Various Artists - Sweet Inspiration: Guilty Reggae Pleasures
Sweet Inspiration - Guilty Reggae Pleasures explores a distinctive chapter in British reggae history, when Trojan Records sought to bring Jamaican music to a wider UK audience despite limited coverage from the mainstream media.
One of the label’s responses was to embellish Jamaican recordings with sophisticated orchestration and to work with leading British-based reggae acts on productions that could stand alongside contemporary pop. The resulting “commercial reggae” sound proved popular with reggae listeners and produced a rich catalogue of polished, melodic recordings.
This black 140g vinyl edition collects fourteen tracks from artists including The Pioneers, Marcia Griffiths, Desmond Dekker, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Greyhound and Bruce Ruffin, presenting soul, pop and reggae influences side by side.
SIDE ONE
1. I Need Your Sweet Inspiration (UK mix) - The Pioneers
2. Sweet Bitter Love (7" mix) - Marcia Griffiths
3. Lonely For Your Love - Nicky Thomas
4. Beware - Desmond Dekker
5. Ain’t It A Beautiful Morning (strings mix) - Danny Ray
6. Reggae From The Ghetto - John Holt
7. Ride Your Pony - Dave Barker
SIDE TWO
1. Candida (UK mix) - Bruce Ruffin
2. Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From 'The Godfather') - Ken Boothe
3. Dream Lover - Greyhound
4. Guitar Man - Honey Boy
5. Walk A Mile In My Shoes - Freddie Notes
6. Got To Have You Baby - Lord Tanamo
7. You Don’t Know Like I Know (UK mix) - The Pioneers
