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 ...

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 worldwid ...

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 expressed ...

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 ...

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 The Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, '' Right Time'', produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 197 ...

Keith Hudson Keith Hudson (18 March 1946 – 14 November 1984),Thompson, p.311 was a Jamaican reggae artist and record producer. He is known for his influence on the dub movement. Biography Raised in a musical family, Hudson attended Boys Town School i ...

Johnny Clarke Johnny Clarke (born 12 January 1955) is a Jamaican reggae musician, best known for his recordings with producer Bunny Lee in the 1970s. Biography Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town and attended Jamaica College.Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963� ...

, and

I Roy Roy Samuel Reid (28 June 1942 – 27 November 1999), better known as I-Roy, was a Jamaican deejay who had a very prolific career during the 1970s. Biography Born in 1944 in Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica, Reid graduated from Dinthill Technical C ...

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 agai ...

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 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 about ...

, Big Youth,

Prince Hammer Beris Simpson, better known as Prince Hammer, is a Jamaican reggae deejay, singer, and record producer. Biography Simpson was born at the Jubilee Hospital in Kingston and grew up in a Christian family in Kingston.Peter I (2005)Prince Hammer: ...

Tappa Zukie Tapper Zukie (or Tappa Zukie) (born David Sinclair, 1955, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae Deejay (Jamaican), deejay and record producer, producer.Greene, Jo-AnnTapper Zukie Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-02-15 Biography ...

, Sly Dunbar, and

The Twinkle Brothers The Twinkle Brothers are a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1962, and still active in the 21st century under Norman Grant's lead. History The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 by brothers Norman (vocals, drums) and Ralston Grant (vocals, rhythm ...

. 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 media, 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 rele ...

in the 2000s.

Catalogue

7-inch singles

*FLS 101:

- "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:

- "Free Africa" (1978) *FLS 105: Sly Dunbar - "A Who Say" / "Cocaine Cocaine" (1978) *FLS 106:

- "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 Jama ...

- "Puppy Dog Song" / "Sorry" (1978) *FLS 108: Joyella Blade - "Cairo" (1978) *FLS 109:

- "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 firs ...

- "Hey You" / "This Land is for Everyone" (1978) *FLS 114:

Vivian Weathers Vivian may refer to: *Vivian (name), a given name and also a surname Toponyms * Vivian, Louisiana, U.S. * Vivian, South Dakota, U.S. * Vivian, West Virginia, U.S. * Vivian Island, Nunavut, Canada * Ballantrae, Ontario, a hamlet in Stouffville, ...

- "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 groups.Tyl ...

- "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:

- "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 ''Proverbial Reggae'' was the second album by Jamaican Roots Reggae band The Gladiators, recorded and released in 1978 on Virgin Records' Front Line imprint British dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has said the songs on ''Proverbial Reggae'' "co ...

'' (1978) *FL 1003:

U Brown Huford Brown (born 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984. Biography Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Du ...

- ''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 The Diamonds are a Canadian vocal quartet that rose to prominence in the 1950s and early 1960s with 16 ''Billboard'' hit records. The original members were Dave Somerville (lead), Ted Kowalski (tenor), Phil Levitt (baritone), and Bill Reed (ba ...

- ''Planet Mars Dub'' (1978) *FL 1011: Big Youth - '' Isaiah First Prophet of Old'' (1978) *FL 1012: Althea & Donna - ''

Uptown Top Ranking "Uptown Top Ranking" is a song by Jamaican teenage singers Althea Forrest and Donna Reid, recorded when they were 17 and 18 years old respectively. Released in 1977, the song comprises the girls ad-libbing to deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by T ...

'' (1978) *FL 1013: Prince Far I - '' Message from the King'' (1978) *FL 1014: Big Youth - '' Dreadlocks Dread'' (1978) *FL 1015:

Ranking Trevor Maxwell Grant (20 January 1960 – 7 August 2012), better known as Ranking Trevor and sometimes as Ranking Superstar, was a Jamaican reggae deejay. Biography Grant began deejaying as a teenager in the 1970s, and began his recording career at the ...

- ''In Fine Style'' (1978) *FL 1016: Culture - ''Harder Than The Rest'' (1978) *FL 1017: Poet & the Roots - ''

Dread Beat an' Blood ''Dread Beat an' Blood'' is the debut album by Poet and the Roots released in 1978 on the Front Line label. It was produced by Vivian Weathers and Linton Kwesi Johnson. The "Poet" is dub poet Johnson and "the Roots" are Dennis Bovell, Lloyd "J ...

'' (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'' (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'' (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 ''Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2'' is a 1979 reggae album by Prince Far I. It was recorded at Harry J's studio in Kingston, Jamaica and mixed by King Jammy, Prince Jammy. The album was reissued on compact disc in expanded form as ''Dubwise'', with ...

'' (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