I'm still working on this . But it's slow going . I have 8 albums right now that I know have a place in my top 20 ...
@ GMM , I was really surprised at your #1 pick . I'll be honest and say that although I love reggae music , my knowledge of it is still very minimal . I didn't know anything by Ini Kamoze aside from tha album with Hot Stepper , and never really gave it much attention . That is is really great album you posted , and it definitely has a place in my collection !!! So it has been added to the ridiculously large list of records I need to cop .

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jaybrown
I'm still working on this . But it's slow going . I have 8 albums right now that I know have a place in my top 20 ...
@ GMM , I was really surprised at your #1 pick . I'll be honest and say that although I love reggae music , my knowledge of it is still very minimal . I didn't know anything by Ini Kamoze aside from tha album with Hot Stepper , and never really gave it much attention . That is is really great album you posted , and it definitely has a place in my collection !!! So it has been added to the ridiculously large list of records I need to cop .

We seem to have a lot incommon Jay. My love and knowledge of reggae is probably similar to yours in both aspects. As far as Ini goes, I was also just aware of his Hot stepper album and was very surprised when I learned this is the same guy. Keep working on that list, you're almost half-way there!

@Kepler2323, I hope you accept the challenge. You seem to have a really varied taste in music!

I have to agree with JB on your number one choice, a curveball. But then I did a little digging and found out that Sly and Dunbar dropped some of their choicest productions on that. Those guys are dub vets, it doesn't even remotely surprise me that you'd put that at one. I still haven't fully digested all your selections but I'm definitely studying this list man. I will be buying more than a few of them based on your recommendations G.

Since it's a personal thing, it's hard, but there's no wrong answers on this. Then again, make it count if you can rep your all-time top 20.

I'm inspired by this thread so I'm working on it, it's narrowed down to a few must-includes but my list personally needs a lot of polishing.

I hope all the deep diggers in here are all on board and drop personal lists, this is as educational as it gets.

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GMM
# 1 Ini Kamoze - Ini Kamoze (1984)

If someone asked me "What is music?", this album would be the answer. The power and beauty of this recording is remarkable. Even my 65-year-old uncle who hasn't listened to anything new since about 1973 found this album astonishing and demanded I rip him a copy on cd. My aunt, who's even older and my mom also love this. When I gave this top 20 challenge to a friend of mine who has a similar taste in music, the only record our lists had in common was this one, and we both had it at #1. I'm not sure I can describe it any better with words, so here's the whole thing:

I got this recently and after 2 listens I finally get it GMM. I had World-A-Music on 7" not knowing this whole album is "that good". Now I get it.

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“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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That Ini Kamoze Mini-LP is a banger for sure. I've been listening to it a lot in the car and have played the LP a couple times. I'm not sure how long the current LP reissue will be around, so my advice would be to grab it now if you're thinking about it.

Also, his follow up LP "Statement" is very good and a grower. Not quite as stark sounding as the s/t but it has that menacing vibe to it and great production by Sly and Robbie.

I also got "Pirate" recently...it's a bit slick but I still dig it, definitely not as good as the first two. If you like the slicker Black Uhuru stuff like "Chill Out" you might dig it.

His fourth LP, "Shocking Out", has not aged as well as the others IMHO, but if you are still hungry for more after those three it's worth streaming or checking out on youtube at the very least. If you do come across it used, it will probably be very cheap.

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