Biggest Dancehall Anthems 1979-82: Birth of Dancehall (2CD) is een te gekke, waanzinnige compilatie met reggae-dancehall uit periode 1979-1982 op het toonaangevende Greensleeves label.

This is a more important album than it looks on the surface. The 40 tracks here -- and as the cover says, they were are all massive Top Ten hits -- essentially mark the start of the transition from roots reggae to the dancehall style; a passing of the torch as definitive in Jamaican music as the passage from rocksteady to reggae in the `60s. Yellowman, Barrington Levy, and Wailing Souls are all heavily represented, and really, more than any others (such as Dennis Brown), they signaled what was happening. Yellowman was the new style of toasting star, turning the focus to `slackness` or sexuality that would become the prime subject of dancehall lyrics. Levy was the new signing-star (check "Mary Long Tongue," another piece with slack lyrics), both solo and in duets, such as "Eventide Fire A Disaster," with General Echo. The Wailing Souls, on the other hand, were very much a roots reggae band, giving what was, largely, a final shout-out to the old style on songs like "Who No Waan Come," and "Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall." This album nods to all aspects of the aural change, such as Hugh Mundell, a huge talent who was killed in 1983 before he`d even fully blossomed. And the music? Well, when you have Levy performing "Shine Eye Gal," one of his biggest cuts, Wailing Souls with the classic "Firehouse Rock," or Johnny Osbourne with "Trying To Turn Me On," you know you`re onto a winner.
"

DISC 1:

1. Fally Ranking - Johnny Osbourne (3:49)

2. Shine Eye Girl - Barrington Levy (2:47)

3. Firehouse Rock - Wailing Souls (4:12)

4. Bathroom Sex - General Echo (4:08)

5. Ice Cream Love - Johnny Osbourne (3:23)

6. Morning Ride - Yellowman (3:28)

7. Look Youthman - Barrington Levy (3:07)

8. Another One Bites The Dust - Clint Eastwood & General Saint (3:48)

9. Fattie Boom Boom - Ranking Dread (3:46)

10. Gunman - Michael Prohpet (3:44)

11. How The West Was Won - Ranking Toyan (2:50)

12. Look How Me Sexy - Linval Thompson (3:07)

13. Spar Wid Me - Ranking Toyan (3:43)

14. Ghetto Queen - John Holt (3:14)

15. Love Tickles Like Magic - Junior Delgado (2:44)

16. Bounty Hunter - Barrington Levy (3:05)

17. Jah Love Is With I - Johnny Clarke (3:24)

18. Chip In - Wayne Jarrett (3:33)

19. Poor & Humble - Wayne Wade (3:24)

20. Who No Waan Come - Wailing Souls (3:29)

DISC 2:

1. Wa-do-dem - Eek-A-Mouse (3:55)

2. Yellowman Getting Married - Yellowman (3:35)

3. Diseases - Papa Michigan & General Smiley (3:31)

4. Bone Connection - Nickodemus (3:00)

5. To The Foundation - Dennis Brown (3:41)

6. Mary Long Tongue - Barrington Levy (3:52)

7. Sweetie Come Brush Me - John Holt (3:22)

8. Come Fe Mash It - Tony Tuff (3:40)

9. Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall - Wailing Souls (4:04)

10. River Jordan (Crucifixion) - Barrington Levy (2:55)

11. River Jordan - Ranking Joe (3:12)

12. Entertainment - Tristan Palmer, Jah Thomas & Ranking Toyan (5:48)

13. I`m Not Crazy - Don Carlos (3:16)

14. Can`t Pop No Style - Hugh Mundell (3:12)

15. Up Front - Wailing Souls (3:26)

16. Love A Dub - Ranking Dread (3:35)

17. Mister Chin - Yellowman (3:17)

18. Trying To Turn Me On - Johnny Osbourne (2:35)

19. Eventide Fire A Disaster - General Echo & Barrington Levy (2:23)

20. Tribute To General Echo - Clint Eastwood & General Saint (3:37)