Best compilation / various artists albums?

[Big Krawl]

Greetings!
I've noticed that when asked 'what roots albums would you recommend?', most (but not all) suggestions are albums by individual artists or groups. However, I imagine that there are several hundered compilation albums. So, I'm interested in what your favorite compilation / various artits albums are.

I really like '16 reggae rockers' on the Trojan label. It features a nice selection of hard to find artists (e.g., Well pleased & Satisfied) and solid tunes.
Respect.
Krawl

[James]

Glad to help. Here are two great Ska comps:

Club Ska '67 (1980)
13 Great Ska artists from mid-'60s JA, including a very young Rita Marley. Also the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Roland Alphonso, Delroy Wilson, the Gaylads, Sir Lord Comic, The Rulers, and more.

Dance Craze (1981)
Live concert of some great '70s UK Ska bands.

Neither of these is in the archives.

The Reggae comps I like best are both movie soundtracks:

Countryman

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3948

Rockers

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3053

The comp I'm playing most right now is "Japa-Rico: Rico Rodriguez Meets Japan" (2006). It's Rico playing with a bunch of great Reggae and Ska bands from JP.

[leggo rocker]

Go for the three compos by Ballistic. They are well worth collecting and sell for peanuts on eBay.

Check the three album results on this search query, two of which are Ballistic compos, a third is missing from RA's database (Ballistic Breakouts - which is simply awesome!) These compos are jammed full of top flight reggae names:

http://www.roots-archives.com/search/?q ... +breakouts

Note to mods: Do you want me to re-send you the Breakouts artwork?