43
  • Sound Clip for Number One from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 67 (3)
  • Bredda Gravalicious
  • Wailing Souls
  • 3:51
  • Sound Clip for Bredda Gravalicious from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 68 (3)
  • River Jordan
  • Minott, Sugar
  • 3:08
  • Sound Clip for River Jordan from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 69 (3)
  • Armagideon Time
  • Williams, Willie [3]
  • 5:08
  • Sound Clip for Armagideon Time from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 70 (3)
  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
  • Black Uhuru
  • 4:54
  • Sound Clip for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 71 (3)
  • Fort Augustus
  • Delgado, Junior
  • 4:06
  • Sound Clip for Fort Augustus from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 72 (3)
  • Joggin'
  • McGregor, Freddie
  • 3:42
  • Sound Clip for Joggin' from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 73 (3)
  • Sitting and Watching
  • Brown, Dennis
  • 3:28
  • Sound Clip for Sitting and Watching from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 74 (4)
  • Night Nurse
  • Isaacs, Gregory
  • 4:05
  • Sound Clip for Night Nurse from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 75 (4)
  • Mad Over Me
  • Yellowman
  • 3:13
  • Sound Clip for Mad Over Me from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 76 (4)
  • Diseases
  • Michigan & Smiley
  • 3:31
  • Sound Clip for Diseases from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 77 (4)
  • Water Pumping
  • Osbourne, Johnny
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for Water Pumping from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 78 (4)
  • Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng
  • Paul, Frankie
  • 3:08
  • Sound Clip for Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 79 (4)
  • Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway)
  • Levy, Barrington
  • 3:37
  • Sound Clip for Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway) from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 80 (4)
  • Ring the Alarm
  • Tenor Saw
  • 3:13
  • Sound Clip for Ring the Alarm from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 81 (4)
  • Under Me Sleng Teng
  • Smith, Wayne
  • 4:07
  • Sound Clip for Under Me Sleng Teng from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 82 (4)
  • Tempo
  • Redrose, Anthony
  • 3:30
  • Sound Clip for Tempo from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 83 (4)
  • Boops
  • Super Cat
  • 3:59
  • Sound Clip for Boops from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 84 (4)
  • Greetings
  • Half Pint [2]
  • 3:36
  • Sound Clip for Greetings from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 85 (4)
  • Punanny
  • Admiral Bailey
  • 3:27
  • Sound Clip for Punanny from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 86 (4)
  • Hol' a Fresh
  • Red Dragon
  • 3:54
  • Sound Clip for Hol' a Fresh from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 87 (4)
  • Rumours
  • Isaacs, Gregory
  • 4:09
  • Sound Clip for Rumours from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 88 (4)
  • Cover Me
  • 3:23
  • Sound Clip for Cover Me from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 89 (4)
  • Legal Rights
  • 4:04
  • Sound Clip for Legal Rights from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 90 (4)
  • Wicked Inna Bed
  • Ranks, Shabba
  • 2:58
  • Sound Clip for Wicked Inna Bed from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 91 (4)
  • Bandolero
  • Pinchers
  • 3:32
  • Sound Clip for Bandolero from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 92 (4)
  • Yuh Dead Now
  • Tiger [1]
  • 3:49
  • Sound Clip for Yuh Dead Now from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 93 (4)
  • Bogle
  • Banton, Buju
  • 3:01
  • Sound Clip for Bogle from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 94 (4)
  • Murder She Wrote
  • Demus, Chaka & Pliers
  • 4:05
  • Sound Clip for Murder She Wrote from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


  • 95 (4)
  • Oh Carolina
  • Shaggy
  • 3:10
  • Sound Clip for Oh Carolina from The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough


    • Credits of The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough



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