A key moment in the career of the legendary Freddie McGregor – easily one of the best-known voices in reggae in the post-Marley years! The set captures Freddie at his youthful best – coming off of time doing vocal group work, but really shining strongly as a lead singer on his own – getting this nicely subtle Studio One backing that are heavy on the roots vibe, which makes a nicely deep rhythmic contrast to the sweetly crackling vocals of McGregor! The set came out at the start of the 80s, but it's got an instant classic vibe that resonates almost more strongly with some of the most soulful Jamaican recordings at the end of the 60s. Titles include "Bandulo", "We Need More Love", "What Difference Does It Make", "Go Away Pretty Girl", "Tomorrow Is Like Today", "Bobby Bobylon", "Wine Of Violence", "Gonna Take Over Now", "Rastaman Camp", and "I Am A Revolutionist". CD features 8 bonus tracks – including "Come Now Sister (ext mix)", "Freddie", "Homeward Bound", "Little Girl", "When I'm Ready (ext version)", "Rastaman Camp (ext mix)", and "I Man A Rasta (orig 7" mix)". CD

A legendary meeting of talents in the Studio One studios – the wickedly-grooving Soul Defenders and the heartbreakingly soulful Freddie McKay – both coming together here on an album that was an instant Studio One classic! The Soul Defenders have a slow-stepping groove with a nice current of darkness – a bit like that moodier vibe that some of the more underground soul balladeers were using behind their vocals up north, especially in Philly and New Jersey. The Defenders have a much more Kingston spin, of course, and are graced with excellent lead guitar work from Jah Privy – whose tones ring out nicely next to Freddie's fantastic voice. Tracks include "Picture On The Wall", "You Are Not The Kind", "High School Dance", "Watch Your Step", "Can't Go On", and "Old Joe". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "I Am A Freeman", "My True Love", "Old & Grey", "Love Is A Treasure (extended)", "Picture On The Wall (version)", "You'll Be Sorry (version)", "Drunken Sailor (version)", and "Picture On The Way (version 3 – with Prince Junior)". CD

A third healthy dose of music from the early years of the Jamaican scene – work that's a direct precursor to the trio group soul mode of the rocksteady years, and which provides a great bridge into the way that American soul music went on to have such a strong influence on reggae! The "doo wop" in the title is key here – as these tracks are definitely heavy on harmonies and lighter on instrumentation – very much tied to American expressions of the genre, and delivered by artists who'd both go on to later fame, and disappear in the shifting sands of time. Titles include "My Heaven" by Alton & Eddie, "Sweet As An Angel" by Jiving Juniors, "First Time We Met" by Annette & Shenley, "Dream Girl" by Ricketts & Rowe, "Don't You Know" by The Moonlighters, "I'll Always Call Your Name" by Belltones, "Never Go Away" by Wilfred Jackie Edwards, "Change Of Mind" by Higgs & Wilson, and "I've Done You Wrong" by The Blues Busters. LP, Vinyl record album

A long-overdue second volume to the original Pirate's Choice collection from Studio One – which itself was a bit of a stab at Duke Reid and his Treasure Isle label! Legendary Jamaican producer Clement Dodd serves up a host of lost gems from the Studio One catalog – not hits, but some rare mixes and under-heard tracks – all presented in the kind of format that shows just how deep Dodd's reach was back in the day, and how deep the Studio One vaults are to be turning up greatness like this! Titles include "All The Way" by Willie Williams, "You Hold The Handle" by The Conquerors, "Chinese Beauty" by Lennie Hibbert, "Heart Breaker" by Cool Operator, "Jah Light" by Cedric Im Brooks, "Pirate's Choice" by Brentford Rockers, "Sweet Child" by Freddy McGregor, and "Black Is Black" by Freedom Singers. CD features four bonus tracks – "Plea My Cause" by Main Roots, "Dirty People" by Roy Richards, "Jah Light Dub (dub plate mix)" by Brentford Disco Set, and "Homeward Bound Dub (dub plate mix)" by Freddie & Brentford Rockers. CD

Music from Bob Andy, Derrick Harriott, Freddie McKay, Val Bennett, Keith & Tex, U Roy, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Big Youth, I Roy and more. CD

An excellent dip into the rootsier material from the Studio One catalog – the kind of reggae classics that have forever made the label one of the best Jamaican companies! The package is every bit as sublime as Soul Jazz's other reggae compilations – and it features a selection of tunes that far outshines most other reissues of Studio One material, and which includes some great rare gems that have a heavy soulful feeling. Titles include "Meditation" by The Cyclones with Count Ossie, "Set Me Free" by L Crosdale, "More Creation" by Lennie Hibbert, "Fear Not" by Winston Jarrett, "Blackish White" by Alton Ellis, "Far Beyond" by Leroy Wallace, "Addis A Baba" by Willie Williams, "Lumumbo" by Bunny & Skitter, "Africa Here I Come" by Freddie McGregor, and "Congo Rock" by Sound Dimension. LP, Vinyl record album