A key style in Jamaican music during the 70s – the mode of the DJ, which often featured a toaster speaking over more familiar tunes – adding spoken bits and new lyrics in the process, in a mode that many claim was a key influence on the birth of hip hop! The relationship between the two forms isn't exactly a straight line – but the approach is somewhat similar – a way sharing enthusiasm about the music and grooves, by adding in new verbal aspects that take things in a whole new direction. And given that toasting tracks were often not as played as straighter vocal numbers, there's plenty here that's new and fresh – a very specific and unusual take on the 70s years of reggae, and one that takes you way past the hits. Titles include "Mava" by Dennis Alcapone, "Monkey Spanner" by Dave & Ansel Collins, "Fire Corner" by King Stitt, "Sunday Dish" by Early B, "We Hot" by Charlie Chaplin, "Tighten Up Skank" by Dillinger, "Blackman's Time" by I Roy, "Buttercup" by Winston Scotland, and "Home Guard" by Mikey Campbell. CD

(Rock, Reggae) LP, Vinyl record album

There's a nicely punctuated vibe to this sweet set of later tracks from Delroy Wilson – instrumentation that's moved into the digital age, but which still has that slow funky crackle at the bottom that seems to work so well with Delroy's vocals! The approach seems to work especially well at the midtempo range that graces most of these cuts – gentle grooves that work really well, both with the covers that Wilson takes on for the record, and the original songs that are especially nice! Titles include "Love To See You Smile", "What's Going On", "Play Something Pretty", "Sharing The Night Together", "There's No Getting Over Me", and "Honey". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic mid 80s dancehall from Yellowman! Production by Henry Junjo Lawes, backing by Roots Radics and rhythms laid down at Channel One – often the recipe for greatness – and that's on the menu here. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt came at an inarguable peak for Yellowman, with unstoppable rhythms and Yellowman's brilliant way of delivering gruff lyricism in an approachable way. Revolutionary material from an icon at a creatively crucial peak. Titles include "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "Strictly Mi Belly", "Wreck A Pum Pum", "Hill & Gully Rider", "Bedroom Mazuka", "Good Loving", "Body Move", and "Watch Your Words". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from Linton Kwesi Johnson – the kind of well-done early 80s set that had the UK scene showing the Jamaican one how to take some of its best elements and move forward – as the words and knowledge of Linton come into play with heady backings from Dennis Bovell and The Dub Band! Production is relatively straightforward – handled by the pair together, and using the best bassy elements of Bovell's music, while not getting in the way of the messages in Johnson's words – which are many, and very smartly focused at key targets of the time! Titles include "Making History", "Di Great Insohreckshan", "Wat About Di Workin Class","Reggae Fi Radni", "Reggae Fi Dada", "New Craas Massahkah", and "Di Eagle An Di Bear". CD

A big big crossover album from the UK ska scene of the early 80s – built upon the ashes of the older Specials group, but still with plenty of the dark edges we'd come to expect in Jerry Dammers work! There's a bit more electric instrumentation at the bottom of the tracks, but the sound is still relatively in the ska-styled groove of the original Specials work – although sometimes maybe inflected with a more straightforward dancefloor bounce, too – which is what really helped some of these tracks get traction at a larger level beyond the ska scene. Over the years, the record's become as classic as the earlier Specials sets – and really lives up to its classic-styled cover image too! Includes the big tracks "Nelson Mandela" and "Racist Friend" – plus "Break Down The Door", "Alcohol", "War Crimes", "Bright Lights", and "Night On The Tiles". (Rock, Reggae) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album