BMC's TARRUS RILEY Discography

In my opinion, as said before, Tarrus Riley is among the best, if not the best, singers in the reggae business these days. Great voice, great flow, lyrically interesting, great live show, very friendly and open to his fans and a whole heap of wicked releases. As a vinyl buyer (yep, also in 2011 there's still people buying modern reggae on vinyl!) I always keep an eye out for new releases by the man. This and a question on a message boards about his output on vinyl made me look at the number of 45s I already own of Tarrus and made me wonder how many more there might be out there. This lead to me closer examining his entire catalogue to this day, what resulted in a long list of released tunes on singles, CD's and compilations, mp3's or collaborations on other artists' albums. So in the end this became probably the closest to a complete discography of Tarrus Riley's work online, compiled by yours truly, BMC.

As a vinyl man, I have divided the output in singles available on 45s and tunes available as mp3's or on CD's. The list is most likely not complete yet and this is where I'd love to get help from all Tarrus' fans worldwide. If you know of a tune or tunes not in this list yet, drop me a comment or mail me at bmc.blog@gmail.com and I will add it to the list to eventually end up with a complete output of Tarrus Riley's music!

The list below is the current situation on august 15th 2011. I hope to keep it up to date for time to come. If you wanna use the work I put into collecting all this data, please give credit where credit is due!

BMC's TARRUS RILEY discography - sorted on format, date and title

http://bettermustcome.blogspot.com

Vinyl 7"
Tarrus Riley & Jimmy Riley - Life Is No Bed of Roses (Heavy Beat - 1995) [credited to Taurus]
Tarrus Riley - Chop It Off (Love Promotions - 199x) [credited to Tarrus]
Tarrus Riley - Now A Days (Love Promotions - Night Nurse riddim - 2000) [credited to Tarrus]
Tarrus Riley - Babylon Running Loose (Love Promotion - 2004(?))
Tarrus Riley & Jimmy Riley - Stronger (Taxi - Bam Bam riddim - 2005) [b/w Bounty Killer & Bunny Ruggs - Down In The Ghetto]
Tarrus Riley - Whispers (Pot Of Gold - Shine riddim - 2006)
Tarrus Riley - Beware b/w Stay With You (Cannon - 2006)
Tarrus Riley - Back Biter (Don Corleon - Far Away riddim - 2007)
Tarrus Riley - Far Away (Don Corleon - Love Potion riddim - 2007)
Tarrus Riley - Life Precious Gift (Joe Frasier - Chi Chi Bud riddim - 2007)
Tarrus Riley - Protect Your Neck (Fat Eyes - Midnight Hour riddim - 2007)
Tarrus Riley - She Is Royal b/w Parables (Cannon - 2007)
Tarrus Riley & Dwayne Stephenson - Doesn't Hurt To Care (Reflection - Babylon riddim - 2007)
Tarrus Riley - Guessing Game (Road Dog - Binghi riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Jah Help Our Souls (Maximum Sound - The Session riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Larger Than Life (Ya Man Music - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Marcus Teaching (Cannon - Jah Live riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - One Two Order b/w Something Strong (Deadly Dragon Sound / VP - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Pick Up The Pieces b/w Lowe Mi Business [aka Ease Off] (Cannon - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Start A New (Juke Boxx - Nylon riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Stop Watching (Fat Eyes - General Penitentiary riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley & Bugle - Nothing Change aka Love Reigns (Sons of Spoon / Tad's - Chemistry riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley & Chalice - Good To Be There (Cannon - 2008)
Tarrus Riley & Jimmy Riley - Pull Up Selector (Taxi - Tune In riddim - 2008)
Tarrus Riley - Cold Kisses (Don Corleon - 2009)
Tarrus Riley - Getty Getty No Want Ee (Don Corleon - Changes - 2009)
Tarrus Riley - Young Heart Reminiscing (Peckings - 2009)
Tarrus Riley & Aidonia - Di Trees (Tad's - Go Go Club riddim - 2009) [b/w Gaza Kim & Lisa Hype - Bills]
Tarrus Riley & Alaine - Forever More (Don Corleon - 2009)
Tarrus Riley - Children A Pree Wi (Juke Boxx - Boops riddim - 2010) [b/w Assassin - Boopsie]
Tarrus Riley - Jah Nah Sleep (Don Corleon - Dread riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Living The Life Of A Gun (VP - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Mi Homeland (Juke Boxx - Stagalag riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Nobody Knows (Don Corleon - Feeling riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Poverty Nuh Inna Fashion (Maximum Sound - Rebellion riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Spen Shell Fly (John John - Zion Gate riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Wildfire (Don Corleon - Major riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley & Michigan - Dangerous Diseases (VP - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Groovy Little Thing (Rockers Island JPN / Koyashi - 2011) [b/w Stevie Face - Full Attention]
Tarrus Riley - Front Door (VP - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Shaka Zulu Pickney (Sound Quake - Nyabinghi riddim - 2011) [b/w Anonymous & Bay-C - Fire We Are Burn]
Tarrus Riley - Stress Silent Murder (Stars - Natty Dread A Weh She Want riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Warriors (La La) (Necessary Mayhem - Gorilla riddim - 2011) [b/w Franz Job - What's It Gonna Be]

Vinyl 12"
Tarrus Riley & Jimmy Riley - Life Is No Bed Of Roses (Charm - 1999) [credited to Taurus]
Tarrus Riley - Now A Days (Love Promotions - Night Nurse riddim - 2000) [credited to just Tarrus] [b/w Anthony B - Waan Back]
Tarrus Riley - Rebel c/w Captain Sinbad - World Wide Rebellion (Maximum Sound - Skateland Killer riddim - 2011) [b/w Dean Fraser - Skateland Sax]

Albums:
Tarrus Riley - Challenges (Ya Man Music - 2004)
1. Larger Than Life
2. Jah Will
3. It's Better This Way
4. All Is Vanity
5. Who Can Stand It
6. Don't Give Up
7. I'll Be Your Friend
8. The Other Half
9. Take Me Higher
10. Ego
11. Rasta At The Control
12. Barber Chair
13. Love Created I (Bonus - 2008 VP release)
14. Save The Children (Bonus - 2008 VP release)

Tarrus Riley - Parables (VP - 2006)
1. System Set
2. Haunt You
3. Beware
4. Micro Chip
5. One Two Order
6. Stay With You
7. She's Royal
8. Something Strong
9. Lion Paw
10. Parables
11. Africa Awaits
12. Pick Up The Pieces
13. Let Love Live (ft. Duane Stephenson)
14. Family (ft. Della Manley)
15. My Baby (Cyan Sleep)
16. She's Royal (De Royal Vibes Mix) [Japanese edition bonus track]
17. Lion Paw (Live) [Japanese edition bonus track]

Tarrus Riley - Contagious (VP - 2009)
1. Living The Life Of A Glin
2. I Sight
3. Love's Contagious
4. Human Nature
5. Soul Mate
6. Superman
7. Young Heart
8. Start A New
9. S-craving
10. Why So Much Wickedness?
11. Let Peace Reign (ft. Etana, Duane Stephenson)
12. Don't Judge
13. King Selassie H.I.M.
14. Stop Watch
15. Herbs Promotion (ft. Demarco & Vybz Kartel)
16. Good Girl Gone Bad (ft. Konshens)
17. Mankind
18. It Will Come

Tracks from one riddim albums, collaborations, mp3's and / or compilations (no vinyl release):
Tarrus Riley & Duane Stephenson - Exhale (VP - 2007)
Tarrus Riley & Queen Ifrica - Stay With You (Flames (?) - 2007)
Tarrus Riley & Sizzla - Who's Gonna Save Us (? - 2008)
Tarrus Riley & Demarco - Over And Over (StarKutt - 2009)
Tarrus Riley, Barbee, Lady G, Duane Stephenson & Macka Diamond - Paradise Redemption (? - 2009)
Tarrus Riley - Get Power From Pain (Cash Flow - Give Thanks riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Intimate Reservation (Rose Gold Ent - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - My Mother (Cannon - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Soldier Of Love [remix] (Bulby - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Talk Is Cheap (Russian / Head Concussion - Bomb Drop riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Who's Responsible (2 Hard Music - City Life riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley & Agent Sasco - Why You Do Me So (DJ Frass - My Life riddim - 2010)
Tarrus Riley & Dub Incorporation - No Doubt (Diversite - 2010)
Tarrus Riley - Armageddon Time (Romeich - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Away From Me (Bombrush - Spitfire riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Bless Me (Don Corleon - Broken Hearts riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Come Ova (Seanizzle - Sex On Di Beach riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Eye Water (Ghetto Youths International - Jah Army riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Good Thing Going (21st-Hapilos - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Karma (ZJ Chrome / CR203 - Cardiac Strings riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Love Scars (Bombrush Records - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Natural (Dutty Rock Music - Blaze Fia riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Never Leave I (Chimney - Island Vibes riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Peer Pressure (John John - Fuss & Fight riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Slow Down (Romeich - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Soul Grabber (Yard Vybz - Captain riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley - Summer Fling (Chimney - Summer Fling Riddim - 2011)
Tarrus Riley & Prince Koloni - Nature (? - 2011)
Tarrus Riley & Shaggy - Just Another Girl (Ranch Entertainment - 2011)
Tarrus Riley & Sleepy Hallowtips - Mad Scientist (Bombrush - 2011)
Tarrus Riley & Sophia Squire - Nature Calling [remix] (? - 2011)
Tarrus Riley & Third World - That's All We Have (VP - 2011)

DVD (not live stage shows with other artists):
Tarrus Riley - Words N' Melody (limited tour edition) (Cannon - 2010)

Looking for more info on:
Tarrus - Chop It Off (Love Promotions 7'') -- What year did this come out?

Any additions? Let me know and I'll add 'm (do check by the original title though, a track like Wildfire is sometimes also referred to as Protect The People or so, but its official title is Wildire and that's the title in the list).

Big up the man's work, great artist in the business. Let's hope for many more big tunes to come!

If you missed it in the past, don't forget to check out my mix showcasing Tarrus' work that can be found a bit further down on this blog. Search for Tarrus to get there fast, it's a wicked 80 minute journey!!!

Respect,
BMC

Gregory Isaacs passed away at age 59

Sad sad news reached the reggae world today: the Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs passed away early this morning when he lost the battle with cancer. One of my all-time favourite singers together with Delroy Wilson and Dennis Brown. Surely they'll have a big musical reunion up there! Gregory could voice cultural / reality lyrics as convincing as the smooth lovers lyrics he got ladies filling the first rows at all his stage shows with. Great voice, great flow, great original and poetic lyrics, great artist. I've always had a special soft spot for his lovers tunes from the early 80s with the Roots Radics (the albums The Lonely Lover, More Gregory, Night Nurse and Out Deh), of which a nice selection that I made years ago can be heard by clicking play in the below player (strictly lovers stylee):



(if you want to listen these 30 min of Gregory meets the Radics later you can download it here, though I gotta admit, the music is excellent, the mixing nothing special as I made it a long time ago, so this is a 'for the music only' kinda thing)

It must be said that Gregory's 70s and 80s output is overall very impressive if you ask me. Classic albums of the roots era like Extra Classic, Mr. Isaacs, Soon Forward, Cool Ruler, In Person etc. were nicely followed by amongst others the aforementioned albums with the Radics after which Gregory kept releasing some quality albums in the digital years of the later 80s like Warning, Victim, Watchman Of The City, Red Rose For Gregory, Feature Attraction and more. It is true that he made his fair share of weaker albums from the late 80s on (though still some highlights too), but on a day like this there's only room for focussing on the good stuff if you ask me. A true legend left us, but he left behind a catalogue of wicked music that will please many generations to come. RIP Cool Ruler, you'll be missed. My condolences to his family, friends and fans. Lots of strength to you all.



As an impression of his prolific carreer here's a discography of studio albums of original material as it is posted on wikipedia with a few titles added I found missing from that list (there's numerous compilations, live albums and probably some other studio titles missing here, but this list is still pretty close to complete when it comes to his studio albums):

* In Person (1975) Trojan
* All I Have Is Love (1976) Trojan
* The Best Of Vol. 1 (1977) GG's
* Extra Classic (1977) African Museum
* Mr Isaacs (1977) DEB
* Cool Ruler (1978) Front Line
* Soon Forward (1979) Front Line
* Slum (Gregory Isaacs in Dub) (1978) Burning Sounds
* Gregory Isaacs Meets Ronnie Davis (1979) Plant (with Ronnie Davis)
* Showcase (1980) Taxi
* Lonely Lover (1980) Pre
* For Everyone (1980) Success
* More Gregory (1981) Pre
* The Early Years (1981) Trojan
* The Best Of Vol. 2 (1981) GG's
* Night Nurse (1982) Island/Mango
* Out Deh! (1983) Island/Mango
* The Sensational Gregory Isaacs (1983) Vista / Burning Sounds
* Let's Go Dancing (1984)
* Two Bad Superstars! (1984) Burning Sounds (with Dennis Brown)
* Judge Not (1985) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
* Private Beach Party (1985) RAS
* Easy (1985) Tad's
* Double Dose (1986) Blue Trac (with Sugar Minott)
* All I Have is Love Love Love (1987) Tad's
* Victim (1987) VP
* Watchman of the City (1987) Rohit
* Come Along (1988), Live & Love
* Red Rose for Gregory (1988) RAS
* Warning (1989) Firehouse
* I.O.U. (1989) RAS
* Feature Attraction (1989) Mixing Lab
* Dancing Floor (1989) Munich
* No Contest (1989) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
* Call Me Collect (1990) RAS
* Set Me Free (1991) Vine Yard
* No Intention (1991) VP
* Boom Shot (1991) Shanachie
* State of Shock (1991) RAS
* Past and Future (1991) VP
* Pardon Me! (1992) RAS
* Rudie Boo (1992) Star Trail
* Unattended (1993) Pow Wow
* Unlocked (1993) RAS
* Midnight Confidential (1994) Greensleeves
* Dreaming (1995) Heartbeat
* Not a One Man Thing (1995) RAS
* Private Lesson (1996) Heartbeat
* Mr. Cool (1996) VP
* Maximum Respect (1996) House of Reggae
* Hold Tight (1997) Heartbeat
* Hardcore Hits (1997) Ikus
* Dance Curfew (1997), Acid Jazz - with Dread Flimstone
* Kingston 14 Denham Town (1998) Jamaican Vibes
* New Dance (1999) Prestige
* Turn Down The Lights (1999) Artists Only
* So Much Love (2000) Joe Gibbs Music
* Future Attraction (2000) VP
* Father & Son (2000), 2B1 - Gregory Isaacs & Son
* It Go Now (2002), 2B1
* Life's Lonely Road (2004)
* Give It All Up (2004) Heartbeat
* Rat Patrol (2004) African Museum
* Masterclass (2004) Greensleeves
* Revenge (2005) P.O.T.
* Substance Free (2005) Vizion Sounds
* Hold Tight (2008) Mafia & Fluxy
* Brand New Me (2008) African Museum

With Gregory's passing 2010 is becoming sadder and sadder for us lovers of foundation reggae. We already lost Yabby You, Bobby Melody and Sugar Minott this year, and now Gregory Isaacs, what a sad realization. RIP to all a dem. Now let us all play some Gregory in respect to the man's work. I'll start with his album More Gregory, cause we'll always wanna hear More Gregory!