Various Artists - Studio One Showcase (The Sound of Studio One in the 1970s) (2016) Vinyl

When it comes to reggae music, Studio One is the equivalent of Sun and Motown records - maybe combined. Yes, there were other labels and other producers that were very influential in reggae music (e.g., Duke Reid), however, it is hard to argue against Clement "Coxson" Dodd of Studio One as being the king. If you have never heard of Studio One, that is ok. Just know that the majority of the early reggae superstars got their start and recorded at Studio One.

Soul Jazz records have been releasing great compilations of Studio One music for a few years now. The latest compilation - Showcase (The Sound of Studio One in the 1970s) - is as good as the other compilations. As the title states, this collection focuses on the sounds that were coming out of Studio One during the 1970s and, while Studio One's golden time was during the 1960s, this collections makes it clear that the output of Studio One could match anything coming out of Channel One or even Lee Perry's Black Ark Studio in the 1970s. If you only buy one reggae record this year, this is not a bad one to get.

Here is a great track from the collection:

Dillinger - Chucky Skank