This was assembled and released by K-Tel in 1973, as Reggae was hitting big in the U.S. Johnny Nash spent four weeks at Number One in November 1972 with “I Can See Clearly Now”, and our favorite cultural appropriator Paul Simon recorded “Mother and Child Reunion” with Jimmy Cliff’s backing band (although I wouldn’t call it Reggae, some would).

Never one to miss out on a trend, K-Tel set to securing licenses. To their (accidental) credit, this album was probably the first exposure many people had to reggae, especially in the suburbs. Maybe they didn’t ask for Bob Marley, but the biggest “names” here (at least from an American perspective) are Jimmy Cliff and Toots. Which is your favorite?

A1 Jimmy Cliff– Wonderful World Beautiful People
A2 Bob & Marcia– Young Gifted And Black
A3 Greyhound (4)– Moon River
A4 The Pioneers– Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
A5 Harry J. All Stars– Liquidator
A6 Nicky Thomas– Love Of The Common People
A7 Desmond Dekker– Israelites
A8 Dandy Livingstone– Suzanne Beware Of The Devil
B1 Greyhound (4)– Black And White
B2 Horace Faith– Black Pearl
B3 Desmond Dekker– You Can Get It If You Really Want
B4 Desmond Dekker– It Mek
B5 The Maytals– 54-56 That’s My Number
B6 Toots & The Maytals– Country Roads
B7 Byron Lee And The Dragonaires– Elizabethan Reggae
B8 The Upsetters– Return To Django
C1 Bob & Marcia– Pied Piper
C2 Dandy Livingstone– Come Back Liza
C3 The Chosen Few– Everybody Plays The Fool
C4 The Pioneers– Roll Muddy River
C5 Judge Dread– Oh! She Is A Big Girl Now
C6 Greyhound (4)– Floating
C7 Bruce Ruffin– Mad About You
D1 Bruce Ruffin– Rain
D2 Greyhound (4)– Dream Lover
D3 Tito Simon– Build It Up
D4 Dandy Livingstone– Big City
D5 The Hotshots– Snoopy Versus The Red Baron
D6 The Pioneers– I Need Your Sweet Inspiration
D7 Dave & Ansel Collins– Double Barrell