Gonna get it out of the way right off the bat. No, this is not condom talk, but Trojan Records. thank you very much...

I've been looking into seriously expanding my reggae collection beyond Marley's box set and 20 or so other discs. On tap for me are anthologies from Burning Spear and Toots and the Maytals (own a skimpy one disc set already).

I've been looking over these Trojan box sets also. An incredible price on these things. 3 discs for under $15. But it's daunting. I see a 30 disc box set for $150, but that is overkill. So, I think I'm going to start with the Dub box and maybe UK Hits or Tighten Up. I also plan on plopping down money on the Story of Jamaican Music from Mango, but waiting for a cheap price.

Anyone own any of these Trojan box sets and have advice?

The Trojan Bx Sets are great. I've got the Ska set and the Ganja set, but I'll probably pick up a few more.

The box set you mentioned. The Story of Jamaican Music, is absolutely essential, and I would get it before the Trojan sets, price be damned.

Thanks wenders... I'm going to call around town and see if anyone has that box used. It's over $50 online, but it would be $25 used. I'm stoked on these Trojan sets if the sound quality is good. Really want to hear what Lee "Scratch" Perry has done.
The nut!

Pick up the first dub set and the singles set. Both are beautiful. Also, for some recent Jamaican sounds, pick up the Greensleeves comp Ragga! Ragga! Ragga! 2003, if yr down with Jamaican hip-hopish stuff (and you should be!).

Thanks Yancey... ordered the dub set... that looks fascinating. I'll look into the singles, but I read somewhere it's filled with b-sides that aren't quite as interesting.

The X-rated Reggae set is a good one. You'll never hear most of these songs on the radio and you'll also learn Jamaican slang too.

Some recommendations:

- Burning Spear's "Marcus Garvey / Garvey's Ghost"
- The 2-disc Black Uhuru "Chronicles" collection
- The Lee "Scratch" Perry "Ark-ology" box (an incredible dub collection)
- Culture "When The Two Sevens Clash"
- Gregory Isaacs Best-Of's, vol. 1 & 2

and, yes, The Story Of Jamaican Music box set should be a mandatory part of any CD library.

Fielding, I've got that Black Uhuru 2-disc set sitting right next to me... checked it out from the library. I already own the one disc "Ultimate Collection" and I like that better. Succinct and pretty much perfection.

I had a 10% coupon for Buy.com and ordered the Trojan Dub, UK Hits and Upsetters box. $12.58 a piece for 3 disc sets. Can't believe that. I understand the liner notes are horrible, but that's fine. I really want to hear this Lee Perry stuff. Probably not as good as Arkology, but the price is right. If these Trojan sets sound okay I'll probably get a few others.

Of course, if you live in Atlanta, you could always just sell your collection and hang out in Bridgetown Grill all day.

That said, the jerk chicken is cheaper (and better) at Eats on Ponce.