Engineers: Errol Thompson, Karl Pitterson, Syd Bucknor.

This reggae classic, long heralded as a cornerstone of the DJ genre, was remastered and reissued in 2006. Along with U-Roy, Big Youth was one of the most influential DJs on the Jamaican scene in the 1970s, helping to develop and popularize the tradition of singers "toasting" over records (a tradition that bears a direct lineage to dancehall and rap). Big Youth's 1973 debut SCREAMING TARGET has the passionate vocalist espousing conscious themes over smartly produced roots reggae rhythms in a way that sounds as fresh decades later as it did upon its original release. The reissue contains 14 bonus tracks and crisply remastered sound.

Big Youth's 1973 debut is one of the seminal albums of Jamaican DJ music. Building on the groundbreaking innovations of '60s toasters like U Roy, Big Youth changed the face of DJ-ing in the '70s with his relaxed, conversational style and the politically charged themes he premiered on SCREAMING TARGET. The shrieks that kick off the title track command the listener's attention immediately, and belie Big Youth's jazzy, laid-back toasting style. Based on K.C. White's "No No No," "Screaming Target" is a clarion call for Jamaica's youth to educate and better themselves, and typifies Big Youth's marriage of cool, mesmerizing performance with razor-sharp, socially conscious lyrics.

The rest of SCREAMING TARGET follows suit, with superb track selections and producer Gussie Clarke's well-articulated production. Big Youth's toasts ride the rhythms perfectly, and his lazy, half-slurred style radiates a cool, rolling vibe that is balanced by the precision of its delivery and the weightiness of his words. Still on the shortlist of historically important DJ albums decades after its release, SCREAMING TARGET should have a slot in any comprehensive roots reggae collection.