A calypso set, but not the sort that you'd know from big crossover records of the late 50s – as the Mighty Sparrow works here with that jazzy blend of horns and rootsy rhythms that kept a strong edge in his music, and made his sounds as important on the pre-reggae scene in London as they were at home in Trinidad! There's a nicely rattling vibe to the record that really matches the sharpness of the vocals – an important current of politics, social commentary, and personal brag – all of which had a huge impact on later sounds and styles of music. The saxophone lines really keep things soulful – and titles include "The Village Ram", "Martin Luther King", "I'll Be Around", "You Don't Love Me", "Castro Eating Banana", and "Tour Of Jamaica". (Global Grooves, Reggae) LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool work from Mighty Sparrow – a calypso set, but one cut at a time when the music was fading from the mainstream – which allows Sparrow to keep things nice and raw, and deliver lyrics that have the same sort of bite as some of the best island sounds from the early days! Many tracks here are originals, and Sparrow also delivers some cool covers too – all with jazzy instrumentation that echoes some of the styles of early mento, as saxes come into a blend of romping piano, percussion, and the singer's own guitar. Titles include "Unto Negro", "English Diplomacy", "Tattoo Woman", "Jack", "Under My Skin", "El Reloj", and "Big Bamboo". (Global Grooves, Reggae) LP, Vinyl record album

The crowning achievement of the legendary Keith Hudson – a landmark album of instrumental dub that started out in very small circulation, but soon grew to become one of the most important albums of the genre! The sound here is spare, stark, and simple – but in the best way possible – as Hudson takes the music right down to its core, yet seems to create even more powerful flow in the process – revising the 60s Jamaican love of American soul into a more cosmic mode for the next decade – but all with a raw approach that makes each element come across with a great deal of focus. Titles include "Black Heart", "Pick A Dub", "Don't Move", "Blood Brother", "Michael Talbot Affair", "In The Rain", and "Satia". Also comes with the bonus related Pick A Vocal album – with vocals by Agustus Pablo, Horace Andy, and Delroy Wilson – alongside some more instrumental tunes. Tracks include "Still Water", "Addis Ababa", "Fight On Fight On", "I'm All Right", "Depth Charge", and "Don't Think About Me". CD

Don't think "disco" as in the New York scene at Studio 54 – as these cuts are much deeper and dubbier – served up under the supervision of Bunny Lee by studio maestros Barnabas and Pat Kelly! Instrumentation is by the Aggrovators, but the magic comes equally from the production effects as it does from the massive rhythms by the group – as all the elements are filtered out in space, and criss-cross back and forth in this wonderful way – never too sloppy or experimental, but definitely tripping out with the groove! Vocals are muted when they do make an appearance – and titles include "The Aggrovators Special Dub", "Money In My Pocket Dub", "Portobello Special Dub", "Super Rockers Dub", "The Bomb Dub", "The Killer Dub", and "The Dub Specialist". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning sounds from the first three years of Niney The Observer on record – a huge amount of rare singles from back in the day, served up in a double-length package that features 22 tracks on CD for the first time ever! The mix of modes here is incredible – and a real demonstration of that made creative genius that made Niney such an important force in the studio and in front of the microphone – as lots of these tracks have really unusual inflections, odd arrangements, and a way of putting over a weird sound that most folks think was only invented by Lee Scratch Perry! Instead, Niney maybe claims his own throne here with well-deserved credit that is spun out in the very detailed notes – next to fantastic tracks by Niney & The Observers, and lots more from The Sound Dimensions, Dennis Alcapone & Lizzy, Eric Monty Morris, The Hardy Boys, Max Romeo, The Virgins, Max Romeo, and others – stretched out over 47 cuts in all. CD

The Super Ape returns, but in a way that's very different than the previous album with the monkey's name in the title – as this set's got a much more raw, stripped-down vibe – mostly instrumental, and from the farther reaches of the imagination of Lee Scratch Perry! Maybe think of this one as bonus tracks that could be added to the original Super Ape album – but also that, given Perry's genius in the studio, the work here is more main album material for most of his contemporaries! Titles include "Return Of The Super Ape", "Bird In Hand", "Psyche & Trim", "Huzza A Haha", "The Lion", and "High Rankin Sammy". LP, Vinyl record album

Forget the cheapo look of the cover, as the set's a classic batch of gems from the Trojan Records catalog – 2CDs worth of material, with 55 titles that go way past the obvious hits – served up in a great mix of rocksteady and early reggae modes, and filled with the kind of tunes that instantly bridged the space between Kingston and London at the end of the 60s! The package takes off from a mainstream Trojan set from back in the day, and offers the much deeper dig that we love from the Doctor Bird label – tunes that make the whole thing more of a journey of discovery than you might guess from the simple statement of the title. Tracks include "Build It Up" by Tito Simon, "Sweet Sensation" by The Melodians, "This Is Reggae Music" by Zap Pow, "Floating" by Greyhound, "Black Pearl" by Horace Faith, "Liquidator" by Harry J Allstars, "Elizabethan Reggae" by Boris Gardiner & The Love People, "I Need Your Sweet Inspiration" by The Pioneers, "Red Red Wine" by Tony Tribe, "Think About That" by Dandy Livingston, "Down In The Boondocks" by Delroy Williams, "Reggae From The Ghetto" by John Holt, "Yesterday Man" by Nicky Thomas, "Who's That Lady" by Paris Connection, and lots lots more! CD

Discomix versions of stellar late 70s and early 80s selections from Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson– giving the extended mix treatment to some stellar singles by a number of great vocalists and augmented by the top notch players! The approach essentially pairs up jams for an extended mix – running 6 to 8 minutes each – and the musician ship is incredible! Players including Sly Dunbar, Lloyd Parks, Ossie Hibbert, Tommy McCook and others. Volume 2 includes "Tribal War/Jah Did It" by George Nooks & Prince Weedy, "Rope In/Love In A Jamdown" by Cornell Campbell & Lui Lepkie, "When I Think Of You" by Ruddy Thomas, "Naggo Morris" by Jah Guide, "Innocent Blood/Rock It Up" by Culture & U-Brown, "Good To Be There/Jah A The Magician" by Chalice & Puddy Roots and more. CD

A really unique selection of Japanese reggae tracks from back in the day – and work that's very different than sounds from both the underground scene in Kingston, and the big wave of reggae hits on the major labels! The pace of many of these cuts has them moving in almost a lovers rock sort of mode – easygoing, warm, and with lots of soulful touches – often served up with instrumentation that echoes some of the city pop generation as well, although maybe a bit more down to earth, given the genre! You might almost think of these tunes as city pop reggae variants – mostly with female singers in the lead – and titles include "Hittin Me Where It Hurts" by Marlene, "Johannesburg" by Junko Yagami, "Coffee Break" by Miharu Koshi, "Tsukikage No Nagisa" by Miki Hirayama, "Music" by Chu Kosaka, "Lazy Love" by Izumi Kobayashi, and "Tenkini Naare" by Lily. (Japanese, Reggae) LP, Vinyl record album