Recently resurrected and now enjoying chart success in the 21st century, when it was formed Trojan Records epitomised the punk DIY ethic over a decade before 1976. The company spearheaded the injection of reggae and ska into the vein of British youth consciousness.
With the influx of young Jamaicans into post-war Britain, the sounds that were so much a part of the West Indian culture they left behind found new, fertile soil in the UK music scene. Over the following decades, home-grown names like Delroy Washington, Matumbi and Lloyd Coxson took the baton from their Jamaican brother, not to create a picture of Jamaica away from Jamaica but to forge a brave new reggae world in their adopted heartland.But who were the singers and players on British-recorded material? Who set up the UK's fledgling reggae labels? Who ran the shops that put the music back on the streets? With a cast of characters since made legendary by their contribution to the UK reggae scene, Tighten Up! is the story of how the authentic Jamaican vibe found a new home, becoming a vital chapter in Britain's cultural history, an integral part of its sonic architecture.Complete with interviews, a comprehensive Pama discography, an exhaustive directory of UK reggae labels and an exclusive 12-track CD, Tighten Up ! is the ultimate companion to UK reggae from 1960 to 1980.