#TuesdayTunesday is a focus on music featured in books, those non-fiction books based on music or authors’ musical inspirations.
Today’s spotlight is being thrown onto the beautifully made ‘The Story Of Trojan Records’ by Laurence Cane-Honeysett.
‘Trojan started in 1968, the same year that Enoch Powell made his Rivers of Blood speech. And while the politicians were playing on the fears of the old folk, much as they’re doing now, it was the music of Trojan that united people – the youth, black, and white – in the playgrounds, on the street and on the dance floor. So it really was a tool for social change’ Don Letts
Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of this seminal record label, this not only traces the musical output of Trojan, it also covers a period in social history where great change was occurring in Britain. The influx of immigrants from the Caribbean brought with it so many influences on style, sound and ways of life that were eagerly embraced by the youth of the late sixties who were experiencing a sense of personal freedom they had never had before.
From 1967 onwards in the UK, the Abortion Act as well as the wide use of the contraceptives and the decriminilization of homosexuality, led into a feeling of taking control over ones life, as well as the possibilities of expressing individuality in all aspects of life-and nowhere did that feeling of freedom express itself more than in the music of reggae and ska which in turn evolved into TwoTone and DanceHall.
It is really clear from the book that it is a complete labour of love, featuring, as it does, a complete breakdown of what went
right-and wrong-in the history of this iconic label that advanced multiculturalism , bringing black and white to the dancefloor with a shared love of joyous beats.
Founded in 1968, as part of a deal with Island Records, Trojan’s mission was to bring Jamaican music to the world. Over the subsequent half a century it has done just that, releasing many of the defining albums of ska, rocksteady, dub, and reggae from artists including The Upsetters, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, The Maytals, Dennis Brown, John Holt, Lee ‘Scratch ‘Perry, and Bob Marley and The Wailers, as well as the hugely popular ‘Tighten Up!’ compilations. ‘The Story Of Trojan Records’ is the definitive history of the label and a landmark publication for reggae enthusiasts. 2018 is the 50th anniversary of Trojan. It is made up of 12 chapters, 26 artist bios, 20 producer bios, extensive monologues from interviews, and thousands of images, many of which have not been previously published but never been collectively published.
So pull up a chair, and take a trip down a musical memory lane as I expect, much like me, you actually know more of these songs than you think you do-they form the backdrop of a time in the UK when mulitculturalism and acceptance of people seen as ‘other’, post arrival of the Windrush Generation, was an upheaval whose impact is still being felt today. Music is a great leveller, and a mode of messages of acceptance and resistance ;a melting pot of joy, an embrace of styles and history of representation that we desperately need now, more than ever.Trojan represents a historical legacy which needs to be celebrated , remembered and most of all, danced to.
About the author…
A former illustrator, musician and journalist, Laurence Cane-Honeysett joined Trojan Records at the start of the 1990s, since which time he has worked for the legendary reggae record company in almost every capacity, from archivist and official historian to label manager.
During this time, he has assisted in the making of numerous TV and radio reggae documentaries, written definitive articles on some of Jamaican music’s greatest stars and penned essays for over 500 music collections, while compiling around twice that number.
Now, more than a quarter of a century after he started working for the company, Laurence provides a fascinating account of its musical greatest talents and those behind the scenes who helped make Trojan Records the world’s greatest – and most iconic – Jamaican music label
*Throughout August Eye adn Lightning books are giving customers 30% off books for using the discount code RACHELREADIT*
Links-https://trojanrecords.com/
http://www.instagram.com/trojan_records_official
https://thevinylfactory.com/features/50-of-the-greatest-trojan-records/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06h88b5
Twitter @trojanrecords
@EyeAndLightning
Author
bridgeman.lenny@gmail.com