gregory issacs

[jumpingmaster]

i have a number of lps and just a few 45s, wonder which ones say at ernie's were absolutely crucial to have as i have a bit of extra change to throw around and was going to heap on some missed essentials. i have and love his african museum stuff and most of the singles i have are just a handful from about 85. what are some other acts that came up through his label? i have a compilation of him of his own personal selections from his productions and they are crackers everyone. his albums i have range from essential to some that are a bit too pop in my opinion. thanks in advance for the help.

[ice]

essentials imho:

Cool Ruler + Slum in Dub
Soon Forward
The Lonely Lover
More Grgory
Night Nurse

I also like "Live at the Academy"

[gryffe]

Extra Classic is the one to have

[johnska]

b&f's own Mr Isaacs, which contains the massive Mr Know It All, a must have for any Gregory fan

[ephteeay]

depending on what you like of course!!

my choice: (not in order by the way)

1. showcase (for tracks like motherless children, going downtown)
2. more gregory (if i dont have you plus another 3 or 4 good ones!)
3. soon forward
4. the lonely lover (for poor & clean and tribute to wa de)
5.the sensational gregory isaacs - has mr know it all with different mix plus few other good tracks (on the rupie edwards produced side from what i remember)


what i would not recommend: many will disagree (but too many happy riddims for me, which is what the crowd prefers (from experience) if youre a selector!)

1. night nurse
2. extra classic
3. mr isaacs (apart from mr know it all & version which is on the baf release only and is one of the greatest riddims/gregory tunes!! with a killer dub!...)

another track i ADORE is 'never be ungrateful' on two bad superstars LP (with dennis brown) and also on LOVE 7" (which i have to get one day..)

[Big Five]

Late At Night ...... under the name of William Shakepare

[Freddy C]

Extra Classic is the one to have

One of the one's to have! I would say this is his best album, though....

but, apart from the dubs, it's all included here: All I Have Is Love: Anthology (Trojan) along with tracks like "One One Cocoa" which were previously hard to find.

Other 70s essentials would be:

Love Is Overdue (1974-1975) (Heartbeat)
Mr. Isaacs (Blood & Fire)
My Number One (Heartbeat)
Gregory Isaacs - Best Of Volume 1 + 2 (Heartbeat) ...or seperately

From the 80s: Night Nurse, Private Beach Party, Red Rose For Gregory.

That'll do for starters.

[Ash]

Best of..Vols 1+2-GG's/Heartbeat
Mr.Isaacs-B&F
Extra Classic-Trojan (The inclusion of the dubs sells this one)
Soon Forward-Frontline
Red Rose For Gregory-Greensleeves

[Zapatoo_the_Tiger]

1995's "Private Lesson" is very average - not one to avoid, but don't cross the road to buy it - get it cheap if you can.

IMVHO

[kalcidis]

I've got the Mr. Isaacs release on Shanachie. Is it worth anything? Cause if it is I'll sell it and get the B&F-version.

[d2domer]

what are some other acts that came up through his label?

In case you're not aware of this compilation, it is totally worth the $8.99

Various - Reggae's Greatest Hits 1 (Gregory & Friends Top Ten)

10 TRACKS
1. Gregory Isaacs - Top Ten
2. Ronnie Davis - Writing On The Wall
3. Ronnie Davis - No More Darling
4. Viceroys - Brethren & Sistren
5. Mighty Diamonds - Wicked A Fight
6. Bobby Melody - Got To Be True
7. Gregory Isaacs - Cream Of The Crop
8. Bobby Melody - Try So Hard
9. Mighty Diamonds - Make Haste
10. Viceroys - Miracle

[Pluto]

Some not mentioned:

There’s a nice collection of Isaacs 70s tunes on RAS called “Looking Back” compiled by the Cool Ruler himself and including quite a few rareties.

“Out Deh” (Island) is also worth having since most ‘Best-Of’ compilations seem to include the lesser tracks from this album.

Also “Warning” for King Tubby’s has some very good (digital) tracks like “Long Sentence”, “Badness” (minor-chord too – hear ephteeay!)

(Cool Ruler should also be on ephteeay’s favourites list for minor-chord classics like “Party In The Slum”, “One More Time”, “Created By The Father”, “Uncle Joe”!)

I don’t have his “Best” sets for Alvin ‘GG’ Ranglin, but there are two compilation of material from the same era on Jamaican Gold (‘Willow Tree’, ‘Lonely Days’) that are great and include DJ disco-mixes.

And my opinion is that you can’t go wrong with any of Isaacs' 70s stuff.

Oh, and this African Museum compilation d2doomer mentioned (a.k.a. Reggae’s Greatest Hits Vol.1) is worth getting at least for the 2 sublime Diamonds cuts.

[Freddy C]

And my opinion is that you can’t go wrong with any of Isaacs' 70s stuff.

So true. Just a question of weeding through all the releases to find the best way to buy the stuff. The Trojan Anthology has to be a good starter even if it does have a Bob Andy song credited as written by Gregory.

Big up Mr. Anderson.

[jb welda]

i know its been noted by others but dont overlook lonely lover...his number one album of all time if you ask me. unfortunately its not really available anymore but i believe most of it is on the frontline compilation called soon forward i think...though that might not be available either anymore.

red rose for gregory contains rumours...worth it for that alone but plenty more killers on there too

mr isaacs on b&f of course

out deh...one of my favorite albums though very short and some filler on there out deh.

never did get into that one on ras with his productions (looking back?) but maybe i should check it.

and extra classic as reissued on trojan recently...number one!

one love
jah bill

[jb welda]

oh one more, his live set on island/mango in the reggae greats series, seriously killer stuff backed by radics in fine form. much better performance than the "live at brixton academy" set that kingdom released along with the second part also.

one love
jah bill