summary 
Thursday, 24 May
"Soul Jazz continue their journey into the vaults of the mighty Studio One with this next instalment, featuring everything from classic ska and rocksteady to the deepest roots, heaviest dub and dancehall. As ever, the album includes incredible reggae artists such as The Heptones, Ken Boothe, The Skatalites, Johnny Osbourne and Wailing Souls, all of whom launched their careers at Studio One, 13 Brentford Road, under the guidance of Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd. This album features some of the most in-demand and collectible Studio One tracks over the years, all digitally remastered. Th… Read more
"To celebrate Jamaica’s 50 Years of Independance 1962-2012, Kingston Sounds have put together a set of releases that cover the musical styles that reggae mutated into through it’s history. Roots Reggae looks at a period in Reggae history that followed the two year supremacy of Rocksteady, that began to tail off around the end of 1968. The Reggae sound many say did not come initially from the chop of the gui- tar but from the stabs from the Keyboard/Organ that produced that jeggae/jerking feel. The Roots element can be heard in the heartfelt lyrics and the stories told in the songs. So sit back and enjoy some Roots Reggae straight from the heart of Jamaica….."
Thursday, 03 May
VARIOUS / SOUL JAZZ
Harmony, Melody and Style: Lovers Rock and Rare Groove in the UK 1975-92: Part One
Soul Jazz Records
2LP // £12.99
Cat. Number: SJRLP253VOL1
**Soul Jazz strike summer gold with an expertly-curated primer on the quintessentially UK sound of lovers rock reggae. Volume 1 features evergreens such as Winston Curtis' 'Be Thankful For What You've Got' and Sandra Reid's 'Don't Tell Me Tell Her' among 13 cherry picked goodies. Double gatefold LP with 24-page colour booklet jammed with archival photos, interviews and features on leading lights such as Carroll Thompson, Dennis Bovell and Louisa Mark** "Harmony, Melody and Style tells the story of lovers rock - from its… Read more
VARIOUS / SOUL JAZZ
Harmony, Melody and Style: Lovers Rock and Rare Groove in the UK 1975-92: Part Two
Soul Jazz Records
2LP // £12.99
Cat. Number: SJRLP253VOL2
**Soul Jazz strike summer gold with an expertly-curated primer on the quintessentially UK sound of lovers rock reggae. Volume 2 stars twelve cherry-picked goodies from Christine White, Jean Adebambo, Full Wood, Trevor Hartley, Blood Sisters, Yvonne Archer, The Cool Notes, Legato, Candy Mckenzie Wendy Walker, The Sadonians** "Harmony, Melody and Style tells the story of lovers rock - from its soundsystem beginnings, its commercial explosion at the start of the 1980s and its underground continuance into the next decade as… Read more
SUN ARAW, M. GEDDES GENGRAS & THE CONGOS
FRKWYS Vol. 9: Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras meet The Congos
RVNG Intl.
LP + DVD // £18.49
Cat. Number: FRKWYS09LP
**Comes with ICON EYE DVD, a visual travelogue documenting the making of the album. Also includes digital download code redeemable from the label** RVNG Intl.'s FRKWYS series has grown more and more adventurous since its 2010 inception; no longer content with just straight-up remixes, the label's focus now is on commissioning original collaborations between notable artists of different generations. Having already teamed ARP with Henry Cow's Anthony Moore, and synth boffin David Borden with young pups James Ferraro, Laurel Ha… Read more
Monday, 30 April
12" // £5.99Cool Digi-Dub business from Bristol. A-side Rudey Lee rides squashed bass with 'Emotion', backed by an 'Energetic Version'. B-side catches Solo Banton on 'Are You Ready' backed with instrumental.
Thursday, 26 April
**High quality, faithful reissue (including correct track listing) pressed on 180g wax with colour insert** Vital first ever reissue of Keith Hudson's debut 1972 LP! A true auteur and originator within the world of reggae, Keith Hudson, the "soul communicator" made his entrance with the swaggering, fresh and "up-tight" styles of 'Imbidimts Furnace' in the year that Jamaica was celebrating 10 years of independance and a time when the Reggae sound was only just becoming established. Backed by the Soul Syndicate (Carlton "Santa" Davis, Earl "Chinna" Smith, George Fullwood, Tony Chin), former dentis… Read more
"Towards the end of 1965, some say due to the extreme heatwave that was hitting the Island, the people that followed the Sound System Dances demanded a slower beat so they could still move and groove to the all night musical affairs. So the jerky SKA swing was slowed down to a steady beat that also allowed the songs cut at this time to shine through. So sit back and enjoy the tunes that rocked the Island between 1966-1968 the ROCK- STEADY Sound that hit the town…… To celebrate Jamaica’s 50 Years of Independance 1962-2012. We have put together a set of releases that cover the musical styles that reggae mutated into through it’s history…"
Monday, 23 April
"The second 7" from Renegade Masters is a sweet grower that pays homage to peasants rights all over the world and the inevitable rise of the bullied poor. The A side track is a hiphop influenced reggae soiree which leans into the chanting sing-along excursion of early '90s pop with a laid back vocal from Soom T injected with intense dramatic inflections. Not a standard piece of reggae by any means, the smooth production by Australia's Combat Wombat Monkey Marc makes for a dance-able chiller providing the driving force needed to hold up Soom T's extreme voicings, as well as making an adequate vehicle for MCs to ride the riddim on the B Side version."
Thursday, 19 April
Reissue of seminal, definitive UK Roots plate starring the mellifluous Sister Rasheda on productions by Jah Shaka Music's The Disciples. Originally released in 1992 'Only Jah Worthy' balances Rasheda's poignant, spiritual vocal against rippling drums, real and synthesized, with flashing stabs and finely tuned bass excitement. Flipside's 'Give Jah Praise' is more driving, under pressure of ricocheting snares and stepping subs, but again with those celestial vocals and sweetened pipes. Both dubs are immense, too. Not to be missed!
Thursday, 12 April
Smoked-out version excursion for one of JA's most righteous and long-standing vocal groups. It's the Dub partner to Kingston Sounds' 2006 CD 'Feast', rendering 12 tracks from the original alongside three bonus CD tracks. Unfortunately it appears to be a secret who's on mixing duties, but nevertheless, they've resulted in one fine set of stripped-down and spacious Dub with nuff horns and choice vocal snippets. Check for the steppin' overhaul of 'The River Beng Come Down' here as 'Beng Come Down Dub', the spiritual headiness of 'Citizien Of The World' or 'Citizen Dub', and the heavy, heavy praise of ''Heaven Rejoice' transformed as 'Heaven Dub'.
Monday, 19 March
The Rhythm Twins head on a purified, smoked-out session for Groove Attack. Reunited with guitarist Mikey "Mao" Chung and percussionist Uziah "Sticky" Thompson for the first time since their Compass Point All Stars sessions in the '80s, the quartet return to their roots on ten tracks of bubbling bass and FX spiced with pointed drums, all recorded at the iconic Harry J studios - home to much of Bob Marley & The Wailers' legendary output in the '70s. It's a masterclass in style and pattern, executed with poise and tip-a-top production values - just a shame they pressed it on bloody picture disc!
Thursday, 15 March
VARIOUS / BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS
The Bristol Reggae Explosion 3: The 1980s Part 2
BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS
LP // £12.99
Cat. Number: ARC249V
Back with a 3rd volume, Bristol Archive Records compile 8 sweet treats from their home city's famed and deeply rooted Reggae scene circa '80s. 7 of those tracks are previously unreleased, and all together provide a great overview of the diversity of ideas and styles that were bubbling away in 1980s Bristol. Highlights have to be Bunny Marrett's bluesy jazz ace 'I'm Free', Joshua Moses' casio-starring stepper 'Stick It Up', a rocksteady digit-dub from Popsy Curious called 'Chant Down Bobby Rome' and Cool Runnings' blue bayside ace 'Playhouse'.
Monday, 05 March
VARIOUS / KINGSTON SOUNDS
Birth Of Dancehall: Black Solidarity 1976-1979
KINGSTON SOUNDS
LP // £11.99
Cat. Number: KSLP031
Kingston Sound document the roots of Dancehall through the productions of Black Solidarity aka producer Ossie Thomas. An early adopter of the drum machine, Ossie worked with a stack of names such as Triston Palmer, Robert French, Papa Levi, Puddy Roots, Early B, Tony Tuff and Josey Wales on his signature slow and heavy style. Some killer early digi nuggets to be found here like Michael Palmer's 'String Up The Sound System', Ashanti Waugh's 'Crime Act' and Josey Wales' steppin' ace 'Let Go The Rhythm'.
Thursday, 16 February
LP // £11.49The magical, mystical sound of Augustus Pablo on a fine collection of riddims cut at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Wielding his legendary melodica, Pablo lends his transporting style to fourteen (nineteen on CD) smoky, downbeat dubs with classic style and pattern.
Thursday, 09 February
**Much needed first vinyl issue of this deeply endearing LP, newly remastered and housed in custom embossed jacket with liner notes in Japanese and English by band-leader Peter Blackman** A comprehensive reissue of Steel An' Skin's output from the late seventies and early eighties, combining the band's debut 12" release Reggae Is Here Once Again, a couple of tracks from their 1984 LP Acid Rain, and one previously unissued piece. The music itself is a potent hybrid of dub, disco and African influences, a freeform fusion of the manifold influences of Afro-Caribbean London. 'Afro… Read more
*9 Track vinyl edition* "With Curtis “Da Grynch” Lynch on production, and an array of artists and songwriters supporting, this collection previews tracks from forthcoming 2012 riddim releases, and new mixes of old NM classics, and at the same time serving up several tunes previously unreleased on vinyl. Etana’s sweet track ‘Dance’ was championed by David Rodigan for weeks on Kiss FM before it came out as a 7" single. Mr Williamz's ‘Ganja Smokin' is definitely one of the bigger tunes on the Necessary Mayhem circuit right now, based on the popular Darker Shade 70s riddim. ‘As Mi Fo… Read more
Tuesday, 31 January
PRINCE FATTY AND THE MUTANT HI-FI
Transistor Cowboy / Son Of A Thousand Fathers
Mr Bongo
7" // £5.99
Cat. Number: MRB7099
Cheeky platter from the fellas at Mr Bongo, who drop a side of spaghetti western soundtrack-meets-Ska from Prince Fatty and The Mutant HiFi. The production is assuredly vintage sounding and entirely analog, thanks to the involvement of Mike 'Prince Fatty' Pelanconi (producer for Lily Allen, Graham Coxon and The Pharcyde, a.o.), who was also behind those reggae covers of Nirvana, and also Mutant HiFi's Nick Coplowe, who's worked for many years as producer with On-U Sound System. The A-side 'Transistor Cowboy' is introduced with the plangent… Read more
Thursday, 19 January
*Limited edition 180g vinyl* Tappa Zukie production recorded at Channel 1 and Black Ark with a stellar cast including Sly & Robbie, Augustus Pablo, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Ansel Collins and more. Features the classics 'Funeral' and 'Bosrah' - which was recorded at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark.
Thursday, 01 December
Eric Donaldson's classic tune, produced by Bunny Lee.
Thursday, 20 October
BUNNY 'STRIKER' LEE
Reggae Going International 1967-1976
KINGSTON SOUNDS
2LP // £15.99
Cat. Number: KST029LP
"Edward O'Sullivan Lee "but my friends call me Bunny or Striker Lee" was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 23rd August 1941. He started in the music business plugging records for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle, Coxsone Dodd at Studio One and Leslie Kong at Beverley's. "I used to do plugging... when I say plugging I used to get their records played on 'Teenage Dance Party' and we'd dance so if you had a record to plug you'd put it on and dance to it and show the latest moves". As ska began to wane in popularity Bunny began to use the many contacts and friends that he had … Read more
Thursday, 13 October
VARIOUS / BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS
The Bristol Reggae Explosion 2: The 1980s
BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS
LP // £12.99
Cat. Number: ARC228V
*Includes sleevenotes by Dubmart's Martin Langford and 3 previously unreleased tracks* Following their warmly received coverage of 'The Bristol Reggae Explosion 1978-1983', Bristol Archive Records set their sights on the influential '80s era for their 2nd set of rarities and classic cuts. There's strong rootical nourishment from the likes of Black Roots on 'Pin In The Ocean' and 'The Father' or Bunny Marrett's 'Times Are Getting Harder', and an emphasis on the strength of the the city's dub sound with Alfred McIntosh's 'Wicked Dub' and 'Ah It D… Read more
Thursday, 29 September
Fine selection of vintage cuts from the vaults of founding Skatalite, Tommy McCook. Includes 14 versions of classic rhythms lead by Tommy's Tenor Saxophone and featuring an allstar line-up of The Aggrovators, Soul Syndicate and Sly And Robbie, all dubbed-up by Bunny Lee.
Tuesday, 27 September
LUTAN FYAH / CORNELL CAMPBELL
I'm Leaving / I'll Never Leave
Red Earth Music
7" // £4.99
Cat. Number: REDE009
The Red Earth Collective replay the rhythm to Soothsayers' 'We're Not Leaving' ballad, topped with sweet vocals. A-side features the "raw but vulnerable" tones of Spanish Town Deejay Lutan Fyah on 'I'm Leaving', and the flipside it's the legendary falsetto of Cornell Campbell on 'I'll Never Leave', both articulating the series' departure theme.
Thursday, 01 September
*"All Killer No Filler" compilation of classic cuts by legendary Jamaican Deejay, Dillinger* "One of the most consistently successful DJ's to come out of Jamaica, fondly remembered for his massive 'Cocaine In My Brain' hit from the great CB200 album and the later reworked 'Marijuana In My Brain' which gave Dillinger crossover hits in both England and Europe. But the versatile DJ has many more strings to his bow...We have taken our set of tunes from his classic mid 70s period when Mr Dillinger could do no wrong. Alongside the big 'Cocaine' and 'Marijuana' hits the great opening track 'Love Is All… Read more
Wednesday, 17 August
**Includes download code for the full album plus bonus dubs - redeemable direct from the label** UK HipHop/Reggae institution drops his anticipated 'International Rudeboy' player. Wayne Barrett, as he's known to his mum, has a lengthy CV including a ton of classic Big Dada productions with his Lotek Hi-Fi ensemble and for longtime ally, Roots Manuva. Mr Manuva appears on this one too, alongside vocals from Jimmy Screech, Spikey Tee, RuCL, and Midnight Republic, riding his signatures riddims built with a fine balance of authentic JA and UK styles. Cool sound.
Monday, 11 July
MAX ROMEO / JAH BATTA / JEZZREEL
Birth Of Reggae Music / Trickey Girl / Youth Man
Wackies
12" // £7.99
Cat. Number: W003
This majestic rhythm was brought from Channel One to Wackies by Sugar Minott. First to voice it was Jah Batta - his bathetic version makes a comic interlude in Chris Coy's 1983 film about the label, when he mimes the lyrics to his companion, strolling in the park - originally released on Junior Delahaye's Sun Force label, the production credited to Batta aka Tony Omeally. (The flip was the Jezzreel cut here, reworking The Upsetter's classic Fever b-line.) Max Romeo's myth-making is more in tune with the genius of the rhythm. The song appeared o… Read more
Remastered rerelease of 'Reggae Vibes', female Roots duo the LOVE JOYS first album, initially released in 1981 on the Florida-based Top Ranking label (when it was also entitled Jah Light on the inside labels). It features 10 tunes produced and recorded at Wackies NY, ranging from Lovers Rock Reggae Style and uptempo dance vibes to roots and reality. Official cooperation and re-release program by Basic Channel (Berlin) and Wackie's (New York).
Since its original release in 1977, Creation Dub has been most wanted amongst reggae bounty hunters as its Wild West cover typography suggests - every track a killer, a key Bullwackies dub album. The record inaugurated Wackies' fruitful London connection: the second-pressing sleeve carries a nostalgic distribution credit for the long-gone Maroons Tunes shop, run by Rae Cheddie. The core musicians here are Allah, Clive Hunt and Jerry Harris, with outstanding contributions from hornsman Sel Wheeler and Roy Robertson on bass, and John Clarke on the single vocal track. Included are dubs of rh… Read more
**Volume 1** Basic Channel continue on their mission to re-present the Wackies catalogue in full, both volumes of Reggae Goodies came out around 1977 on Bullwackies' City Line imprint, which celebrated the Wackies HQ, and the NY subway track ending at White Plains Road. They are based on a compilation of 7" a-sides, which had appeared over the previous few years on labels like Versatile, Rawse and Senrab. The original sleeve notes of volume one reflected that 'today, reggae music is reaching its peak and this album is a perfect example of the roots of its success. This an exceptio… Read more
