Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Over the course of four CDs, this is the essential musical history of the loudest island in the world, with the emphasis on essential. It starts in the time before ska, and brings it all up to the dominance of dancehall in the '90s. Along the way there's ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dub; 95 great tracks, every single one a classic. About the only major artist not represented is Lee Perry, and his productions sneak in there. Steve Barrow's notes will carry you through the story. This is about as perfect as they come, in both form and content. Chris Nickson

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Disc 1:

1. Oh Carolina - Folkes, John
2. Boogie in My Bones - Aitken, Laurel
3. Midnight Track - Gray, Owen
4. Easy Snappin' - Beckford, Theophili
5. Housewives Choice - Morgan, Derrick
6. Forward March - Morgan, Derrick
7. Miss Jamaica - Cliff, Jimmy
8. My Boy Lollipop - Levy, Morris
9. Six and Seven Books of Moses - Hibbert, Toots
10. Simmer Down - Marley, Bob
11. Man in the Street - Drummond, Don
12. Carry Go Bring Come - Hines, Justin [1]
13. Guns of Navarone - Tiomkin, Dimitri
14. Al Capone - Campbell, Cecil
15. Hard Man Fe Dead - Campbell, C
16. Tougher Than Tough - Morgan, Derrick
17. Girl I've Got a Date - Ellis, Alton
18. Happy Go Lucky Girl - Holt, John
19. Dancing Mood - Lowery, B
20. The Train Is Coming - Boothe, Ken
21. Take It Easy - Lewis, Hopeton
22. Ba Ba Boom - Cowan, T.
23. 007 (Shanty Town) - Dekker, Desmond
24. I've Got to Go Back Home - Anderson, Keith
25. Queen Majesty - Mayfield, Curtis
26. Loving Pauper - Dobson, Dobby
27. Don't Stay Away - Holt, John

Disc 2:

1. Israelites - Dekker, Desmond
2. 54-46 That's My Number - Hibbert, Toots
3. Reggae Hit the Town - Dillon, Leonard
4. Wet Dream - Romeo, Max
5. My Conversation - Smith, Slim
6. Bangarang - Lee, E.
7. Return of Django - Perry, Lee [1] 'Scr
8. The Liquidator - Johnson, Harry
9. Rivers of Babylon - Dowe, Brenton
10. The Harder They Come - Cliff, Jimmy
11. Young Gifted and Black - Simone, Nina
12. Wake the Town - Beckford, Ewart
13. How Long - Kelly, Pat [1]
14. Double Barrel - Riley, Winston
15. Blood & Fire - Holness, Winston Ni
16. Cherry Oh Baby - Donaldson, Eric
17. Better Must Come - Wilson, Delroy
18. Money in My Pocket - Brown, Dennis
19. Stick by Me - Holt, John
20. Teach the Children - Smith, D.
21. $.90 Skank - Hudson, Keith
22. Everything I Own - Gates, David [1]
23. Westbound Train - Brown, Dennis
24. Move Out of Babylon - Clarke, Johnnie
25. Curly Locks - Perry, Lee [1] 'Scr

Disc 3:

1. Country Boy - Sibbles, Leroy
2. Welding - Reid, Roy
3. Marcus Garvey - Rodney, Winston
4. Right Time - Mighty Diamonds
5. Natty Sing Hit Songs - Stewart, Roman
6. Ballistic Affair - Jones, F.
7. Tenement Yard - Miller, Jacob
8. War Ina Babylon - Smith, M.
9. Police & Thieves - Murvin, Junior
10. Two Sevens Clash - Dayes, Roy S.
11. I'm Still Waiting - Marley, Bob
12. No Woman, No Cry - Ford, Vincent
13. Uptown Top Ranking - Thompson, Errol
14. Number One - Isaacs, Gregory
15. Bredda Gravalicious - Matthews, W
16. River Jordan - Minott, L.
17. Armagideon Time - Williams, Willie [3
18. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - Rose, Michael [1]
19. Fort Augustus - Delgado, Junior
20. Joggin' - McGregor, Freddie
21. Sitting and Watching - Brown, Dennis

Disc 4:

1. Night Nurse - Isaacs, Gregory
2. Mad Over Me - Foster, Winston
3. Diseases - Fairclough, Anthony
4. Water Pumping - James, Lloyd
5. Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng - Paul, Frankie
6. Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway) - Levy, Barrington
7. Ring the Alarm - Bright, Carl
8. Under Me Sleng Teng - Smith, Wayne
9. Tempo - Cameron, Anthony
10. Boops - Maragh, W
11. Greetings - Trinity
12. Punanny - Thompson, Delroy
13. Hol' a Fresh - Red Dragon
14. Rumours - Hines, Carlton
15. Cover Me - Greene, Marlin
16. Legal Rights - Papa San
17. Wicked Inna Bed - Gordon, R.
18. Bandolero - Thompson, Delroy
19. Yuh Dead Now - Jackson, Norman
20. Bogle - Myfie, Mark
21. Murder She Wrote - Taylor, John [Chaka
22. Oh Carolina - Folkes, John

Rating: - Proof that there is no god...
... is the fact that this set has been allowed to go OOP. Read the other 23 reviews; this is the ABSOLUTE best collection of Jamaican music on (or now, off) the market. People would come to my home and hear this set, and the next day, buy it.

What a shame.

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Rating: - AN EYE OPENER
This box set really opened my eyes, my ears and my mind to the infinite possibilities within Jamaican music. It is without a doubt the most important set of discs I own. As the title suggests, it is the history of Jamaican music in one handy box. Music for the body, the mind, and the soul. The liner notes are exceptional, invaluable even. If you have the money, by all means get this set. Classic songs by essential artists. VERY HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED.

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Rating: - Foundational ska reggae from the island that started it
This set is the best of several sets I have collected with early ska and reggae music. Read the list of songs: early Maytals, Wailers, Bob Marley, and more. This collection has historical value and all that. But most importantly it is very listenable and danceable.

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Rating: - The King of Reggae compilations
I bought this set when I was in the infancy of my interest in Jamaican music and Jamaica. Every song is truly special in a historical and musical sense! I started off listening to Bob Marley and then found this gem.
I first listened to this set one night, soon after I came back from Jamaica, whilst sipping Blue Mountain coffee and burning incense(only!)---I was back in Jamaica... I still love the set even after listening to it a hundred times. If you are looking for sappy, cheesy generic reggae music you're looking in the wrong place. Once you buy the set, you will keep it forever--A real classic. Enjoy, Mon!

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Rating: - An AMAZING BOX SET
I bought this CD set on a whim in 1993. It is one of the most amazing impulse purchases I have ever made!!! You hear the development of a nation's music. Great written info and pics accompany the 4 CDs - it adds color and background. But to fully appreciate the roots of ska and reggae, you just kick back and listen to the cds, from song one on cd one. Truly a journey.