Soul Jazz started out in 1991 doing reissues of old albums, before switching to compiling various artists compilations. Their Nu Yorica album from 1996 complied 60s and 70s salsa, Latin and funk and sold a lot of copies. In the cross- pollinated, crate digging world of the 1990s, people were lapping up this kind of thing up, opening ears and minds. Soul Jazz cared about the music, the sleeves were always well put together, the music was always well chosen and of high quality. In 1998 they release 100% Dynamite, a double vinyl reggae compilation, which was the kick starter to series of Dynamite albums as well as a seemingly endless deluge of Studio One albums. Soul Jazz turned the reggae compilation into an artform, a university of reggae according to Chris Blackwell.
200% Dynamite came out in March 1999, a quarter of a century ago. My copy is well thumbed and played, the soundtrack to many nights at home and out. It has a host of legendary names- Jackie Mittoo, Augustus Pablo, Dawn Penn, John Holt, Toots And The Maytals, Prince Buster, Tommy McCook, The Upsetters- all represented by lesser known but infectiously brilliant tracks. Soul Jazz spread the net wide too not confining themselves to the classic sounds of early 70s Jamaica but heading into the 80s. The second track on 200% Dynamite is Tenor Saw's Ring The Alarm, a 1985 dancehall smash...
Herb Man Dub by The Skatalites, was recorded at Black Ark and mixed at King Tubby's, a decade earlier, 1975. You won't hear a better instrumental that this today.