Reggae — CDs  

A mighty strong late effort from U-Roy – a record that features a solid roster of legendary and contemporary guests – and one that shows that The Originator can still deliver a fresh, timeless original record even this late in the game! U-Roy is classic-era toaster who sounds perfectly at home in a contemporary setting, so it stands to reason that the mode here would be mix of classic and new rhythms. It works really, really well and The Originator is fine and fresh form! Includes "Love Questions" with Marcia Griffiths, "Pray For Di People", "Border Line" feat Chezidek, "Call On Jah" feat Harrison Stafford, "Cheating Girl" feat Ernest Wilson, "Ebony Eyes" feat Winsome Benjamin, "Pumps And Pride" with Tarrus Riley, "Reason With Jah" feat Horace Andy, "Ungrateful Girl" with Richard Robinson and more.

A definite breakout from Louisa Mark – a set of smooth-stepping rhythms with plenty of Jamaican elements in the mix – yet served up in a warm London vibe that's plenty soulful too! The mix of modes is great – and makes the record a lovers' rock classic right from the get-go – and a great evolution of 70s reggae into some soulful styles for the 80s! Producer Clem Bushay does a great job with the music – keeping things tight, yet never in a way that's commercial at all – just compressed enough to let Louisa's vocals really sparkle in the lead. There's a heartbreaking quality to most tunes – an element that really furthers the soul music aspect of the record – and titles include "Reunited", "People In Love", "6 Six Street", "Even Though You're Gone", "Baby Simone", and "He Used To Be My Man". Also features bonus tracks – "Gone Out" by Louisa Mark with Bushranger, "Step It Brother Clem" by Trinity, and "Natty Go Dey Voluntarily" by Jah Son.

Solid contemporary reggae from Senegalese singer Meta Dia and his Cornerstones Group – and a genuine effort, to boot – recorded at Tuff Gong! Meta Dia has long done well with 70s reggae influences, but he takes them deeper and truer here – with appearances by Capleton, U-Roy and Damian Marley. Includes "Roaring Lions", "Mayan River", "Price Of Everything", "Tijahni" with Capleton, "Loneliest People", "Beloved Africa" from Damian Marley, "Rooftop" with U-Roy, "Bahia", "Bound To Glory", "Mankind", "Ancient Power" and more.

A set of roots reggae from the immediate post rocksteady years – great late 60s and early 70s reggae with more earnestly soulful vocals and sweet Caribbean rhythm! Includes numbers by Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell, Linval Thompson, Horace Andy, Barry Brown, Leroy Smart and more. 16 tracks on the CD: "Roots Natty Congo" by Johnny Clarke, "Bad Minded People" by Leroy Smart, "Skylarking" by Horace Andy, "Declaration Of Rights" by Johnny Clarke, "Trying Youthman" by Barry Brown, "Politricks" by Cornell Campbell and more.

A beautiful illustration of the sound of Studio One Records – that unique quality that makes the legendary label one of the most soulful sources of Jamaican music ever! The package is a surprisingly great treat – one that's still amazingly essential, even if you've got other Studio One collections – as it really has an unusual approach – one that seems to get past all the sub-genres of Jamaican music, and focus on the core genius of Studio One! In that respect, there's a very deep soul vibe to most of these tracks – almost a Kingston echo of Memphis or Muscle Shoals, not in the style of music – which is usually early reggae or rocksteady – but in the way all the core elements of the tunes come together perfectly, even before the singer's great vocals come into the mix! Once again, Soul Jazz prove that they've got a magical set of ears – as you'll hear on this collection of tracks that includes "Happy Feelings" by Dub Specialist, "Live Up To Your Name" by Prince Lincoln, "Happy Valley" by Reuben Alexander, "There's A Fire" by Larry Marshall, "Rolando Special" by Roland Alphonso, "Homeward Bound" by Freddie McGregor, "Hip Hug" by Slim Smith, "Good People" by Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus, "Keep On Moving" by Lord Tanamo, "Trouble Maker" by Wailing Souls, "Call To Me" by Rita Marley, and "Double Minded Man" by Anthony Ellis.

Dynamic early sounds from Lee Scratch Perry – music recorded at the Wirl Studios, during a very formative time in Lee's career! You can really hear a shift of styles going on here – as older rocksteady modes give way to newer reggae ones – all with some nascent studio genius that really helps amplify and abstract some of the hippest musical modes in the backings! Tracks features some great organ lines from Ansel Collins, and guitar from Lynn Taitt – and titles include "Labrish", "Run For Cover", "Django Shoots First", "Night Doctor", "People Sokup Boy", "Set Them Free", "Clint Eastwood Rides Again", "Something You Got", and "Wind Up Doll".

One of our favorite Wailers LPs – as solid a statement as Marley had made, and to our ears, the finest moment of his later career. The album features classics like "Natural Mystic", "Three Little Birds", "One Love/People Get Ready" and the excellent, driving title track "Exodus". The 10 tracks of the original LP also include "So Much Things To Say", "Guiltiness", "The Heathen", "Jamming", "Waiting In Vain", and "Turn Your Lights Down Low".

Barry Brown at Channel One – a record titled Right Now, largely recorded in the early to mid 80s – and has a truly timeless sound that holds up incredibly well! Barry's working with producer/arranger Jah Screw on the tracks – and backed by We The People Band and Roots Radics for on most tracks – plus the Owen Rennalls Band on the stellar "Mafia". This nice 2012 CD version includes a bunch of great bonus dub versions – and titles include Includes "Sister Magling","Lonely Girl", "I Give My Love", "Guide And Protect Us", "Mister Minister", "Jukes And Watch", "Good People", "Mafia" and more by Barry Brown, plus "Mafia Dub" by Owen Bassie Rennalls Band, "Make It With Version", "Jukes And Watch Dub" and more by Roots Radics, "Sister Magling Dub", "It's Not So Easy Dub" and more by We The People Band, and "No Shot Nuh Fire" by Triston Palma. 20 in all.

Tracks include "Wonderful World, Beautiful People", "Viet Nam", "Time Will Tell", "I'm Gonna Use What I Got To Get What I Need", "Sitting In Limbo", "Many Rivers To Cross", "Wild World", "Come Into My Life", and "My Ancestors" by Jimmy Cliff; "Pied Piper", "Save Me", "One Woman", and "Cousin Of Mine" by Bob & Marcia; "Black & White", "Moon River", and "I've Been Trying" by Greyhound; "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Unchained Melody", "You'll Never Walk Alone", and "Here Today, Gone Tommorrow" by Blue Haze, and "La La Always Stay" by Glen & Dave.