Front Line was a reggae subsidiary of Virgin Records established in 1978.[1] Over forty albums were issued on the label before it folded in 1979.
Virgin had been releasing reggae records since BB Seaton's "Dancing Shoes" in 1974.[1] By 1975, label owner Richard Branson had begun signing roots reggae artists, and in the three years that followed, Virgin released successful albums by the likes of U-Roy, The Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Johnny Clarke, Peter Tosh, and I Roy.[1] Johnny Rotten is rumoured to have signed with Virgin because of the company's progressive policy towards reggae.[1] In 1978, Branson decided to form a subsidiary label dedicated wholly to reggae, and called this Front Line.[1]
Branson and Rotten travelled to Kingston and signed artists to the label including Prince Far I, Big Youth, Prince Hammer, Tappa Zukie, Sly Dunbar, and The Twinkle Brothers.[1] Many of the artists who had previously released records on Virgin also moved to the new label.[2] Front Line folded after two years although some of the artists remained signed to Virgin.[1]
Many of the albums were reissued on compact disc in the 2000s.
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