Old releases, new moves
TWO compilations that were re-released on Record Store Day (June 18) make moves on the streaming and sales-driven Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
New at number seven is Soul Jazz Records Presents: Studio One Classics. The set features songs by Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, The Wailers, Slim Smith, The Skatalites, The Heptones, and Johnny Osbourne, among others.
Entering the chart at eight is 100% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady and Funk in Jamaica. The 14-track set, which was first released in 1998, has songs with Tommy McCook, The Upsetters, Johnny Osbourne, Jackie Mittoo, and Phyllis Dillon, among others.
Bob Marley and the Wailers continue their reign in the number one spot with Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers while Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection holds on to the number two position.
Stick Figure’s World on Fire inches up to three while Greatest Hits by UB40 dips to four.
Set in Stone by Stick Figure is steady at five while Dutty Classics Collection by Sean Paul is firm at six as his Dutty Rock album dips two places to nine. Gifted by Koffee plunges to 10.
On the sales-driven US Current Reggae Albums chart it would appear that singer Jada Kingdom’s 2.2 million followers on Instagram were clueless that she released a four-song EP on June 17 titled New Motion via Money Well Spent and Republic Records. The project, which hasn’t done well on the streaming platforms, managed to move 31 copies in pure albums to enter the chart at 20.
New Day, an 11-track set by Grammy-winning reggae outfit Black Uhuru which features multiple collaborations with Andrew Bees, Dylans Dharma and Kinghopeton, enters at 14 with 48 copies.
New Day was released May 13 via LAW Records.
Greensleeves’ Ganja Anthems, released on June 18, features a number of songs paying homage to marijuana. It debuts at two with first-week sales of 633.
Among the songs featured are Pass the Kutchie by Mighty Diamonds, Joker Smoker by Tristan Palmer, Under Mi Sensi by Barrington Levy, and A Fi Bun by Josey Wales.
The number one title on the chart is Love is All I Bring (Reggae Hits and Rarities) by Queens of Trojan. Released June 18 via Trojan Records, it sold 783 copies.
Uptown Top Ranking, a number one UK hit for Althea and Donna, Hurt So Good by Susan Cadogan which hit the British Top 30 in the 1970s, Steppin Out of Babylon by Marcia Griffiths, and I’m Still in Love with You by Marcia Aitken are among the songs featured.
On the South Florida Reggae chart, Diamonds in the Sun by Tanya Stephens, Cedella Marley and Diana King remains on top for a second week.
Jah Jah Shall Wipe Away All Tears by Carlene Davis moves from 19 to 14, while Ten Million by 1990s deejay Ricky General darts up from 18 to 15.
Debuts on the chart include Twiggi’s Love Lost (number 22) and Righteous People by Wayne Armond (number 23).
On the Foundation Radio Network (New York) Reggae chart, Shaggy’s Mi Nuh Know clocks its fourth week at number one.
Lukie D’s When You Love moves up from 13 to 10, while Collie Weed by The ATF Band skips from 24 to 20.
New at number 30 is Julian Marley’s The Tide is High.