Wildfire Records out of Philadelphia has re-released two compilation albums on multiple digital platforms. ‘Ready Fi Di World’ and ‘The Best of Reggae Classics: Various Artists’ were initially released in 2021 on compact disc, but Earl Messam, the company’s president, believes the digital format will give them greater exposure.
“This will touch the whole world; CDs were just available in stores. Now, everybody can have access to these albums and some great songs,” said Messam.
‘Ready Fi Di World’ contains 21 songs by a number of top artists including Dennis Brown, Luciano, Jah Cure and Alborosie. Well-known dancehall acts such as Jah Screw, Anthony Redrose, Mikey General and Doniki, as well as gospel singer Peter Brown, are also featured.
Doniki, who died in 2016, recorded a number of songs for Wildfire Records. So did Peter Brown, who was killed in Jamaica in 2023.
‘The Best of Reggae Classics’ also has 21 songs with Doniki featured on seven of them. Queen Shanbam Empress, a Philadelphia-based singer, contributes nine songs to the set including two collaborations with veteran artist Roland Burrell, best known for the hit songs, ‘Johnny Dollar’ and ‘Stormy Night’.
Messam, who is from Clarendon parish in rural Jamaica, started Wildfire Records shortly after migrating to the United States in the late 1980s. He has since figured prominently in the Philadelphia reggae scene, working with local acts and artists from Jamaica.