Gold

Three classic albums new to CD. One of Jamaica’s most popular artists. After first making his mark on the Jamaican music scene during the rock steady era, fronting the popular vocal group The Paragons, John Holt became one of the island's most successful solo artists scoring a succession of major hits in a variety of styles for numerous local producers up until the mid-80s.

While many of his contemporaries from the 60s failed to maintain their popularity during the dancehall era, Holt demonstrated his timeless appeal with best-selling records, with his collaborations with Kingston-based hitmaker, Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes, proving particularly fruitful.

The success of this relationship is reflected in the popularity of the ‘Gold’ LP, which topped reggae charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1982. And it is this hugely chart-topping long- player provides the primary focus of this 2CD set, with the original LP bolstered by a further nine Lawes-produced tracks, their number including 12” mixes of two of Holt’s biggest sellers, ‘Sweetie Come Brush Me’ and ‘Ghetto Queen’.

The second disc provides further evidence of Holt’s enduring appeal, presenting a further two original albums from the early 80s that, like ‘Gold’ make their long overdue CD debut.