Front Line was a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use the ...

subsidiary of

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldw ...

established in 1978.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p.107-108 Over forty albums were issued on the label before it folded in 1979.

History

Virgin had been releasing reggae records since BB Seaton's "Dancing Shoes" in 1974. By 1975, label owner

Richard Branson Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is a British billionaire, entrepreneur, and business magnate. In the 1970s he founded the Virgin Group, which today controls more than 400 companies in various fields. Branson expresse ...

had begun signing

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the honoring of God, called Jah b ...

artists, and in the three years that followed, Virgin released successful albums by the likes of

U-Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

, The Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Johnny Clarke, Peter Tosh, and I Roy.

Johnny Rotten John Joseph Lydon (; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the late-1970s punk band the Sex Pistols, which lasted from 1975 until 1978, and aga ...

is rumoured to have signed with Virgin because of the company's progressive policy towards reggae. In 1978, Branson decided to form a subsidiary label dedicated wholly to reggae, and called this Front Line. Branson and Rotten travelled to

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the five most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

and signed artists to the label including

Prince Far I Prince Far I (23 March 1945 – 15 September 1983) was a Jamaican reggae deejay and producer, and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics abou ...

Big Youth Manley Augustus Buchanan (born 19 April 1949, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, better known as Big Youth (sometimes called Jah Youth), is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his w ...

, Prince Hammer, Tappa Zukie, Sly Dunbar, and The Twinkle Brothers. Many of the artists who had previously released records on Virgin also moved to the new label. Front Line folded after two years although some of the artists remained signed to Virgin. Many of the albums were reissued on

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in Octo ...

in the 2000s.

Catalogue

7-inch singles

*FLS 101: I Roy - "Fire Stick" / "Casmas Town" (1978) *FLS 102: The Gladiators - "Stick a Bush" / "Music Makers from Jamaica" (1978) *FLS 103: Jah Lloyd the Black Lion - "This Ya Sound" / "Upfull Rastaman" (1978) *FLS 104: The Twinkle Brothers - "Free Africa" (1978) *FLS 105: Sly Dunbar - "A Who Say" / "Cocaine Cocaine" (1978) *FLS 106: Prince Hammer - "Bible" / "Morwell Esquire" (1978) *FLS 107:

Althea & Donna Althea & Donna were a Jamaican reggae vocal duo, consisting of Althea Rose Forrest and Donna Marie Reid. They are best known for their 1977 single " Uptown Top Ranking", which was a number-one hit in the United Kingdom in 1978. Career The Jamai ...

- "Puppy Dog Song" / "Sorry" (1978) *FLS 108: Joyella Blade - "Cairo" (1978) *FLS 109: Tappa Zukie - "She Want a Phensic" / "Rastaman Skank" (1978) *FLS 110: Althea & Donna - "Going to Negril" / "The West" (1978) *FLS 111: The Gladiators - "Dreadlocks the Time is Now" / "Pocket Money" (1978) *FLS 112:

- "No More War" (1978) *FLS 113:

The Abyssinians The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics. History The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins and Donald Manning. Their fir ...

- "Hey You" / "This Land is for Everyone" (1978) *FLS 114: Vivian Weathers - "Hip Hug" (1978) *FLS 115: Tappa Zukie - "Oh Lord" / "First Street Rock" (1978) *FLS 116:

Culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these grou ...

- "Natty Get Weary" (1978) *FLS 117: The Twinkle Brothers - "Distant Drums" (1978) *FLS 118: The Gladiators - "Struggle" / "Parises to the Most High" (1979) *FLS 119: The Twinkle Brothers - "Keep on Trying" / "Keep on Dubbing" (1979) *FLS 125: Culture - "International Herb" / "Down in Jamaica" (1979) *FLS 126: The Gladiators - "Holiday Ride" / "No Disturbance" (1979)

10-inch singles

*FBL 3001: Various Artists - "Various" (1978) *FCL 5001: The Twinkle Brothers - "Love" (1978)

12-inch singles

*FLS 11912: The Twinkle Brothers - "Keep on Trying" / "King Pharaoh" (1979) *FLS 12012: Sly Dunbar - "Rasta Fiesta" / "Dirty Harry" (1979) *FLS 12112:

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

- "Soon Forward" / Gregory Isaacs & Prince Far I - "Uncle Joe" / "Come Off Mi Toe" (1979) *FLS 12212: The Mighty Diamonds - "Bodyguard" / "One Brother Short" (1979) *FLS 12312: The Twinkle Brothers - "Jahoviah" / "Free Africa" (1979) *FLS 12412: I Roy - "Fire in a Wire" / "Hill and Gully" (1979)

12-inch singles VOLE SERIES

*Vole 1: Dr. Alimantado - "Slavery Let it Go" / "Find the One" (1978) *Vole 2: U-ROY - "Small Axe" / "Small Axe" (1978) *Vole 4: U-Brown - "Black Star Liner" / "River John Mountain" (1978) *Vole 5: U-ROY - "Live at the Lyceum" / ".." (1978) *Vole 6: Sly - "A Who Say" / "Cocaine Cocaine" (1978) *Vole 7: Althea & Donna - "Going to the Negril" / "The West" (1978)

Albums

*FL 1001: I Roy - ''Heart of a Lion'' (1978) *FL 1002: The Gladiators - '' Proverbial Reggae'' (1978) *FL 1003: U Brown - ''Mr. Brown Something'' (1978) *FL 1004: Prince Hammer - ''Bible'' (1978) *FL 1005: Jah Lloyd the Black Lion - ''The Humble One'' (1978) *FL 1006: Tappa Zukie - ''MPLA'' (1978) *FL 1008: Sly Dunbar - ''Simple Sly Man'' (1978) *FL 1009: Tappa Zukie - ''Peace in the Ghetto'' (1978) *FL 1010: The Icebreakers with The Diamonds - ''Planet Mars Dub'' (1978) *FL 1011:

- ''

Isaiah First Prophet of Old ''Isaiah First Prophet of Old'' is a Big Youth album released in 1978. Track listing Personnel * Big Youth - Main Performer, Vocals, Percussion, * Rita Marley - Vocals * George Fullwood - Bass * Carlton "Santa" Davis - Percussion, Drums * Earl ...

'' (1978) *FL 1012: Althea & Donna - '' Uptown Top Ranking'' (1978) *FL 1013: Prince Far I - '' Message from the King'' (1978) *FL 1014: Big Youth - ''

Dreadlocks Dread ''Dread Locks Dread'' is an album by the Jamaican deejay Big Youth, released in 1975. Critical reception ''Trouser Press'' wrote that "the record is widely considered his best." Track listing All tracks by Big Youth Manley Augustus Buchana ...

'' (1978) *FL 1015: Ranking Trevor - ''In Fine Style'' (1978) *FL 1016: Culture - ''Harder Than The Rest'' (1978) *FL 1017: Poet & the Roots - '' Dread Beat an' Blood'' (1978) *FL 1018:

- ''Version Galore'' (1978) *FL 1019: The Abyssinians - ''Arise'' (1978) *FL 1020: Gregory Isaacs - '' Cool Ruler'' (1978) *FL 1021: Prince Far I - ''

Long Life ''Long Life'' is a reggae album by Prince Far I, released in 1978. Track listing All tracks composed and arranged by Michael Williams #"Daughters of Zion" #"Right Way" #"Black Starliner Must Come" #"Praise Him With Psalms" #"In Your Walking Rem ...

'' (1978) *FL 1023: U-Roy - ''Jah Son of Africa'' (1978) *FL 1025: Vivian Weathers - ''Bad Weather'' (1978) *FL 1028: I Roy - ''Ten Commandments'' (1978) *FL 1029: Tappa Zukie - ''In Dub'' (1978) *FL 1030: U Brown - ''Can't Keep a Good Man Down'' (1978) *FL 1031: Jah Lloyd - ''Black Moses'' (1978) *FL 1032: Tappa Zukie - ''Tapper Roots'' (1978) *FL 1033: I Roy - ''World on Fire'' (1978) *FL 1034: Various Artists - ''Hottest Hits (from the vaults of Treasure Island)'' (1979) *FL 1035: The Gladiators - ''Naturality'' (1979) *FL 1040: Culture - ''Cumbolo'' (1979) *FL 1041: The Twinkle Brothers - ''Praise Jah'' (1979) *FL 1042: Sly Dunbar - ''Sly Wicked and Slick'' (1979) *FL 1044: Gregory Isaacs - ''

Soon Forward Soon may refer to: Music * ''Soon'' (musical), a 1971 rock opera by Joseph M. Kookolis and Scott Fagan Albums * ''Soon'' (album), a 1993 album by Tanya Tucker, and the title song (see below) * ''Soon'' (EP), a 1997 EP by Far Songs * ...

'' (1979) *FL 1045: The Mighty Diamonds - ''Deeper Roots (Back to the Channel)'' (1979) *FL 1047: Culture - ''International Herb'' (1979) *FL 1048: The Gladiators - ''Sweet So Till'' (1979) *FLX 4001: I Roy - ''Cancer'' (1979) *FLX 4002: Prince Far I - '' Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2'' (1979) *FLX 4003: The Twinkle Brothers - ''Love'' (1979) *FLX 4004: U-Roy - ''With Words of Wisdom'' (1979) *FLD 6001: The Mighty Diamonds - ''Deeper Roots (Back to the Channel)'' (1979) *FLD 6002: I Roy - ''The General'' /''Spider's Web (dub)'' (1979) *FLB 3001: Various Artists - ''The Front Line II'' (1978) *FLB 3002: Various Artists - ''The Front Line III'' (1979)

References

{{Authority control British record labels Reggae record labels Record labels established in 1978 Record labels disestablished in 1979