Introduction to Trojan Ska Box Sets

Introduction to Trojan Ska Box Sets

Before I dive into reviewing the Trojan Ska Box sets put out by the famous Trojan record label, I wanted to write up a little bit about Trojan itself.

The Trojan Ska Box sets started being released in 1998 and they have roughly 50 - 51 tracks with a few exceptions here and there. The box sets are distinguished by their art and style and get some great treatment at legit record stores. Most of them say that they are limited edition, but don't worry, they are in print and not selling out any time soon...so I say...but who knows.

Who is Trojan?

Trojan Records is a UK based record label that started in the late 60's. They specialize in a specific type of music, usually ska, dub, reggae and the likes. They also operate and move music on Sanctuary Records Group.

The label really got a push when their artists started getting major hits on the pop charts. Lee Perry, and others made the label a major success and they continued to thrive by moving Jamaican ska and reggae youth subculture records. They were lucky in regards to an audience, as many of the subcultures in the UK including punks loved the sound and would purchase records of that nature. In a funny sidenote, Jonny Rotten was asked to front a Jamaican ska band at one point, it didn't work out, and he ended up making music with PIL.

The record company ran through some troubles and in the 70's Island REcords didn't want to partner with the heavy ska record label. The company would find few records making it big, but they'd find some more success in the late 70's and mid 80's with ska's two tone wave that would hit the UK by storm.

Sanctuary Records Buy Out

Due in large part to the growing success of reggae in pop culture through the 1980's, the label really got huge. Sanctuary Records took note and bought the record label, securing the rights to many vintage and obscure record collections and releases. With such a huge library of music, the group started releasing box sets and that's where the Trojan Ska Box Sets start moving forward.

In 2007, Universal Music purchased Sanctuary and garnered major distribution deals, making ska one of the most widely distributed music genres in the world.

Trojan Ska Box Set Releases so far:

Here is a huge list of Trojan Ska Box Sets that you can purchase today. They feature 50 tracks on 3 cd's and they come highly recommended. Every few months another box set is released and they can really drain the pocket book.

In the coming months I will be reviewing each box set in depth, and talking about standout tracks. For now, here are the releases so far. The list will not get updated after today, so if there's new stuff, watch out!

1998

Trojan Ska Box Set
Trojan Dub Box Set
Trojan Rocksteady Box Set
Trojan D.J. Box Set

1999

Trojan Lovers Box Set
Trojan Tribute To Bob Marley Box Set
Trojan Instrumentals Box Set
Trojan Roots Box Set
Trojan Jamaican Superstars Box Set
Trojan Producer Series Box Set
Trojan Rare Groove Box Set
Trojan Singles Box Set

2000

Trojan Ska Volume 2 Box Set
Trojan Dub Volume 2 Box Set
Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set
Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set
Trojan Club Reggae Box Set
Trojan Soulful Reggae Box Set
Trojan Rastafari Box Set
Trojan Dancehall Box Set

2002

Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set
Trojan UK Hits Box Set
Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set
Trojan Upsetter Box Set
Trojan Bob Marley & Friends Box Set
Trojan Revive Box Set
Trojan Calypso Box Set
Trojan Jamaican R&B Box Set
Trojan X-Rated Box Set
Trojan Rude Boy Box Set
Trojan British Reggae Box Set

2003

Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set
Trojan Reggae Sisters Box Set
Trojan 12" Box Set
Trojan Reggae Duets Box Set
Trojan Nyahbinghi Box Set
Trojan Originals Box Set
Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set
Trojan Reggae Chill-out Box Set
Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set
Trojan Carnival Box Set
Trojan Christmas Box Set

2004

Trojan Ska Revival Box Set
RAS Reggae Box Set
The Creole Reggae Box Set
Trojan Suedehead Box Set
Trojan Sixties Box Set
Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set
Trojan Seventies Box Set
Trojan Jamaica Box Set
Trojan Ragga Box Set
Trojan Reggae Rarities Box Set

2005

Trojan Roots & Culture Box Set
Trojan Ska Rarities Box Set
Trojan Dancehall Roots Box Set
Trojan Eighties Box Set
Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set
Trojan Legends Box Set
Trojan Dub Rarities Box Set
Trojan Mod Reggae Vol.2 Box Set
Trojan Lovers Rock Box Set
Trojan Roots Reggae Box Set
Trojan Rocksteady Rarities Box Set
Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set

2006

Trojan Motor City Reggae Box Set
Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set
Trojan Rockers Box Set

2007

Trojan Slack Reggae Box Set
Trojan Country Reggae Box Set


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