Out Of Many, One Music! (Songs That Shaped Jamaica)

Jamaica's national motto, 'Out Of Many One People', could well be applied to the music that shaped the island's national sound, with modern reggae the result of many different musical forms coalescing to form a wonderfully unique 'one'.

Fantastic Voyage's highly popular Sound System Classics series has already celebrated the American jump blues favoured at Jamaican dances in the pre-ska era, but contrary to widespread belief, US rhythm & blues and the indigenous style of mento were not the only types of music enjoyed across the island prior to the development of Shuffle Blues and Ska. In fact, the diversity of sounds that exerted a direct influence on popular Jamaican music throughout the 20th Century is astonishing, taking in gospel, blues, jazz, vocal groups, country, pop, film music and exotica, hailing from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Southern Africa and the British Isles, as well as America.

Now the full extent of these influences is demonstrated by this 81-track 3CD set Out Of Many, One Music! which features original or key versions of songs that have played a significant role in shaping the development of Jamaican music. But, of course, the small West Indian island has not just taken from others musically. Its pioneering use of talk-over DJs and stripped down version rhythm tracks has been key to the development of the now globally dominant music form, hip hop. Over the years, the Jamaican music-loving public has demonstrated a keen ear for sweet and sentimental music and that factor is far more important than the musical genus to which any given recording belongs.

What becomes apparent from the music featured on this set is the Jamaican talent for reinvention. Rather than simply attempt to copy foreign recordings, as 'do over man songs', performers and musicians have taken elements of the original and reshaped them into something entirely different. And to prove this point, as you experience this extremely diverse and satisfying musical journey, consider the Jamaican versions that resulted from these recordings. There is no doubting of course that they provided the original source of inspiration, but the Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae that followed were far from simple, straight-forward covers, as we are sure you will agree.

Tracklist

1-1.   Fisk University Jubilee Quartet - Swing Low Sweet Chariot
1-2.   Ma Rainey And Her Georgia Band - See See Rider Blues
1-3.   Rita Montaner - El Manisero
1-4.   Ernesto Lecuona Y Su Orquesta Cubana - Karabali
1-5.   Barney Bigard And His Jazzopaters - Caravan
1-6.   The Harlem Hamfats - Oh! Red
1-7.   The Ink Spots - Do I Worry
1-8.   Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - In A Mellotone
1-9.   Xavier Cugat And His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra - Perfidia
1-10.   Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - Take The "A" Train
1-11.   Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - Blues In The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me)
1-12.   The Nat King Cole Trio - Straighten Up And Fly Right
1-13.   Big Sid Catlett Quartet, Ben Webster - Just A Riff
1-14.   Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra - Tippin' In
1-15.   Charlie Parker's Re-Boppers - Now's The Time
1-16.   The Andrews Sisters, Vic Schoen And His Orchestra - Rum And Coca-Cola
1-17.   Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra, Ella Johnson - Since I Fell For You
1-18.   The Ink Spots - Prisoner Of Love
1-19.   The Ravens - Ol' Man River
1-20.   Bobby Capó - Quizás, Quizás
1-21.   African Dance Band Of The Cold Storage Commission Of Southern Rhodesia - Skokiaan
1-22.   The Charlie Parker All-Stars - Barbados
1-23.   Steve Gibson's Red Caps - I Want A Roof Over My Head
1-24.   John Greer & His Rhythm Rockers - Got You On My Mind
1-25.   The Five Keys - The Glory Of Love
1-26.   Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - I Only Have Eyes For You

2-1.   Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - Time Marches On
2-2.   The Five Keys - Ling,Ting,Tong
2-3.   Lynn Hope - South Of The Border
2-4.   The Moonglows - Sincerely
2-5.   Jaye P. Morgan, Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra And Chorus - That's All I Want From You
2-6.   The Staple Singers - Won't You Sit Down
2-7.   Bo Diddley - She's Fine, She's Mine
2-8.   Sonny Rollins - St.Thomas
2-9.   The Spaniels, Al Smith Orchestra - You Gave Me Peace Of Mind
2-10.   Clyde McPhatter - Treasure Of Love
2-11.   The Teen Queens - Eddie My Love
2-12.   Nat King Cole - It's All In The Game
2-13.   Donnie Elbert - What Can I Do
2-14.   Sam Cooke, Bumps Blackwell Orchestra - You Send Me
2-15.   The Rays - Silhouettes
2-16.   Donnie Elbert - Leona
2-17.   Arthur Lyman - China Clipper
2-18.   Wade Flemons, The Newcomers - Here I Stand
2-19.   Jimmy Scott - I May Never (See My Baby Anymore)
2-20.   Dave "Baby" Cortez - The Happy Organ
2-21.   Rosita Rosano, San Juan Rhythm Boys - Little Boy
2-22.   Little Anthony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow
2-23.   Jimmie Rodgers, The Hugo Peretti Orchestra - Secretly
2-24.   Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
2-25.   The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
2-26.   Jo Ann Campbell - Mama (Can I Go Out Tonight)
2-27.   Frankie Ford, Huey "Piano" Smith & Orchestra - Sea Cruise

3-1.   Freddy Fender - Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
3-2.   Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go
3-3.   James Brown & The Famous Flames - Try Me (I Need You)
3-4.   Phil Phillips With The Twilights - Sea Of Love
3-5.   Chet Atkins - Teensville
3-6.   Dinah Washington, Brook Benton, Belford Hendricks And His Orchestra - A Rockin' Good Way
3-7.   The Flamingos - Nobody Loves Me Like You
3-8.   Bill Brock - A Cup Of Coffee (Then I'll Go)
3-9.   Sonny Red - Bluesville
3-10.   Jackie And The Starlites - Valarie
3-11.   Nat King Cole - Time And The River
3-12.   The Drifters - Please Stay
3-13.   Rosco Gordon - Let 'Em Try
3-14.   Solomon Burke - Just Out Of Reach ( Of My Two Open Arms)
3-15.   The Impressions - Gypsy Woman
3-16.   Eddie Harris - Exodus
3-17.   The Shirelles - A Thing Of The Past
3-18.   The Laurie Johnson Orchestra - Echo Four-Two
3-19.   Phil Upchurch - You Can't Sit Down (Part 1)
3-20.   The Dave Bailey Quintet - Comin' Home Baby
3-21.   The John Barry Seven And Orchestra - James Bond Theme
3-22.   Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
3-23.   Stan Getz - Theme From Dr.Kildare
3-24.   The Soul Stirrers - God Is Standing By
3-25.   Chuck Jackson - The Prophet
3-26.   The Impressions - Minstrel And Queen
3-27.   Lonnie Donegan - I'll Never Fall In Love Again
3-28.   Don & Juan - What's Your Name