Son Raw lick 50 shots.

There’s a strong argument to be made that from the early 70′s on, every form of music I love and enjoy is directly or indirectly the result of Jamaican ideas and musicianship. Throw in an amazing run of 60s Ska, Rocksteady and Roots and it’s apparent that this tiny island stands tall or even above larger cultural powers such as the US and England, no small feet considering the size of the population and the economic hardships  on the island since colonialism.

Rinse.FM selectas and honorary Jamaican cultural ambassadors The Heatwave know this, delivering the latest and greatest of JA music weekly to a devoted audience for the best party-on-air I’ve ever heard, full stop. This retrospective mix, released for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary may be their most essential release yet: 83 tunes and 73 minutes covering some of the biggest Jamaican (and British Jamaican) hits of the past 50 years. It’s chronological as well so the faint-hearted can start from earliest and tamest material and press on ’till the riddims become too much. I recommend the whole mix however since the strength of Jamaican music’s always been its adaptability and relentless forward drive. Tracklist after the jump. Bo!

Download:

1. Jimmy Cliff – Miss Jamaica
2. Millie Small – My Boy Lollipop
3. Prince Buster – Al Capone
4. The Techniques – Queen Majesty
5. Slim Smith – My Conversation
6. Marcia Griffiths – Feel Like Jumping
7. Eric Donaldson – Cherry Oh Baby
8. Desmond Dekker – Israelites
9. Max Romeo – Wet Dream
10. Trinity & Marcia Aitken – Three Piece Suit
11. Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
12. Junior Byles – Fade Away
13. U Roy & The Paragons – Wear You To The Ball
14. Bob Marley – Is This Love
15. Janet Kay – Silly Games
16. Louisa Marks – Caught You In A Lie
17. Mad Professor – Kunta Kinte
18. Augustus Pablo – King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
19. Mighty Diamonds – Pass The Kutchie
20. Horace Andy & Tappa Zukie – Natty Dread Weh She Want
21. Jacob Miller – Tenement Yard
22. Culture – Two Sevens Clash
23. Aswad – Warrior Charge
24. The Specials – Ghost Town
25. The Specials – A Message To You Rudy
26. Sugar Minott – Good Thing Going
27. Dennis Brown – Revolution
28. Barrington Levy – Murderer
29. Triston Palmer – Raving
30. Papa Levi – Mi God Mi King
31. Sister Nancy – Bam Bam
32. Tenor Saw – Ring The Alarm
33. Wayne Smith – Sleng Teng
34. Half Pint – Greetings
35. Smiley Culture – Police Officer
36. Tippa Irie – It’s Good To Have The Feeling You’re The Best
37. Beres Hammond – What One Dance Can Do
38. Admiral Bailey – Punaany
39. Super Cat – Mud Up
40. Shabba Ranks & Krystal – Twice My Age
41. Cutty Ranks – Limb By Limb
42. Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote
43. Mr Vegas – Heads High
44. Beenie Man – Who Am I
45. Glamma Kid – Moschino
46. Shaggy – Oh Carolina
47. Ratpack – Searching For My Rizla
48. SL2 & Jah Screechy – On A Ragga Tip
49. The Prodigy & Max Romeo – Out Of Space
50. Dawn Penn – No No No
51. Deep Blue – The Helicopter Tune
52. Gregory Isaacs – Rumours
53. Leviticus & Jigsy King – The Burial
54. Top Cat & Congo Natty – Love Mi Ses
55. Congo Natty & John Holt – Police In Helicopter
56. General Levy & M Beat – Incredible
57. UK Apache & Shy FX – Original Nuttah
58. Ritchie Dan – Call It Fate
59. Zed Bias, MC Rumpus & Nicky Prince – Neighbourhood
60. Ms Dynamite & Sticky – Booo!
61. So Solid Crew – Oh No
62. Pay As U Go – Know We
63. More Fire Crew – Oi
64. Kano – Boys Love Girls
65. Dizzee Rascal – I Luv U
66. Benga & Coki – Night
67. Richie Spice – Marijuana (Coki Remix)
68. Serani – No Games
69. Mavado – So Special
70. Mr Vegas – I Am Blessed
71. Sean Paul – Get Busy
72. Tony Matterhorn – Dutty Wine
73. Donaeo – Party Hard
74. Lil Silva – Seasons
75. Lil Silva – Different
76. Gracious K – Migraine Skank
77. Damian Marley – Welcome To Jamrock
78. Cham – Ghetto Story
79. Gappy Ranks – Stinkin Rich
80. Gyptian – Hold Yuh
81. Vybz Kartel, Popcaan & Gaza Slim – Clarks
82. Beenie Man & Future Fambo – Rum & Red Bull
83. Stylo G – Call Mi A Yardie