The secret to finding good reggae!

[Quemster]

Trial & error.

[Nefta]

If you don't have info yes.Also you can read reviews of productions to get a taste

[johnny black]

its all opinion what good reggae is.

Me and my buddy usually go to check diff. reggae shops he checks for roots i check for dancehall.
He likes to think anything that isnt roots sucks. I tend to think most roots is boring.

As far as trial and error goes i used to focus on album covers a lot if the cover didnt look good i probably wouldnt want the LP.

Also 7''s tend to have some nice gems which you wont find an LP.

[mick d]

the trick is to look at the formula composed of the backing band, producer, and sound engineer. and you also have to take into account the year (hopefully 1970 to 1984).

for example:

junjo + roots radics + scientist = classic

bunny lee + aggrovators + king tubby = classic

hoo kim brothers + revolutionaries = classic

lee perry + upsetters = classic

please add other winning formulas!

[Jaydubbinn]

Producer wise!
King Jammy, Bobby Digital, Squeengine... always a treat!

[TheExpanders]

I would expand the years and check for 1962-1984!

[Jah Glu]

I would expand the years and check for 1962-1984!

1962-1989

[leggo rocker]

I have to agree with Jah Glu. Usually 1984 is a good cut off but then you'd lose out on the brilliant Music Works stuff produced by Gussie at the end of the Eighties.

My secret has been bravery. It has rewarded me with some major duds but also lots of stuff that has blown me away.

I've even bought stuff almost by accident and loved it!

[ton1]

I would expand the years and check for 1962-1984!

Yes I would expand it like this too. Ska, rocksteady and early reggae are as good to me as later releases.
After 1984, it's really hard for me to find good sounds but far from impossible, some bands and singers stayed in a roots feeling after that such as LKJ, some Culture, Gladiators and Israel Vibration and there are great UK sounds (Shaka, On U Sound etc.). But a part from exceptions like Macka B or Yellowman stuff, digital era just brakes my ears.

[daCENSOREDone]

1) don't work and listen to all the music you can...
2) don't buy trojan box set, don't buy mad professor's stuff
3) don't buy a record before you heard it
4) get in touch with people deeply involved in jamaican music and spend as many evenings as you can listening music together.
5) exchange music & music tips as much as possible
6) don't trust the boneheads and people getting profit from the music
7) remember that music is what comes thru your ears. it has nothing to do with rarity, value, sleeve, sleevenotes or if it is on plastic, vinyl or on your computer