David Rodigan, master of reggae, has been on the scene for over 30 years and counting. With an MBE and a host of prestigious accolades under his belt, he is the perfect talent to front the latest album in the prized ‘Masterpiece’ series from Ministry of Sound...

The Masterpiece series is a concept fronted by artists and DJs of the highest calibre. It’s an opportunity for these pioneering acts to curate a three disc musical journey that depicts their own influences and inspirations which they can share with their fans. With predecessors including Andrew Weatherall, Fabio & Grooverider and Gilles Peterson.

Rodigan’s unsinkable passion for reggae music and his world renowned talent for triumph in sound clashes against the likes of Barry G, Jamaica’s champion DJ, led to his victory at the World Clash Reset in New York where he took the Champion Trophy. In 2005 he was given a place in the Sony Radio Academy Hall of Fame and has won three extremely coveted Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards. In 2012 he was awarded the MBE for ‘Service to Broadcasting’.

Masterpiece is a document of Rodigan’s journey as a Deejay, starting with his initiation into the sounds of Sixties British pop and American soul, and passing through four decades of the evolution of Jamaican music in all its guises: ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, dancehall and the new roots revival.

Rodigan’s selection has been carefully broken down into three discs featuring a range of influences from The Kinks, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Dusty Springfield, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Tessanne Chin, King Tubby and Ini Kamoze to name a few.

This is an incredibly neat idea for a compilation series - the tracks that inspired and are beloved by those in the industry. It's not clear whether the label gives the subject of these compilations a free reign on the music they choose (and then seek out permission to include them on the album - at whatever the cost) or if they are only allowed to pick from a selection of labels that Ministry of Sound has a relationship... or if they are given a budget for the album and then told to keep within that budget and not chose tracks that would cost a small fortune to include.

But, whatever the criteria, this is one fine and rather cheap album that everyone should have in their album collection.

It's pointless me going through the album and pointing out the highlights - there's something positive to be said about almost every track. However, I couldn't but help be reminded of Richard Marx's 'Right Here Waiting' when listening to 'Hurt Me' (Tarrus Riley Feat. Winston 'Mr Fix It' Francis).

This 3-disc album contains 54 songs (2 hr, 58 min).

Track listing:

CD 1 - Hey Youthman

01 - The Kinks - 'You Really Got Me'
02 - The Yardbirds - 'For Your Love'
03 - Marvin Gaye - 'Ain't That Peculiar'
04 - The Impressions 'Gypsy Woman'
05 - James Brown & The Famous Flames - 'I Loves You Porgy'
06 - Etta James - 'At Last'
07 - The Tornadoes - 'Telstar'
08 - Small Faces - 'Itchycoo Park'
09 - Dusty Springfield - 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me'
10 - Bessie Banks - 'Go Now'
11 - Aaron Neville - 'Tell It Like It Is'
12 - Jet Harris & Tony Meehan - 'Diamonds'
13 - Justin Hinds & The Dominos - 'Carry Go Bring Come'
14 - Desmond Dekker - 'Beautiful And Dangerous'
15 - Alton Ellis - 'Black Man's Pride'
16 - Bob Marley & The Wailers - 'Small Axe'
17 - Delroy Wilson - 'Love Uprising'
18 - Augustus Pablo - 'Java'

CD 2 - Cool Out Son

01 - Dennis Brown - 'My Time'
02 - Bob Andy - 'Life'
03 - The Heptones - 'Meaning Of Life'
04 - The Abyssinians - 'Poor Jason Whyte'
05 - Freddie McGregor - 'Big Ship'
06 - Johnny Osbourne & The Sensations - 'See and Blind'
07 - Brent Dowe - 'When The Sun Goes'
08 - Jackie Edwards & Julie Anne - 'In Paradise'
09 - Cornell Campbell - 'Harry Hippy'
10 - Lloyd Charmers - 'Colour Him Father'
11 - Tessanne Chin - 'You Got What I Need'
12 - Etana - 'Reggae'
13 - Tarrus Riley (feat. Winston 'Mr Fix It' Francis) - 'Hurt Me'
14 - Aswad - 'Back To Africa'
15 - Astrud Gilberto - '(Take Me To) Aruanda'
16 - Arthur Prysock - 'Autumn In New York'
17 - Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters - 'A Quiet Place'
18 - Billy Stewart - 'Sitting In The Park'

CD 3 - Stepping Out of Babylon

01 - Lee "Scratch" Perry and The Upsetters - 'Black Panta'
02 - Marcia Griffiths - 'Stepping Out Of Babylon'
03 - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - 'One Loaf Of Bread (Something For You)'
04 - Luciano - 'Deliverance'
05 - Exco Levi - 'Storms Of Life'
06 - Nadine Sutherland - 'Karma'
07 - Riva Starr (feat. Bob Andy) - 'The Care Song'
08 - Amy Winehouse - 'You're Wondering Now'
09 - Liam Bailey - 'When Will They Learn'
10 - Cate Ferris - 'Blaze Bright'
11 - Beres Hammond - 'No Candlelight'
12 - Ini Kamoze - 'England Be Nice'
13 - Raging Fyah - 'Nah Look Back'
14 - King Tubby & Johnny Clarke - 'Knock Out Punch'
15 - Busy Signal - 'Modern Day Slavery'
16 - Morgan Heritage - 'Stand Up'
17 - The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra (feat. Bitty McLean) - 'Fu Man Chu'
18 - Paul S.C.U.B.I Smith - 'Word Smith'

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Nick Smithson