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The Trojan Archives
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Original Design and Copyright © 2002 by Daddy Lion Chandell
CLICK ON THIS DESIGN to link to the Trojan Records website after you read this!!!
Trojan Records name and logo are trademark properties of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
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Before you read into our beloved archives of The Trojan Files,
observe the report from the one-sheet that started it all for
((( WAKE THE TOWN! )))*
deep in the nooz* Presents WAKE THE TOWN!*
EMERGENCY REGGAE ALERT #1
TROJAN warriors finally find their new SANCTUARY in America!
By Daddy Lion Chandell
Music & Entertainment Analyst and Historian/
Founder, DLC IndustryWatch
Originally Released in Print: December 15, 2001
Specially Revised in 2002
Being a fellow devoted nostalgic of a music lover much less a music historian, I have dreamed and dreamed, and hoped and damn near prayed for this moment to happen. But the fact that I predicted it makes it all the sweeter. I only wish it happened more sooner than later into 2001. Either way, it finally happened!! I have mentioned their name every now and then in past articles, and now I will be bringing more mention of their legendary name for time to come.
Because Trojan Records HAS FINALLY COME TO AMERICA!!!
Trojan Records is the legendary England-based Reggae music company that I grew up with from a child, who had a sound as distinctive as their famous navy blue logo riding the top of the famous LP vinyl label design with the white and orange halves. Ironically, as a little-known fact, Trojan was co-founded by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and Lee Gopthal in an merger of sorts with Gopthal's well-known company in the UK at the time, B&C Records, but was named after an apparent nickname ("The Trojan") of the legendary producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, who otherwise owned and operated the unforgettable Treasure Isle label, not to mention direct opposite of the legendary Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, Jamaica's version of Berry Gordy. Earlier in 2001, the most unexpected event would occur as the long-time independent powerhouse of Reggae was now acquired by another British-based powerhouse company, Sanctuary Records.
Sanctuary, since 2000, has made a home in America, setting up HQ in New York in process of the expansion of the company into the Sanctuary Records Group, recently signing the Rock bands Tesla (coming back from a EXTRA LONG hiatus) and the well-known Megadeth. In 2001, alongside a one-shot monopoly-style multi-acquisition including UK-based specialty label Castle Music and also American-based CMC International Records, then an independent affiliate of BMG Music, Sanctuary has secured BMG to handle nationwide distribution in the United States for the entire group. But it was the Summer of 2001 that Sanctuary has made busy and has decided to bring the ambiance, the legacy and most importantly, the availability of Trojan to the U.S. once and for all.
Previously, such availabllity was limited exclusively to Trojan having to export all of their releases (as many as they could) to America, of which they have been extremely successful, especially within the last five years or so particularly with compact disc releases, as opposed to vinyl which has flourished a little longer while limited to specialty vinyl shops. This, despite the departure of former head Steve Barrow, who went on to form Blood And Fire Records (named obviously after the hit from Niney The Observer).
With this acquisition plus the American distribution in effect, the year 2001 marks the a milestone in Trojan Records history as the first time Trojan material is released domestically in the U.S.
And as Trojan was formed in 1967, the timing was ever so appropriate, what with 2002 being the 35th year of the legendary label's existence.
Among the many great releases in the catalog, you will find material from Toots & The Maytals, John Holt, Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters, Derrick Harriott, Desmond Dekker, The Ethiopians, and (of course) The Wailers--many of which will focus on "Bob Marley & The Wailers" and certain other releases concentrating on Wailers musical material lead in vocal by the great Wailer Peter Tosh.
One of the very first Trojan-Sanctuary releases in America is The Wailers' Lee Perry-produced collection album Rasta Revolution from 1974 (with material from 1970). A heavy amount of the Trojan catalog (estimating about 50 releases) hit the stores during that seminal period, many packaged with the subtitle "Classic Reggae Recordings", and as predicted, another approximate 70 more were released, including new anthologies and special collections.
Any material to be released in the U.S. from Trojan other recent U.K. label imprints including Receiver (a Rock music imprint, which was the most recent owner of Trojan prior to Sanctuary), Rialto (the Trojan archive label covering all kinds of music), Mooncrest (a Jazz and Blues label which, incidentally, was part of the B&C system back in the heyday and controlled many of Trojan's releases throughout the early-to-mid-70s)), Indigo (Folk), and Attack (a rarely seen label until 1988, originally part of the Doctor Bird group of labels acquired from Graeme Goodall--now better known as a label owned by multi-tasking producer legend Bunny "Striker" Lee) would have been (and eventually became) labeled generically under the Trojan name, but after careful consideration, all non-Reggae material will be issued either under the Sanctuary name or in any of their more proper respective channels, such as Castle Music.
Any word on American vinyl availability is unknown at this time.
Now, as a Warrior and as a big-time devoted "Trojan man", I WILL follow and keep close watch of ALL future Trojan U.S. activity, plus will provide upcoming album reviews. **One favor to ask of Sanctuary though-PLEASE bring the famous Trojan design to the CDs, or at least make the logo bigger on your releases, PLEASE!
--One Love, The Professor DLC
**NOTE: Lo and behold, it seems the powers that be at Sanctuary have seen this report, and have somehow responded rather well to that request. Thank you.
THE TROJAN HOT SHOT
A Little "Ruffin RAIN"
Takes Away The Pain!
By Daddy Lion Chandell
Music & Entertainment Analyst and Historian/
Founder, Chairman, & CEO: DLC IndustryWatch
Who's looking for cutting-edge Reggae music?
Who's looking for innovative vocal and instrumental vibrations of the time?
Who's looking for something different than the rest?
Why look any further than former lead vocalist of The Techniques and head of the short-lived group, The Shades, the one and only Bruce Ruffin?
While this growing artist's claim to fame was his smooth rendition of Jose Feliciano's "Rain" (co-produced by Herman Chin-Loy, he has a history of making, if not creating (as in the writing process) of some of the greatest Reggae tunes of all time, and is highly underrated (as even fellow journalists and musicologists agree!).
A definitive collection of this said work can be found on the compilation entitled Rain: The Best Of Bruce Ruffin (1967-1971).
Once you start listening, you won't want to stop, neither will you want to take it out of your CD player (so be sure it's a CD changer). The heavy majority of tunes on this album highlight his days as a group member of The Shades and The Techniques, more so than his solo material, but he might as well have been a solo artist to most extents, or at least have had top billing on some of these tracks, such as "There Comes A Time" of which is shared with fellow Techniques lead Pat Kelly.
Other tunes to look for include "(Go) Find Yourself A Fool", which is actually a Winston Francis track, backed beautifully by The Shades. Plus, there is also "Bad Minded People (Never Get Along), and "Lonely Man (Am I)" from The Techniques, "Free The People", "Now You See Me, Now You Don't", "I Know A Girl", and more scorchers.
This Highly Recommended!* compilation has been given 6.5 Cycles out of 7 by DLC IndustryWatch® and has been named a 2002 DLC IndustryWatch® Choice* Album Of The Year!
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