BY KEVIN JACKSON
Observer writer—
For the first time in his more than 50-year career, singer Junior Byles has entered a Billboard chart. The reissue of his 1986 album, Rasta No Pickpocket, debuts at number 17 with first-week sales of 36 copies.
Rasta No Pickpocket was released for the first time on compact disc and digitally on June 22 by Omnivore Recordings. The new package has five additional songs for a total of 11 tracks.
The set is the third and final studio effort by Byles, who helped signal the roots reggae revolution of the early 1970’s with songs like Beat Down Babylon and Curly Locks.
Also new on the chart at number 11 is the various artistes double CD This is Trojan Roots, released June 22 by Trojan Records. It features songs from Marcia Griffiths, Zap Pow, Linval Thompson, Gregory Isaacs, Reggae George, Johnny Clarke, Dennis Brown, Culture and Cornel Campbell, among others.
Holding the number one spot for a second week is Free Reign by Rebelution, which opened at number one last week with 9,854 copies. It is down to 1,366 copies in its second week, for total sales of 11,220.
44/876 by Sting and Shaggy remains at number two with another 944 copies sold, down from 1,670 the previous week. It is still the strongest seller in the chart with 36,633 sold since its April release.
The self-titled album from Iration is still number three with an additional 355 copies sold. The previous week it sold 457 copies to bring its tally to 6,118.
Rebellion Rises by Ziggy Marley is at number four with 240 more copies sold, down from last week’s 332 copies. To date it has moved 6,206 copies.
The various artistes Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica is steady at number five after recording another 134 copies. Jumping from number 13 to six is Talking Dreads by Mystic Bowie with 131 more copies, up from 56 the previous week.
Talking Dreads was released on June 15 via MTMB Entertainment LLC. It features collaborations with Tarrus Riley and Freddie McGregor.
Rising from number nine to seven after clocking another 127 copies is Legacy by New Zealand band Katchafire, while Sister Caro EP by Henricci falls to number eight with 126 copies for a total of 3,263 copies sold.
Stony Hill by Damian Marley has to date sold 20,987. Over the past week it sold another 100 copies and falls to number nine.
The compilation Soca Gold 2018 by VP Records sold an additional 55 copies and moves up one spot to number 10. To date it has sold 517 copies.
You must log in to post a comment.