Eras to collect jamaican music

[vlad]

from the 60's to 1983: the best to era find originals at a launch price, of course. But once they're pressed, they're generally gone. No internet, no easy jet, not that many record fairs.

From 1983 > 1990: Good period from a price point of view to get second hand reggae records - even for ska, rock steady - but unless you can travel or are London based, its not easy to find many. Record fairs flourish, and you can find amazing stuff at good prices or second hand stores (especially in UK, or NA, like NYC or Toronto). This is the era of "mail order". Not that much repressing going on, except Trojan stuff (mostly compilations) No internet, so less competition, but also more "cheating" going on with reggae auction (by mail). Special note: late 80's is fantastic time to go to Jamaica and pick up sound system records or overstock of OG press by weight at a ridiculous price.

1990 > 1999: Very interesting period. Interest for reggae is not high, and CD has kicked in, whilst internet hasn't. Again, good era to purchase OG press by weight. There is a decent program from re-issue labels, especially Heartbeat, but the best is yet to come. OG press of ska and rock steady remain expensive as time goes by.

1999 > 2004: Ebay is now active since a few years, and becoming a platform to sell used records as well. Internet is full speed. Fantastic period to purchase OG press on EBay, especially 1999-2003: lots to offer and not so many people bidding. After that, of course, prices go up. Re-issues become more and more common, but, still, the best is yet to come. Record fairs less popular, street record stores start getting in trouble.

2004 > 2010: Street record stores are closing one by one, MP3 is king, and re-issue labels are doing a great job, although many labels don't re-issue on wax (like Greensleeves, and many other small ones), keeping prices high on ebay. Japanese collectors pay crazy prices on Ebay

2010 > today: less stuff on ebay. People seem to hold on to their records more. A new generation of reggae junkies - probably born in the 80's / early 90's - buy vinyl. The producers & labels from back then repress almost everything. I think we're now in the golden era of collecting reggae at a bargain: the Greensleeves catalog is back at 10 USD a record, pressed OG stampers, and many impossible to find records are offered at similar prices and generally good repress. Sure, many reissue labels are gone - Makasound, Heartbeat - but many have replaced them. The japanese re-issues are spectacular, and Iroko does a great job, not to mention many others. Impressive.

[kofi333]

good analysis

[Lost Shoe]

Yes, good analysis.
But this "I think we're now in the golden era of collecting reggae at a bargain" is only true for represses. Prices for original pressings seem to go through the roof and higher and higher .... and I wonder, if they will ever stop.

[Gabranth]

1990 > 1999: Very interesting period. Interest for reggae is not high, and CD has kicked in, whilst internet hasn't.

That's the time I started (late 1991). Well I didn't know anyone who listened to Reggae and there was no internet. So how does a new teenage Reggae fan from West Germany begin? You probably won't find Keith Hudson and Barry Brown in your first couple of years. In retrospective I "wasted" some years buying Eddy Grant, UB40, 80s Jimmy Cliff.

[Lost Shoe]

Eddy Grant, late J. Cliff, UB40 .... Gabranth, it is a wonder you kept right on track into the real Roots Reggae.
How we say in Germany: "Zuerst kommt die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen ..." )

[Gabranth]

Right, I had to pay my dues first. Like a scientology member who only gets the "whole truth" after having paid at least 20.000 $

[Lost Shoe]

But I guess in contrary to the ripped off scientologist you finally got the heaven wide open

[Ron]

Eddy Grant, late J. Cliff, UB40 ....

You're not suggesting Jimmy Cliff is not among us anymore, I hope?!!

[Lost Shoe]

Oops, of course not. Sorry. In fact I wanted to say the later J. Cliff in contrary to the early Cliff, regarding the time period and quality of music.

[Mick Sleeper]

I'll add that between 2004 - 2010 or so was a great era for modern roots on 7" singles. I'm glad I built up a decent collection while they were available.