This article is part of the Island Records discography.
Island Reggae Greats is a series of reggae compilation albums, released by Island Records in 1985. The series showcases selected Island reggae artists and three reggae styles (DJ, lovers and rockers), plus there was also a sampler featuring selected tracks from the series. The albums were compiled by Trevor Wyatt, contain extensive liner notes and the covers were painted by artists based on photos.
The series, initially offered at a "special price", was intended to create new interest in reggae. It saw CD release in the late '80s and early '90s, as part of the Island Masters and Reggae Refreshers series.
In America the series was released on Island's subsidiary label Mango, and some of the titles were released with different covers.
Discography Island Reggae Greats
Toots & the Maytals LP: Island IRG 1 (UK); Mango MLPS 9781 (US); Island 207131 (Germany) CD: Island Masters IMCD 38 (UK); Mango CIDRG 1 (UK); Mango 539 781-2 (US)
Gregory Isaacs Live LP: Island IRG 2 (UK); Island 207 132 (Germany)
Steel Pulse LP: Island IRG 3 (UK); Mango MLPS 9783 (US); Island 207133 (Germany) CD: Island Masters IMCD 14 (UK); Island 207132 (Germany)
various artists DJs LP: Island IRG 4 (UK); Island 207134 (Germany)
Burning Spear LP: Island IRG 5 (UK); Island 207135 (Germany)
Linton Kwesi Johnson LP: Island IRG 6 (UK); Island 207136 (Germany) CD: Island Masters IMCD 14/824 693-2 (UK)
Sly & Robbie A Dub Experience LP: Island IRG 7 (UK); Island 207137 (Germany)
various artists Strictly For Lovers LP: Island IRG 8 (UK); Island 207138 (Germany)
Third World LP: Island IRG 9 (UK); Island 207139 (Germany) CD: Island Masters IMCD 36 (UK)
Pablo Moses LP: Island IRG 10 (UK)
Jacob Miller & Inner Circle LP: Island IRG 11 (UK); Island 207141 (Germany) CD: Mango CIDRG 11 (UK)
Lee "Scratch" Perry LP: Island IRG 12 (UK); Simply Vinyl SVLP 190 (UK, reissue); Island 207142 (Germany); Island 210855 (Germany, reissue) CD: Island RRCD 10 (UK)
Black Uhuru LP: Island IRG 13 (UK); Island 207143 (Germany) CD: Island Masters IMCD 3 (UK)
Jimmy Cliff LP: Island IRG 14 (UK); Mango MLPS 9787 (US) Island 207144 (Germany) CD: Mango 539794-2 (US); Spectrum 554459-2 (UK, reissue)
The Wailers LP: Island IRG 15 (UK); Island 207145 (Germany)
various artists Strictly For Rockers LP: Island IRG 16 (UK); Island 207 146 (Germany)
various artists Island Reggae Greats A selection of tracks from the series. LP: Island IRGS 1 (UK)
various artists The Greatest Of Reggae Greats A selection of tracks from the series. LP: Island ISP 2-1036
Island Reggae Greats Collection The latest reissue of the series, which rebranded it Island Reggae Greats Collection, was in 1997 on Universal's UK budget label Spectrum. The cover art was slightly reworked, and the liner notes either altered or omitted. Also, Aswad were added to the series, while the Pablo Moses, the Wailers, and the various artist albums were deleted.
See also List of record labels
External links roots archives Discogs