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1
Various —
Down Town Albums Collection (Red Red Wine Vols 1 & 2/
Trojan/
A treasure trove of reggae, rocksteady, and blue beat work from the late 60s – all of it originally released under the guidance of producer Dandy – also a reggae artists of his own, with roots in Kingston, and working here with a big impact on the UK scene! The albums here were all originally issued on the Down Town imprint – a small sub label that Trojan Records gave to Dandy for his own projects – which resulted in the two killer compilations Red Red Wine volumes 1 and 2 – a great overview of some of the strongly soul-influenced sounds that were bubbling up in London at the time. Dandy himself is one of the key artists on the collection – and titles include "Move Your Mule", "I'm Your Puppet", "Reggae In Your Jeggae", "Got To Come Back", "Raining In My Heart", and "Can't Get Used To Losing You" by Dandy – plus "Red Red Wine" and "I'm Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" by Tony Tribe, "Someday We'll Be Together" and "Love Me Tonight" by Audrey, "Lover's Question" and "Spreading Love" by Gene Rondo, "Lead Them" by Desmond Riley, "Games People Play" by The Israelites, and "Song Byrd" by Lyndon Johns. CD2 begins with the Trojan classic Blow Your Horn by Rico & The Rudies – a classic early album from Rico – the legendary Jamaican trombonist who's gotta be one of the few people who can pose with his instrument and still look pretty badass overall! That quality also comes through in Rico's music – a famous lead trombone sound on countless Jamaican recordings from the ska years onwards – really given some great time here in the spotlight on a set of tunes that soar out with lots of rough rocksteady rhythms! Rico blows strongly and soulfully – on titles that include "Rico's Message", "Niyah Man", "Caribbean Serenade", "Jumping The Gun", "Mighty Dan", "Session Begin", "Biafra", and "Quando Quando" – and the album also features some guest appearances on "The Lion" by Dandy, and on "Muma Muma" by The Israelites. Last up is Your Musical Doctor – a full album with Dandy as the lead singer on his own – with titles that include "Touch Of Poison", "Everybody Loves A Winner", "Gumption Feeling", "Meeting Over Yonder", "Here I Go Again", "Come On Home", and "Run Girl". 2CD set features 51 tracks in all – with a few more bonus tracks too! CD
2
Doctor Bird/
Raw grooves from the Jamaican scene of the pre-reggae years – served up here in a blend of early ska, jump up soul, and other jazzy styles of the time – all handled by Sonia Pottinger, who was the first female producer on the Kingston scene! There's a nice mix of modes going on here, and the album's a great contrast to some of the more famous Jamaican records of the time – as it really shows the criss-crossing of Caribbean influences that was still filtering into the scene, even while things were coming together with a decidedly local groove. Trumpeter Baba Brooks is one of the standouts here – and works with his group on the tracks "Mosquito Jump Up", "First Session", "Bugle Boy", "Faberge", and "Ki Salavoca" – alongside other tracks that include "Hold Your Head In Front" by Joe White & Chuck, "By The Sea" by The Saints, "Heartaches" by The Techniques, and "What Must I Say" by Claudell Clarke. LP, Vinyl record album
3
Doctor Bird (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy ... $12.99
A pair of dub classics from Errol Brown – back to back on a single CD! Dubb Everlasting is a record that might mis-spell the name of its genre, but it's also a set that strips things right down to the core, then adds a very unique touch! Errol Brown works here in the Treasure Isle studios with massive rhythms from The Revolutionaries – but in a session that also includes a mysterious harmonica player too – who uses the instrument to carve out unusual riffs that are sometimes jazz, sometimes bluesy – almost making it feel like War's Lee Oskar is sitting in for a session down in Kingston! The instrument is quite different here than when melodica is used in dub – and titles include "Eva A Dub", "Marigunna Affair", "Babylon Dubbing", "Escape Affair", "Biblical Dub", and "Easy Locks". On Dub Expression, the mighty Errol Brown is at the controls in Treasure Isle – reworking some wicked rhythms played by The Revolutionaries – all with the stripped-down vibe of the best underground dub from Kingston in the 70s! Echo is heavy on the bottom-end of the sound – which makes the grooves ebb and flow in a way that's got a heck of a lot of sonic power – while some of the more isolated instruments over the top step along in a more melodic way – sometimes a bit of organ, guitar, or bubbling bass, depending on the track! The presentation is as stripped-down as the music – but at that mysterious level that only makes the record such a cool little treasure – with tracks that include "Bond Street Rock", "Ranking Marshal", "The Gun Court Dub", "Ital Stew", "Super Tracks", "Dread At The Controls", and "Ghetto Dub". CD
4
Doctor Bird (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 2CD ... $16.99
Two classic albums of dub from Erroll Brown – both maybe a bit more obscure than his classics of the time, but which also show the real depths of his talents! Culture Dub is a batch of instrumental dubs of songs from Culture – who were then riding high after their Two Sevens Clash album – taken here by Brown into very moody, very abstract territory – a stretched-out, spacey sound that has all sorts of cool guitar and keyboard elements bubbling amidst the murky basslines and drums. Titles include "Everyday Love Dub", "Skillful Dub", "Iron Sharp Dub", "Freedom Jam", "Deep Root Dub", and "Harder Than The Rest Dub". Medley Dub is a very different record overall – one that reworks older recordings from Sonia Pottinger's catalog of the late 60s and early 70s – rocksteady modes taken into dub territory, with really amazing results! You'll hear momentary echoes of the old amidst the soundclash of the new – and titles include "Revelation Of Dub", "Trinity Of Dub", "Tip Top Affair", "Engineer's Special", "Natty Dutty Dub", and "Swing & Dub". 2CD set features 24 more bonus tracks – Culture-related tracks that include "Work On dub", "Dog A Nyam Dub", "Freedom Rock", "Natty Dub", and "Jah Rastafari (version)" – and 15 other Brown dubs from the late 70s – including "Merry Go Round Version", "In The Park Version", "Lick Version", "Blue Bird Dub", "Revolutionary Version", "Stormy Dub", and "Road Hog". CD
5
Trojan/
A trio of albums from this fantastic group – plus bonus tracks too! First up is Hit After Hit – a tremendous album that has The Chosen Few stepping out to match some of the best American harmony soul groups of the early 70s – vocals you might hear from The Moments or Delfonics, but tuned towards rhythms that are much more Kingston than New Jersey or Philly! Yet there's also a few funky moments too – a rare element that really shows how the group could change things up from some of their Jamaican contemporaries, on titles that include a version of the "Shaft" theme, plus "You're A Big Girl Now", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "Melting Pot", "Ebony Eyes", "Do Your Thing", "People Make The World Go Round", and "I'm Sorry". Everybody Plays The Fool is a record that's as much an early 70s reggae set as it is a strong bit of east coast soul – Kingston rhythms mixed with fantastic harmonies that maybe echo more of the East Coast group soul modes than some of the earlier Jamaican groups of the 60s! The choice of material also echoes that quality too – as The Chosen Few take on older soul classics, remade for a reggae market – mixed with a few original tracks of their own. Titles include "My Thing", "Reggae Stuff", "I Second That Emotion", "Make Way For The Young Folks", "La La At The End", and "Tears Of A Clown". Chosen Few In Miami is legendary soul from The Chosen Few – a group who were as much a 70s soul outfit as they were a reggae group! This album's the group's greatest – recorded in Miami with classic TK funky production from King Sporty, who also seems to be backing them up on most of the set. There's certainly a reggae feel to the album at times, but the group's harmonies are much more in an American soul vein – and Sporty's super-dope backings use plenty of wah-wah guitar, electric keys, and that burning, bubbling Miami soul groove that made so many of the TK albums from the time so great! Titles include the stone funky classic "Funky Buttercup", plus "Wandering", "Candy I'm So Doggone Mixed Up", "Why Can't We Live", "Drift Away", "I Am A Man", and "Hit Me With Music". 2CD set also features 11 more bonus tracks – including related work by Lloyd Charmers Selection! CD
6
Doctor Bird (UK), Early 70s. New Copy 2 CDs ... $16.99
A stunning selection of gems from the hands of Clancy Eccles – a mix of tracks that features material with Clancy as the lead artist, or at the production helm with some of the choicest cats on the Kingston scene – both singers and instrumentalists, the latter of whom get a great chance to stretch out here on some of the non-vocal tunes! The CD is the fourth and final in this excellent look at Eccles career by the Doctor Bird label – and like the rest, it really digs deep – to bring together way more than just a single album reissue – as the package adds 13 more bonus tracks to the original set, then steps over to CD2, which includes 25 more Eccles tracks from the early 70s! The vibe is late rocksteady and early reggae – and titles include "Reggaedelic" and "Open It" by Winston Wright, "Hello Mother" and "Thinking About It" by The Dynamites, "Haile Selassie" and "Build My World Around You" by Mello & The Mellotones, "Don't Call Me Nigga" by Tyrone Taylor, "Holy Holy" by The Fabulous Flames, "Passing Through" by Lord Creator, "Captivity" by Joe Higgs, "Teardrops Will Fall" by The Silvertones, and "Ganja Free", "Hits Medley, "Power For The People (part 1)", "Hallelujah Free At Last", "Uncle Joe", and "John Crow Skank" by Clancy Eccles himself. CD
7
Trojan/
A pair of gems from the early years of reggae – stacked back to back in a 2CD set, along with a huge amount of bonus tracks too! First up is the legendary Freedom album from Clancy Eccles – one of the first great talents to emerge in the Jamaican scene of the 60s – a singer whose recorded history even predates rocksteady and ska, and who had an undeniable impact on the early sound of reggae! Eccles is a genius – a singer/
8
Trojan/
A rocksteady classic from The Ethiopians – but a set that also has plenty more going on as well! The duo work here as a Jamaican counterpart to American soul groups – one of the first and best to hit the Kingston scene – but they also open themselves up to lots of other ideas in the process, and sometimes lay back vocally to just let the album open up and groove! Harmonies are The Ethiopians' strongest calling card – but they're often first directed by the rhythms, then slide in to warm things up and give a larger presence to the slow-stepping, midtempo grooves – all delivered with a classic Kingston head-nodding approach. The album's a key genre-building moment in Jamaican music – and titles include the classic "Train To Skaville", plus "Engine 54", "My Love", "You Got The Dough", "Woman's World", "Long Time Now", and "Unchanged Love". This CD comes with an insane amount of bonus tracks – 17 more titles that include "Do It Sweet", "The Whip", "You Didn't Answer", "In The Park", "Fire A Muss Muss Tail", "You Are The Girl", and "I'm A King". CD
9
Trojan/
A pair of unusual Lee Perry projects from the mid 70s – both of which feature a female singer in the lead, and give us a whole new side of Perry's talents! The first half of the set features material from an album issued under the title Lee Scratch Perry Presents Candy McKenzie – a set that features lead vocals from London singer Candy McKenzie, who's got a much deeper soul approach than some of her Jamaican contemporaries – a mode that's sometimes got the sweeter styles that would end up in the lovers rock years, but which also has a wider range that almost has Candy stretching out like a straighter soul singer – on titles that include "Walking In The Sun", "Disco Fits", "Breakfast In Bed", "When The Big Say", "Tell Me A Lie", "Keep Him Strong", and "Jah Knows". Next up is material from the Full Experience sessions – a record that has South African singer Aura working with Lee Scratch Perry, in a style that's got more of the deeper, dubbier elements that Scratch was helping revolutionize at the time! The tunes are rich and righteous, and have all these great little instrumental and production twists – which only makes the lead vocals sound even cooler overall. Titles include "Young Gifted & Broke", "Can't See You", "At Midnite", "Full Experience", and "Nar Soh So It Stay". CD features the bonus track "Disco Devil" – presented in its 12" mix! CD
10
Sky Note/
A pair of albums from Marcia Griffiths – the well-titled queen of reggae at the end of the 70s! First up is Naturally, a fantastic album from Marcia Griffiths – very much the kind of material that made her one of the best female singers on the Jamaican scene in the 70s! The set's got a soulful sparkle that's undeniable – music that could have, should have (if things were right) gotten Marcia much bigger fame in the US crossover market of the time – as these songs work equally well as laidback soul numbers, even with strong reggae rhythms – thanks to the warmth and class of the vocals! A number of tracks are originals, and titles include "Dreamland", "Tell Me Now", "Melody Life", "Survival Is The Game", "Feel Like Jumping", "Mark My Word", and "Truly". Steppin features Marcia Griffiths at the height of her powers – singing wonderfully and soulfully, in a style that almost transcends her Jamaican roots! While other reggae singers of the period were maybe polishing things up a bit, to reach larger commercial fame, Griffiths seems to be stepping back more into soul, while still working with familiar Kingston rhythms – crafting this mode that's completely compelling, and which has as much personal feeling as some of the more powerful social themes of the roots era. Errol Brown recorded the tracks at Treasure Isle, and titles include "It's Impossible", "Steppin Out Of Babylon", "Where Were Why", "Why There Is No Love", "Give & You Get", and "I'm Hurting Inside". CD
11
Prince Far I —
Trojan Albums Collection (Free From Sin/Trojan/
Four fantastic albums from the legendary Prince Far I! The set begins with the classic Free From Sin – Great early work from Prince Far I – a stunning mix of reggae and dub, with a righteous quality that really gives the prince his title amongst 70s Jamaican royalty! Backing is by a version of the Roots Radics – with the excellent Style Scott on drums, Errol Holt on Bass, Bingy Bunny, Sowell and Chinna Smith on guitar, Bobby Kalphat and Snappin on keys, Bobby Ellis and Deadly Headly on horns, and Bongo Herman and Ras Millinek on percussion – but the real key to the sound is the way that Prince Far I produces the whole thing, and mixes his own sinister vocals with the heady, bottom-heavy rhythms – all with a quality that matches Lee Scratch Perry at his best! Titles include "Free From Sin", "Light Of Fire", "Reggae Music", "I & I Are the Chosen One", "Don't Deal With Folly", "Call On I In Trouble", "When Jah Ready You Got To Move", and "Siren". Jamaican Heroes is a totally great album by Prince Far I – and a set that already shows him building that crucial London/
12
Reggae Strings —
Reggae Strings/Trojan/
A great pair of records – plus a huge amount of bonus tracks too! First up is the debut Reggae Strings album – one of the most unique albums on the Trojan label during the 70s – and a surprising hit for the company too! The approach here is very unusual – as the cuts here all are earlier Trojan vocal singles that had larger backings provided by UK maestro Johnny Archey – then stripped of their vocals and presented as instrumentals! As you'd guess by the names, Archey adds strings to the Kingston rhythms – but the approach is surprisingly nice – almost like early reggae rhythms coming into play with the best of the UK sound library generation – with results that are as groovy as that description might imply. Titles include "World Without Love", "One Woman", "Let The Man Go", "Leaving Rome", "Pantomime", "God Bless The Children", and "Young Gifted & Black". Reggae Strings 2 is a set that follows nicely on the first Reggae Strings effort on Trojan – and, like the first, a package that features older vocal tracks with the lyrics stripped away, all to provide a focus on the fuller orchestrations of Johnny Archey! The approach is cooler than you'd guess – lots of nice charts that bring a bit of 70s smooth to the sound of Trojan – almost like Barry White was recording down in Kingston – on titles that include "How Many Times", "Jump Hallelujah", "Strange World", "It's Too Late", "Tell It Like It Is", "Scientist", "Jamaica Jerkoff", and "Sweet Bitter Love". 2CD set features 25 bonus tracks too – all the original vocal tunes used for the strings versions – with work by Bob Andy, The Dynamites, Greyhound, Bob & Marcia, Nicky Thomas, Danny Ray, Merlene Webber, The Uniques, Pioneers, Winston Groovy, and others! 51 tracks in all – and a nice set of notes. CD
13
High Note/
Two full albums from the lovely Sonya Spence – plus a bonus CD of female reggae tunes by some of her contemporaries! First up is In The Dark – a sublime reggae soul classic from Sonya Spence – a singer with a voice that's maybe a bit lighter than some of her Kingston contemporaries – but which is perfectly couched in the sort of production that really sends things in the right direction! Sonya sings, but almost with a whisper-like quality – and the rhythms are gentle, and sometimes given some slightly spacey production touches – so that a tinkling piano might take off next to the lyrics, or a drum part might splash a bit with a deeper, darker vibe. All of this really brings a lot out of Sonya's unique vocals – and lets the singer shine on tunes that include "Jet Plane", "It Hurts To Be Alone", "Damn Him", "Make Love To Me In The Dark", "Peace & Unity", and "Why Did You Leave Me". Sonya Spence Sings Love has the singer coming across with a fuller, richer sound than before – really finding her sense of place in the rhythms, which have a laidback, soulful vibe that's perfect for the lovers rock mood of the set! Tunes include a few great reggae remakes, and some originals – titles that include "Let Love Flow On", "Talk Love", "Fantasy", "Where Is The Love", "Now I Know What Love Is", and "Come With Me". CD2 features High Note Sisters – 21 more tracks from Sonya's labelmates, with work by Lorna Bennett, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Novelette Barnett, Lillian Williams, Daughter Cherry, Claudette Miller, and others! CD
14
Delano Stewart & Others —
Stay A Little Bit Longer (plus bonus tracks) ... CD Trojan/
A great collection of work – one that features a core album by the Delano Stewart, plus a huge amount of extra material that was also handled by producer Sonia Pottinger! The set begins with Stay A Little Longer – an excellent set by the under-recorded Delano Stewart – a singer who's clearly got inspiration from some of the sweet soul singers of the American scene, but who also works perfectly here with rocksteady rhythms – letting his voice bubble up and do all these wonderful things with the gentle grooves – all in modes that are very different than standard soul music! Titles include "Stay A Little Bit Longer", "Got To Come Back", "Rocking Sensation", "Wish It Would Last", "Tell Me Baby", and "Let's Have Some Fun". The set then moves on to include the Dr No Go compilation, plus a full CD titled Reggae Pressure too – 48 more tracks, all handled by the ultra-hip female Jamaican producer Sonia Pottinger – with work by The First Generation, Winston Wright, The Gaytones, Soul Twins, Conquerors, Victors, Delroy Wilson, Hippy Boys, Emotions, Roland Alphonso, Marcia Griffiths, Junior Soul, The Federals, Nora Dean, Dave Barker, and many others. CD
15
Gaydisc/
A seminal album in Jamaican music from Lord Tanamo – a singer with roots in calypso, but a sound that really paves the way for ska and rocksteady to come! The record's a full length set from the Gaydisc label of important early producer Sonia Pottinger – and like some of Pottinger's other productions, there's a really open criss-crossing of modes – familiar calypso rhythms, but topped with horn parts that are more ska-based overall – which also really shifts the music in spirit, and even makes Tanamo's sound here different than other of the hipper singers in his style on other islands at the time. Titles include "Band Passing", "Iron Bar", "Naughty Little Flea", "Television", "Land Of The Sea & Sun", "Festival Jump Up", and "Take Me Back To Jamaica". 2CD set is overflowing with bonus material – 40 more tracks in all! CD1 features bonus Lord Tanamo material – titles that include "Taller Than You Are", "Mother's Choice", "Come Down", "Downtown Gal", "I'm In The Mood For Love", and "If You Were Only Mine". CD2 features The Best Of Gaydisc & SEP Records – rare tracks from 1963 and 1964, with work by Al T Joe, The Gaylettes, Eric Forbes, Roy & Millie, Winston Samuels, Jimmy James, Roy Panton, and many more. CD
16
Treasure Isle/
A fantastic debut from The Techniques – and a set that also features a fair bit of work from Jamaican trumpet legend Baba Brooks! The vocal quartet have a great sound that's even more soulful and sharp than some of their contemporaries – maybe the difference that four voices make compared to some of the Kingston trios of the time – which seems to have the Techniques sounding even more heavenly on their harmonies! The instrumentation is great – sharp, but never overwhelming on the vocal tracks – but in just the right mode when Baba Brooks steps out in the lead on an instrumental – and titles include "Queen Majesty", "I Am In Love", "You Don't Know", "Little Did You Know", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "My Whole Life Depends On You". This CD pitches things a bit differently than the original album – in that it features 7 of the 12 tracks, leaving out the instrumentals – then adds in 21 more selections by the Techniques – which makes the 28 track set a complete document of their work with producer Duke Reid in the 60s! CD
17
Linval Thompson & The Revolutionaries —
Negrea Love Dub/Trojan/
A pair of 70s dub classics – back to back on a single CD! First up is Negrea Love Dub – an early dub set from production genius Linval Thompson – a set that was initially released with a relatively obscure cover and package, and which may or may not include some of the Jamaican instrumental luminaries listed in the notes! What is clear, though, is that Linval Thompson is at the top of his game – partly offering up the tracks as a companion to his I Love Marijuana record, but also opening up into fresh rhythms and other material that helps forge a super-heavy sound that raises the dub reggae bar a few more notches for the 70s scene! Titles include "Rock Me In Dub", "Channel One In Dub", "Thompson In Dub", "Negrea Africa Dub", "Jah Jah Children Dub", "Lion Dub", "Natty Dread Dub", "Roots Dub", "Jamaica Calley Dub", and "Africa Love Dub". Outlaw Dub is a fantastic meeting of the production genius of Linval Thompson and the instrumental skills of The Revolutionaries – a set of Jamaican studio giants who play in a way that was laidback, yet still pack a hell of a punch! Sly and Robbie are at the core of the rhythms, which is a big element in the success of the set – and Thompson's production sets a sound that so many others would follow in years to come, but never really get as sharp or well-balanced as on this set. Formative sounds throughout – with titles that include "79 Rock", "Roots Man Dub", "Freedom Dub", "Thompson Sound Incorporated", and "African Free Up". CD
18
Linval Thompson/Trojan/
A trio of classic albums produced by Linval Thompson – with lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Linval's I Love Marijuana record – an album with a striking title – and a set that really marked the full promise of Linval Thompson in the 70s – a dubby classic that's every bit as strong on the vocal side of Thompson's skills, as it is the production side! The album was recorded at Tubby's with the Revolutionaries band and an uncredited Junjo Lawes (who would later go on to cut some of the best dub albums ever, with Scientist) – and the vocals have this great style of cresting between sweeter modes and more biting modes – particularly when wrapped around the social themes that always made Thompson stand out. Titles include "I Love Marijuana", "Don't Push Your Brother", "Dread Are the Controller", "The Children of the Ghetto", "Not Follow Fashion", and "Jamaican Colley Version". African Princess is a set that features great DJ vocals from Big Joe – one of the lesser-knowns of the time, but a voice that's perfect for the rich sense of flow that Linval Thompson brings to the production – on titles that include "African Princess", "Big Disgrace", "Tubby At The Controls", "Smoke Marijuana", "Love Can Conquer", and "Pauline Love The Natty". Rock In The Ghetto is classic 70s work from Trinity – a Jamaican deejay singer who gets some excellent help on the set from Linval Thompson! Thompson mixes dubby modes with some sharper, crispier crackles at key moments – working as a nice way of punctuation to the moods delivered by Trinity's vocals – which are almost always in the righteous modes you'd guess from the title. Tracks include "Dangerous Rockers & Ting", "Pope Paul Dead & Gone", "Don't Lose Me", "Life Is Not Easy", "Don't Lose Me", "Every Trick In The Book", "Freedom Style", and "Rock In The Ghetto". 2CD set features 10 bonus tracks – titles that include "Lover's Style" and "Come On Baby Dub Style" by The Roots Radics, "Follow My Heart (12" mix)" and "Pope Paul Dead & Gone (12" mix)" by Trinity, "Mr CID" by Barry Brown, "There's A Song" by Pat Kelly, "King Tubby's Rockers" and "Second Hand Girl" by Scientist & Roots Radics, and "Here With Me" by Linval Thompson. CD
19
Doctor Bird (UK), 1967/
Killer early work from producer Clancy Eccles – a special set that focuses on rocksteady and early reggae productions – most compiled here for the first time ever! The work here is great – raw, soulful, and grooving in ways that move from midtempo to a slightly quicker pace – usually topped with a fantastic singer in the lead, and served up with instrumentation that's spare and right on the money – perfect for the sorts of hard-booming sound systems that were springing up to showcase singles like these! The work here was initially issued as 45s on labels that include New Beat and Doctor Bird, and most tracks on the set have been unavailable for decades – making them even more obscure than material on other Clancy Eccles collections. 26 tracks in all – with titles that include "Mother's Reply" by Lyn Taitt & The Jets, "You Were Meant For Me" by Lee Perry, "You Think I'm A Fool" by Hemsley Morris, "Easy Snappin" by Theo Beckford, "Western Organ" by The Clancy Set, "Bye Bye Love" by Alton Ellis, "Promises" by The Silverstars, "Heart Beat" by Ernest Ranglin, "No Good Girl" by The Mellotones, "Mother's Advice" by The Inspirations, "Please Stay" by Larry & Alvin, "I'll Hold You Tight" by Velma Jones, "Love Brother Love" by Hugh Malcolm, "Hey Mama" by Lee Perry, "Terrible Headache" by The Coolers, and "Let Us Be Lovers" by Velma & Clancy. CD
20
High Note/
Deep Jamaican sounds from the 70s – all work produced by the legendary Sonia Pottinger, and which shows that her talents for roots music were every bit as great as her work with earlier styles too! With Pottinger, the key is almost less what she does in the studio than what she does with her ear – as her ability to identify key talent at the right moment is something that really graces most of her recordings – definitely the case here, in an overstuffed 2CD set that features rare singles from the High Note label, most appearing on CD for the first time ever, 8 of which are previously unissued! As with other releases on the Doctor Bird label, the choice of cuts are as great as the overall presentation – which includes very detailed notes – to support a set list of 35 tracks that includes "Winey Winey (12" version)" by The Kingstonians, "King Of Kings" by Mind Body & Soul, "Babylon A Run Come" by The Mellows, "Sufferer's Child" by Delroy Denton & The Silvertones, "Lonesome I" by The Roots Defenders, "Trouble & Strife" by The Africans, "Whole Lot Of Feeling (12" version)" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, "See It Deh (12" version)" by Enos McLeod, "World World" by Joseph Burke & Tribute, and "Love & Inity" by Ras Miller. CD
21
Trojan/
A pair of classic Clancy Eccles-produced compilations from the start of the 70s – issued here with plenty of bonus tracks too! Foolish Fool was initially billed to Cynthia Richards, the great singer who delivers the leadoff title tune – but the real start of the set is maybe Clancy Eccles, as the tracks here are all from the hand of the legendary producer – and really show the way that rocksteady was moving towards some of the tighter, sharper rhythms that would mark the early days of reggae! All the singers are as great as Richards – and titles include "Don't Look Back" and "Here Comes The Night" by Busty Brown, "Don't Mind Me" and "Mademoiselle" by Joe Higgs, "Foolish Fool" and "Conversation" by Cynthia Richards, "Feel The Rhythm" and "Africa" by Clancy Eccles, and "Revival" by The Dynamites. Herbsman Reggae is a set that more clearly foregrounds the work of Clancy Eccles in the lead – and one that also gives plenty of credit to the great Dynamites band on most of these tracks – a wicked quintet with Winston Wright on organ, Hucks Brown on guitar, and Gladdy Adams on piano! The rhythms are hard, the production is wonderful – all spacey and weird – and the record has this beautiful unified mix of vocals and instrumentals, a number with some cool pre-dub use of echo. Tracks include "Herbsman Shuffle" by King Stitt & Andy Capp, "Black Beret" and "Phantom" by The Dynamites, "Promise" by Cynthia Richards, "See Me (take 2)" by Earl George, "False Nyah" by Barry & The Affections, "The Ugly One" by King Stitt, and "Senor Judas" by Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites. This fantastic 2CD reissue also includes 34 bonus tracks – more Eccles productions of work by The Westmorlites, Barrington Sadler, The Dingle Brothers, Glen & Roy, Carlton Wedderburn, Carl Dawkins, and many others. 56 tracks in all! CD
22
Treasure Isle/
A record that's brimming over with pride for the new musical grooves coming out of Kingston – and a rare compilation on the legendary Treasure Isle record from producer Duke Reid! The tunes here are great and gritty – almost as if Reid was finding a way to capture the energy of a sound system in the studio – with lots of booming beats, rumbling basslines, and the kind of standout instrumental and vocal passages that give each tune a special sort of hook! The instrumentals are maybe the most compelling – as they'll use a spare organ line or sax solo to craft surprisingly hypnotic sounds – which are then balanced out strongly by the soulful vocals on the other cuts. Titles include "Boom Shaka Lacka" by Hopeton Lewis & The Chosen Few, "Wake The Town" by U Roy, "Hopeful Village" by The Tennors, "The Ball" by Earl Wire Lindo, "What Does It Take" by Alton Ellis, "Sunday Gravy" by Earl Wire Lindo, "Condition Bad A Yard" by The Ethiopians, "Rule The Nation" by U Roy, "Dynamite" by Tommy McCook, and "White Rum" by Earl Wire Lindo. 2CD set has an insane amount of bonus tracks – 28 more Duke Reid productions, and 17 more produced by Byron Smith – 45 more tracks, including work by King Sporty, Tommy McCook, The Barons, Winston Jarrett, Nora Dean, The Ethiopians, Hopeton Lewis, Alston Barrett, The El Dorados, Dorothy Reid, and many more. CD
23
High Note/
The hits of 77 here aren't the big American chart hits of 1977 – but instead are some key cuts from the Jamaican scene in Kingston – served up here in versions produced by the legendary Sonia Pottinger! And in fact, it might be a stretch to call all these cuts hits – but that's OK with us, because the set works best as a musical snapshot of evolving 70s reggae from Pottinger's perspective – which, as always, represents the more soulful side of the spectrum – that move forward from earlier rocksteady inspiration, served up with more of a late 70s reggae vibe. Titles include "Anywhere You want To Go" by Calman Scott, "Without Love" by Hell & Fire, "Up Park Camp" by Turnel McCormack & The Cordells, "I'm Still In Love" by Maureen Pearson, "Run For Your Life" by Earth & Stone, and "Ghetto Girl" by The Fantells. PLUS, this 2CD version features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 34 more numbers added to the original album, most unavailable since the 70s – all Pottinger-produced tracks by Jimmy Riley, Delroy Wilson, Earth & Stone, Reggae George, Bobby Ellis & The Revolutionaries, Al Brown, Astley Bennett, The Prince Brothers, U Roy, Owen Gray, Soul Syndicate, and others. CD
24
Doctor Bird (UK), Late 60s/
The first-ever full collection of work based around the production efforts of Karl JJ Johnson – maybe not the biggest name in Jamaican studio talent, but a producer with a great ear for the most soulful sounds bubbling up at the time! Johnson was known as Sir JJ – and worked most famously with The Ethiopians, but also handled a fair bit of other rocksteady and early reggae groups during the five years' worth of recordings brought together in this set – material issued on his own small label, and on Duke and Trojan as well – all collected here in a package that features 58 tracks in all, and a very copious amounts of notes and vintage images! 17 of the tracks have never been on CD at all – and together, the whole thing is a fantastic tribute to Johnson – with work by The Vibrators, Kingstonians, JJ All Stars, Cark Dawkins, Winston Wright, Roy Shirley, Val Bennett, Lloyd Young, The Linkers, The Ethiopians, Family Man, The Cambodians, Stranger & Gladdy, The Scorchers, Ansel Collins, Stranger Cole, and others. CD
25
Savannah/
A fantastic collection of roots reggae from a lesser-known source – material issued on the Big Phil label of Phil Mathias – brought together to make a superb album as a whole! There's a nice mix of artists here, and the production styles are also nicely varied – with some numbers that still have a roots vibe, but also move into warmer lovers territory – balanced with deeper, more progressive cuts that make the whole thing an all-killer, no-filler set! Titles include "A Lonely Walk" by Albert Malawi, "Consider Yourself" by Delroy Wilson, "Black Beauty" by The Mindbenders, "Riding High" by The In Crowd, "Never Get Weary" by Wellesley Braham, "Think About Tomorrow" by Ranking Joe, "Miserable Woman" by Leroy Smart, and "Once Upon A Time" by The Main Attractions. 2CD set also features 19 bonus tracks, 6 previously unissued, including some rare 12" singles – titles that include "Help Us Jah (12" mix)" by Leroy Brown, "Why Won't You Come On (12" mix)" by Bim Sherman, "So Many Times" by The Majestrians, "Too Sweet To Let Go (12" mix)" by The Studds, "Running (12" mix)" by Devon Lyon & Jah Thomas, "Road Traffic Law (12" mix)" by Jah Ruby, and "Wise Man" by Junior Dan. CD
26
Doctor Bird (UK), Late 60s. New Copy 2CD ... $16.99
A treasure trove of pre-reggae work from the Kingston scene – all of it from the hands of music entrepreneur JJ Johnson – figure with a well-trained ear for a special sort of single, given his years of experience in record retailing and the jukebox business! Johnson's not as well-known as some of the bigger names getting their start at the time – like Clement Dodd or Duke Reid, but for a short stretch, he did an equally great job of pulling together up-and-coming talent – including a young Lee Perry, and some especially great vocal groups! This 2CD package is done in the best style of the other Doctor Bird titles – copious notes, and a huge amount of tracks – including a big number that appear on CD for the first time. 56 titles in all – with work by Lee Perry, The Rulers, The Uniques, Earl Lowden & The Fugitives, Val Bennett & The Carib Beats, Carl Dawkins, The Viceroys, Inspirations, Raymond Harper, The Inspirations, Primo & Hopeton, The Soul Leaders, Lyn Taitt & The Jets, Ossie & The Kilowatts, The West Indians, Erroll Brown, and many more! CD
27
Junior Byles —
Beat Down Babylon (with bonus tracks) ... CD Doctor Bird (UK), Early 70s. New Copy 2CD ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Tremendous work from Junior Byles – a singer with a sweet voice that would have been right at home in the rocksteady years, but which is maybe even more powerful here in a roots session produced by Lee Scratch Perry! That special Perry magic really helps balance things out with Junior's vocals – a raspy edge in the rhythms that reminds us of the deeper qualities of the lyrics – echoed by Byles as he uses his personal soul to enforce their ideas – following a shift in Jamaican music that's similar to the Marvin Gaye shift at the start of the 70s! Titles include "I've Got A Feeling", "Don't Know Why", "Coming Again", "Beat Down Babylon", "A Place Called Africa", and "Poor Chubby". 2CD set features an insane number of bonus tracks – 41 more numbers in all, pulled from singles and other recordings – with titles that include "Curley Locks", "Dreader Locks", "Militant Rock", "Fun & Games", "Motion Dub", "Ungrateful Skank", "Rasta No Pick Pocket", "Come Da Da", "Righteous Oily", "King Of Babylon", "Africa Stand", and "Rub Up Festival 71". CD
28
Barrington Levy/Trojan/
Four Trojan Records albums, all produced by Linval Thompson – and featuring some bonus tracks too! First up is Poor Man Style – a gem of a record from Barrington Levy – done in that laidback, easy-stepping style that always worked perfectly for the singer's vocals! Linval Thompson produced, and he brings in all these cool touches around the edges – early dancehall modes that are nicely understated, and which still maybe resonate more with the roots generation than later crossover hits – a righteous vibe that makes the whole album simmer beautifully all the way through! Titles include "She Is The Best Girl", "Don't Give Up", "Sensimella", "True Love", "Poorman Style", "This Little Boy", "Rob & Gone", "I Can't Wait Too Long", "Man Give Up", and "I Love I Love You". Next is Scientist & Jammy Strike Back – a record in which Scientist and Prince Jammy look an awful lot like Star Wars characters on the cover – but with grooves that are every bit as deep as their other dub classics from the time – completely amazing from conception to execution! If anything, the stars might be the perfect place for the music – given that the sounds here are very open, spacious, and way-out – full of as much echo as attack, at a level that reminds us that the pair are maybe some of the most minimalist of the dub generation! Rhythms are by the Roots Radics, but are always nice and spare – and there's plenty of splash and electro echo to link together the space between the notes – on titles that include "Flash Gordon Meets Luke Skywalker", "Crushing Of The Stormtroopers", "The Princess Takes Her Revenge", "Buck Rogers In The Black Hole", "Death Of Mr Spock", and "Storming The Death Star". Next is We Must Unite – a tremendous album from The Viceroys – a Jamaican vocal trio that we'd rank right up there with The Paragons and Melodians, and who work in this beautiful message-oriented mode next to wicked production from Linval Thompson! The record's got some slight electro-styled touches at the edge – used gently next to slow-tripping rhythms – while the trio step out with these warm harmonies that really bring a lot to the lyrics of the songs – a righteous batch of tracks that include "We Must Unite", "The Intelligence Of Her Mind", "Come Closer My Love", "They Can't Stop Us Now", and "Rising On The Strength Of Jah". Singer Tristan Palma follows in a very similar mode, but as a solo lead – on the well-crafted Settle Down Girl, also produced by Linval Thompson! Titles include "Settle Down Girl", "Run Around Woman", "Losted My Wife", "Don't Make Me Cry", "Come Turn Me On", and "Rosie Bell". CD also features bonus tracks – "If I Didn't Want Your Loving (12" mix)" and "Loving Version" by The Melodians – and "Settle Down Girl (12" mix)", and "Settle Down Girl Version" by Tristan Palma. CD
29
Morwell Unlimited/Doctor Bird/
A pair of rare dub albums – back to back in a single set, with bonus tracks too! On A1 Dub, Blacka Morwell serves up some massive dub – working at Channel 1, for an obscure album on Trojan Records – but maybe coming across with some of the richness of the Island Records generation! There's a fullness to the sound that's wonderful – top-to-bottom completely solid, and often highly focused on the rhythms, but also always using one key instrumental element on each cut – a bit of organ here, a weeping guitar there, or even an odd sonic element – always given center stage in the spotlight, and set apart from the rest of the mix in a really great way. Titles include "Downtown Rebel", "Well Crucial", "Different Style", "West Side Ranking", "Pressure Rock", "Blackboard Jungle", and "Waterpump Skank". Next is Cry Tuff Dub Encounter 4 – from Prince Far I & The Arabs – an almost seamless set of dub instrumentals, recorded at Channel One in 1981 – the underground Jamaican groove, but maybe given a slightly better sound quality overall – that good mix of indie and professional that was the Trojan Records calling card as the 70s moved on! A crisp upfront production style separates this one from some of its dub predecessors – but the record has a great analog dub sound, with many effects and instruments echoing in and out of the mix. Titles include "Lion Stone", "Foundation Stepper", "Sound Gesture", "Destruction Sound Battle", and "Stone African Ground". And if that's not enough, the whole thing features a whole CD of bonus material – rare tracks taken from the 12" Attack series by Trojan Records – with cuts that include "Jammin For Survival" by Jammy's At The Controls, "Bali Hi Special" by The Sowell Radics, "Fuss & Fight Dub" by Eddie Fitzroy, "Ball Of Fire" by Bim Sherman, "Stand & Look Dub" by Fat Man All Stars, "Caring For My Sister" by Scientist & Roots Radics, "Won't You Come On (dub)" by Witty's All STars, "Babylon Wrong Dub" by Ashanti Waugh, and "Cool Pon Your Corner Version" by Barry Brown. CD
30
Various —
Ska From Jamaica (plus bonus tracks) ... CD Trojan/
The long-overdue release of a killer collection of underground ska from the Jamaican scene of the 60s – a package put together by a small London label to feature the best production work of Kingston producer Lindon Pottinger! These cuts lie in the Trojan Records vaults for decades – and finally see the light of day here, in a soul-drenched tracklist that's overflowing with gems that go way past the obvious – and which remind us yet again that the initial years of Ska were so amazing, all other generations really pale in comparison! The vibe here is a strong mix of influences from American soul and some of the bubbling, hard-stepping rhythms of Jamaica – served up with a brilliant sound on tracks that include "What Have I Done" and "Time Will Tell" by Winston Samuels, "The Ska" by Jackie Estick, "Let's Jump" by The Maytals, "Sammy No Dead" by Clacy Eccles, "Cling To Me" by Horrell Dawkins, "Paradise" by Roy Shirley & Ken, and "Too Late" by Lloyd & Glen. 2CD package features a huge amount of bonus material – 47 more tracks in all, with work by Karl Bryan, Derrick Harriott, Baba Brooks, Winston Samuels, Dobby Dobson, The Cables, The Originators, Clive Bonnie, King Rocky, Ben Levy, and other Pottinger-produced artists. CD
31
Errol Brown & The Supersonics —
Treasure Dub Albums Collection (Treasure Dub Vols 1 & 2/Treasure Isle/
A really wonderful collection of dub tracks built on older grooves from the Treasure Isle label – better known as a hotbed of ska and rocksteady at the end of the 60s! The set features three unusual albums that were created by producer Errol Brown after the initial Treasure Isle label had stopped recording – mid 70s sets that brought new dubby energy to older rhythm tracks from the catalog – all given superb instrumental touches from Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, and greatly abstracted in the studio through the magical talents of Brown on the mixing board! All three records are relatively obscure – Treasure Dub 1, Treasure Dub 2, and Pleasure Dub – and are presented here along with lots of bonus tracks and detailed notes. A whopping 46 titles in all – with tracks that include "Dub With Strings", "Touch A Dub", "Dub So True", "De Pauper A Dub", "I Shave The Barber", "Stealing Version", "Kansas City Dub", "Gemini Rock", "Chucky Love", "Reigning Dub", and lots lots more! CD
32
Various —
Put On Your Best Dress – Sonia Pottinger Ska & Rocksteady 1966/Doctor Bird (UK), Late 60s. New Copy 2CD ... Out Of Stock
Killer Jamaican grooves from one of the hippest, most unusual producers on the Kingston scene of the 60s – the legendary Sonia Pottinger, one of the few female forces working in ska and rocksteady at the time! Sonia had a great ear that was very close to the ground – able to pick up on the newest, freshest styles of the time – and blending them in with an older roster that also included a bit of nyabinghi and mento – some of which is featured here, in a hugely expanded version of an earlier Trojan Records collection of the same name! This package features a massive 54 tracks in all – as well as a huge booklet of notes on Sonia, her musical career, and her unique role in Jamaica – amidst a stunning selection of tracks that includes "Stop The Violence" by The Valentines, "Pata Pata Rock Steady" by Patsy Todd, "Listen To Me Baby" by The Conquerors, "One Love" by Stranger & Gladdy, "Gay Drums" by Leslie Butler & Count Ossie, "Treat Me Right" by The Conquerors, "Gun Fever" by The Valentines, "Move Up" by Linval Martin & The Vibrators, "Play It Cool" b Monty Morris, "This Is Thunder" by The Dingle Brothers, "Oh Ye Mahee" by Stranger Cole & The Conquerors, "Musical Pressure" by Al & The Vibrators, "Winnie The Whip" by Count Lasher, and "Skilamy" by Aston & Yen. CD
Possible matches: 2
33
Mango/
Not "Soul Makossa", but also not a bad album of afro funk featuring Manu Dibango's usual squealing soprano sax, plus Fender Rhodes and vibes. Recorded in Jamaica, with a bit of a Carribean feel, and the tracks "Frozen Soul", "Doctor Bird", and "Full Up". LP, Vinyl record album
34
Miracles —
Love Crazy/Columbia/
Two post-Motown albums from The Miracles – back to back on a single CD! On Love Crazy, The Miracles move to Columbia Records – and pick up a whole new groove in the process – a much richer sound than previous records on Motown, with a soaring style that really works great for the harmonies! Billy Griffin's vocals are really coming into their own – as is his songwriting, too – evidenced by some of the more complicated elements in the mix, and the blend of full arrangements and tight rhythms that almost have a Philly feel overall! The change is a great one for the group – and not only helps them beat some of their best late Motown moments, but also points the way towards a heck of a lot of 80s soul too. Titles include "Too Young", "The Bird Must Fly Away", "Love Crazy", "Spy For Brotherhood", "A Better Way To Life", "Women", and the Isley-like "I Can Touch The Sky". The self-titled Miracles set is an overlooked groover from The Miracles – a late 70s set for Columbia Records, and one that's got a sparkling sound throughout! The album really has the group hitting some great modern soul modes for the set – arrangements by David Foster that push them forward even more, and which work equally well on the uptempo tunes as they do on the few mellower numbers too. The style is lush, but never overdone – just right for the vocal interplay of the group, with a quality that's a bit like late 70s Jacksons – but better. Titles include "Love Doctor", "I Can't Stand It", "Hot Dance", "Mean Machine", "Sad Rain", "Reach For The Sky", and "The Magic Of Your Eyes". CD
(Hybrid Super Audio CD pressing – also works on standard CD players!)
Partial matches: 1
35
Philips/
Really unique work from The Soulful Dynamics – a Liberian group who relocated to Germany at the end of the 60s, and recorded in English with a mad mix of styles! Their approach here is a blend of South and West African pop modes of the 60s – touched with more of a British beat group sound in the guitars and overall rhythmic approach to the tunes, making them extremely catchy tracks that often have a nice sing-songy twist to the lyrics. And although the group's not really that much of a truly African ensemble, they did pave the way for bigger 70s African-styled groups on the European scene – allowing their own pop-styled approach to groom audiences for hipper later work. CD features 26 tracks in all – a great batch of singles from the group's years on Philips, Decca, and Metronome. Titles include "Lady From Amsterdam", "Crying Man", "Jungle People", "Monkey", "Shake Shake Shake", "Mademoiselle Ninette", "Birdy", "Coconuts From Congoville", "Azumba", "Doctor Man", and "Wanna Love You". CD
(Out of print.)
