Greensleeves Records
New York, USA
Greensleeves Records is an English record label. It is considered one of the most important and best-known labels in the reggae and dancehall scene. The best known is probably the riddim series called Greensleeves Rhythm Album, of which there are more than 90 publications. On the label of the biggest names in the field of Reggae, Roots Reggae and Dancehall have released songs and albums. Including Beenie Man, Eek -a- Mouse, Elephant Man, Gregory Isaacs, Mr. Vegas, Sizzla, Vybz Kartel and Yellowman. The label has released more than 25,000 songs and more than 500 albums to date.
History
70
Greensleeves Records was founded by the two Englishmen Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick in November 1975 as a small shop for reggae records. The first location was in the district of West Ealing in London.
1977, after a change of location to Shepherd's Bush, London, the Greensleeves record label was founded and moved again. This time, according to Isleworth, Middlesex in London on St. John's Road where until today (2010) the contact is located. At the same time, the two founders opened a sales with sales office in New York, USA. In the same year the newly founded label published in quick succession, the first two 7 " singles. These came from the Jamaican Reaggaesänger Dr. Alimantado. The name of the first single was " Born For A Purpose", which was called "Where Is Jah" subsequent. The first song was a huge success. A year later, in 1978, appeared also the first album of the label named " Best Dressed Chicken In Town " by the same artist. 1980 appeared in quick succession, the first two albums under contract by the label. The first album was called " Original Rockers " by Augustus Pablo. After the album "Both Of Whom " by Barrington Levy appeared.
80
The early eighties began in Jamaica Dancehall to become popular and Greensleeves Records began to undertake musicians of this genre. Among the Jamaican record producer Henry " Junjo " Lawes, one of the pioneers of dancehall. At this time, but appeared also known albums by reggae singers. Among the early works of Black Uhuru, various vocal albums ( a cappella ) by Wailing Souls and albums by Freddie McGregor and Linval Thompson. Mid-eighties, it was almost no reggae or dancehall artist who has not released an album or single on the label. Many well-known songs appeared on the label, including the hits Wa Do Dem by Eek -a- Mouse, " Zungguzungguguzungguzeng " and nine other albums by Yellowman, Frankie Paul's early success " Pass The Tu- Sheng - Peng ' and Junior Reid's debut album " Boom Shack A Lack ".
An eight -year campaign to support local musicians ended with Tippa Iries hit from 1986 " Hello Darling ", which could last several weeks in the UK Top 30. Also great successes enjoyed the band Capital Letters from Wolverhampton in England with her song "Smoking My Ganja " and "President Amin ", both of which were very successful in Spain, as well as Pato Banton from London with many of his early works on the label. Had chart success and the duo Clint Eastwood & General Saint with their song " Another One Bites The Dust " ( nine weeks at No. 1 on the UK Reggae Charts ) and " Stop That Train" ( # 3 in the National Charts of the Netherlands ).
Appeared in 1985 with the song "Under Me Sleng Teng " Sleng Teng Riddim on the eponymous by Wayne Smith, the associate Ragga Ragga Muffin or even the first song to the music genre ist.Von then on, most, primarily electronically produced publications or Ragga Ragga Muffin songs. In 1988, the label a long-term partnership with the Jamaican music producer Augustus " Gussie " Clarke a, set to music many albums by artists such as Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, whose single " Rumours" was the best-selling reggae plate 1988. With these songs, especially " Under Me Sleng Teng " music genre, Ragga / Raggamuffin has emerged. Greensleeves is thus the first label that offered plates of this genre. The next two years dominated productions of Gussie the dancehall and ragga market and he produced many riddims for artists like Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks and the label's own singer Deborahe Glasgow.
In the late eighties Greensleeves Records took over the license of the leading U.S. reggae label RAS Records on the songs of Black Uhuru, among others (including the UK Top 50 hit " Great Train Robbery" ), Freddie McGregor and Israel appeared vibration. For some time, took over Greensleeves sales of other U.S. reggae label in Europe, among others, VP Records, Heartbeat and Shanachie. After a few years Greensleeves separated but again from the other in order to have to worry about the in-house label. Greensleeves Records in the late eighties also published a World Music series, including with songs from the band Kassav Zouk.
90
In March 1993, the world-famous hit " Oh Carolina " by Shaggy reached number one in the UK charts. In Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the song was in the Top Ten. This was the most recognized publication of the labels and Greensleeves Records heard worldwide attention. In 1995, the solo debut single by Jamaican deejays Elephant Man appeared with the title " Heng Them ". Also, also from Jamaica Red Rat had in 1997 with his album "Oh No ... It's Red Rat " his debut. The early work of the Jamaican Sizzla named " Woman & Child", which received massive criticism, also appeared on the label. Sizzla released his next album in 1999 ( " Royal Son of Ethiopia " ), 2000 ( " Bobo Ashanti " ) and 2001 ( " Rastafari Teach I Everything" ). The late nineties marked two other Greensleeves releases the UK charts. Beenie Man published his commercially successful hit " Who Am I ( Zim Zimma ) " 1998. The song reached number 10, originally also from Jamaica Mr. Vegas had with his debut single, " Heads High" in 1999 reached # 16 The Single at the time was the biggest selling album of the label. The song got the MOBO Awards.
2000 - Until Today
In 2000, Greensleeves Records celebrated its 25th anniversary. We Also an album under the name " Greensleeve Classics " was released, containing 25 remastered songs that came from the existing since 1983 Greensleeve compilation series. Later, a series under the name Greensleeves Classics was published at regular intervals. Since 2000, the well-known series Greensleeves Rhythm Album will be released. The first riddim under this name was the Bellyas Riddim and has been sung or betoastet of twenty Deejays. Worldwide became famous for the Diwali riddim on " Greensleeves Rhythm Album # 24", the celebrated by more than 30 deejays was betoastet respectively. In 2003, the debut album of Jamaican Vybz Kartel called " Up 2 Di Time". 2006 Greensleeves was taken over by the Zest Group PLC for half a million British pounds. In 2008, the company Greensleeves Records British pound sold for 3.1 million continue to VP Records, now the largest label for reggae and dancehall. President of the label has since Olivier Chastan. The label brings but still under the name Greensleeves Records its own publications. 2010 Greensleeves Records celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Well-known artists (selection)
Admiral Tibett, Anthony B., Black Uhuru, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Capleton, Ce'Cile, Jah Cure, Dillinger, Tonton David, Elephant Man, Eek -a- Mouse, Chuck Fenda, Gregory Isaacs, Luciano Red Rat, Papa San, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Sizzla, Lady Saw, Cocoa Tea, Mr. Vegas, Warrior King, Wayne Wonder, Yellowman, Ziggy Marley
Well-known publication series
- Greensleeves Classics ( 2000-20? )
- Greensleeves Rhythm Album ( 2000-20? )
- Greensleeves Sampler (1983-2000)
- The Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems ( 1999-20? )