Page 93 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2019

may have been common in England, but were

scarce or may have never been seen in the U.S.
So much history is laid out, that even long-time

consumers and fans have plenty to learn. Side-

by-side with the history of the label, are insights
into their competitors, as well as the myriad

sub-labels Trojan issued that many might not
realize all came from the same company.

Besides the visual feast, some amazing

revelations are to be had along the way. The
twists and turns of Trojan – from going bankrupt

in the early ‘70s and changing hands several
times, to more recent years being purchased

by Sanctuary, which was itself purchased by

Universal, who sold it to BMG – are told in the

The Story of Trojan Records voices of the people who experienced the
changes directly. Some of the long-rumored
By Laurence Cane-Honeysett exploitation and corruption of the industry

(Eye Books, 2018) are freely admitted by those involved: people

Joining illustrated label histories on Island who were fired for setting up their own labels
and Virgin Records, this compendium is rich in and licensing deals on the side, producers who

historical vignettes, period photos and interview were paid for product but never passed along
material documenting a label that arguably any monies to the artists or musicians beyond

issued more classic-era reggae than any other. the original recording stipend, and the innocent
It goes back to the early roots of reggae – blue music lovers and purveyors who often paid a

beat, ska, rock steady, lovers, roots and dub – price for their passionate love of the music.
right into the dancehall era, and includes records Fans of early Jamaican music who first

licensed from Jamaican producers at the dawn encountered some of their favorite music on this

of its recording industry and those recorded in label will learn a lot from this fascinating history.
England’s homegrown reggae studios, featuring Though the people who started this label are

U.K. artists who migrated from Jamaica. It’s not the people who are running it now, it has
a deep and rich history that will help sort out managed to survive for 50 years by adapting

some of the seminal figures and names you’ve to each new era. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, no one
seen on albums but never knew much about. pumped out more CD box sets than Trojan, and

Cane-Honeysett’s text is informative and few can match their vinyl reissue ratio today.

engaging, and is supplemented by the stories The continued existence of this label is a tribute
of most of the surviving players told in their to the quality of Jamaican music and the spirit

own voices – record jobbers, label heads (some of innovation that inspires it. The Trojan catalog
who worked there for years and some who is still a major player when it comes to reggae

lasted as little as six weeks), art directors, A&R reissues, and as Jamaican music continually
people and even a few artists who recorded builds upon the musical foundations laid so long

for the label. The book is chock-full of cool ago, the music released on this label becomes
graphics and original covers of releases that more important as time goes on.

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