Mindblowing sounds from the great Bunny Lee – and exactly the kind of collection that makes us love the Pressure Sounds label so much! The track selection is wonderful – and most numbers are balanced in a unique space between reggae and rocksteady, and often have some crucial influences from American soul and funk as well – but they come across with a mode that's very different from more standard reggae, especially the style of the music that would be more codified a few years later. Instead, there's a really rich sense of experimentation here – as Bunny Lee and his All Stars work on instrumental tracks, or alongside other key artists like Delroy Wilson, Rico Rodriguez, Tommy McCook, U Roy, or Winston Williams. Some tunes have amazingly trippy touches – and a few points even mix in some wild moog too – and titles include "Double Attack", "Ivan Itler The Conqueror", "Scarface", "Joe Lewis", "War", "Wet Vision", "When I Get My Freedom", "Smooth & Sorts", and "Death Rides A Horse". CD

A set that might well also be titled "the birth of reggae" – as it pulls together some of the harder-edged cuts that were really starting to get the music going on the UK scene at the end of the 60s – work that had a leaner, meaner vibe than rocksteady and ska – with a slight uptick in the rhythms, and maybe a more sinister approach to the music overall! The tracks here are all from the mighty production talents of Bunny Striker Lee – one of the key forces in this new musical moment – and although some of the names might be familiar, the set's a nice contrast to some of the more staid presentations of the music on the market. 24 tracks in all – including "The Russians Are Coming" by Val Bennett, "Peoples Choice" by Winston Williams, "The Avengers" by Tommy McCook, "Peyton Place" by D Tony Lee & Roland Alphonso, "Drums Of Fu Manchu" by Headly Bennett, "Music House" by Roland Alphonso, "Peanut Vendor" by Tommy McCook, "Gits Brown" by Lennox Brown, "Annie Pama" by Bunny Lee All Stars, and "Dreams To Remember" by The Hippy Boys. CD

A pair of very obscure Lee Perry recordings – back to back in a single CD set! Black Ark In Dub features a host of recordings done by Lee Perry right before his Pipecock Jackson implosion in the late 70s – but presented by former partner Pauline Morrison, who deserves a lot of credit for putting together a host of great dub tracks that might have been lost otherwise! The record first surfaced in the UK around 1980, with the usual very spare set of packaging that seems to mark some of the best dub records from the time – so there's little in the way of actual details about the recordings, but the quality of the bassy, echoey tracks definitely resonates with the strengths of the Black Ark studios at their height Titles include "Cool Rockers", "Jah", "Rasta Man", "Camp", "Dreadlock", "Guidance", "In The Valley", and "Money". Black Ark Vol 2 is a bit different – more of a various artists collection, put together by Pauline Morrison, with material rescued from the Black Ark studios before their implosion – all mixed by Lee Perry with his amazing mid 70s ear for sound – which makes for timeless magic on cuts that include "Ethiopia" by Carol Cole, "Give Praises" by The Silvertones, "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Inamans, "Got To Be Irie" by The Originals, "I Am I Said" by Bunny Rugs, "Jah Love Is Sweeter" by Lacksley Castell, and "Mumbling & Grumbling" by Junior Byles. CD

Warmly wonderful early work from William Bunny Clarke – billed here under a different name, but the same singer who'd rise to great fame a few years later as Bunny Rugs in Third World! The vibe here is different than his hits with that group – more laidback and mellow, with great production from Lee Perry – who knows more than enough to let Bunny shine in the lead when he wants, even while bringing in some sweet Scratch touches from time to time! The set features the wicked funky number "Kinky Fly" – plus lots of mellow rockers, including a version of "Use Me", and the cuts "What's The Use", "Big May", "Let Love Touch Us Now", "Second Avenue", and even versions of "Sweet Caroline" and "I Am I Said" – which have Bunny and Perry making sweet magic from the songs of Neil Diamond! Plus, this version has 8 more bonus tracks too – titles that include a great cover of "Be Thankful For What You've Got" – plus "Move Out Of My Way", "Dubbing In The Back Seat", "Freedom Fighter", "Iron Wolf", "Bushweed Corntrash", and "Cally Butt". CD

An incredible compilation of classic era dub work from King Tubby's – played by producer Bunny Lee's legendary Aggrovators band and showcasing the mixing skills of Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist and others! This is prime era hypnotic dub of the finest caliber – originally issued on Jamaican 45s, and hard-to-find for decades! The great Blood & Fire label did the dub digging community a major solid by issuing the material on some wonderful compilations, but even those had been out of print for a couple decades before this much needed, sprawling VP/17th North Parade assemblage. Includes "A Bag Of Wire Dub", "Dub Of Rights", "A Heavy Dub", "A Living Version", "How Long Dub", "Breaking Up Dub", "Poor Barber", "Sub To The Rescue", "King Tubby's In Fine Style", "Horn For I", "Jah Love Rocker's Dub", "Stealing Version", "Fatter Dub", "Satta Dread Dub", "Tubby Get Smart", "Beat Them In Dub", "Version Of Class", "Peace And Love In The Dub", "Thunder Rock", "Channel Is A Joker", "Peace And Love In The Dub", "Step It Up In Dub", "Chapter Of Money" and more. 44 tracks on 2CDs! CD