A massive package – the full rare Undertaker album from Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites, plus an insane amount of bonus tracks too! The core album is instrumental – a wicked set of rhythms from The Crystalites, a group who have a vibe that's right up there with the best of the late 60s Kingston scene, but a groove that's definitely their own – almost a razor's edge to some of the rhythms, as they snap through some excellent late rocksteady/early reggae modes! Harriott produced, and adds in all these cool touches and sounds that almost predate some of the later experimental modes of Lee Scratch Perry. Titles include "The Undertaker", "Bombshell", "Biafra", "The Bad", "Lady Madonna", "Fistful Of Dollars", "The Barefoot Brigade", and "Dr Who". 2CD set features 14 more instrumental tracks from The Crystalites – plus 27 more Harriott-produced numbers, including work by Rudy Mills, Junior Murvin, Keith & Tex, The Chuckles, Eric Donaldson, Pat Satchmo, Tinga & Ernie, and The Ethiopians. CD

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

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

A killer collection of work from Jamaican producer Derrick Harriott – a double length set that features 20 tracks on CD for the first time ever, plus lots of rare nuggets – all from a time when Harriott was completely on fire! Harriott was not only a producer, but also a performer, and club and record store owner – which gave him great access to up and coming talents, and a keen ear for all the changes that were taking place on the scene – changes that here sometimes come across with some of the more righteous currents that were showing up in 70s soul, and other times the growing sense of spirituality in Jamaican music. There's a wealth of fantastic work here – all presented in the high standard of the Doctor Bird label, which means notes that are as thoughtful as the track selection – a whopping 48 titles that also includes a fair bit of versions on the second disc. Titles include "Salaam" by Bongo Herman with Les & Bunny, "Throne Of Justice" by The Ethiopians, "Short Cut" by The Crystalites, "Cotton Comes To Harlem" by Winston Wright, "Mash UP" by The Diamonds, "Call Me Trinity" by Joe White, "Medicine Stick" by Denzil Laing, "Shaft" by The Now Generation, "Black Moses" by The Preacher, "Cool Breeze" by Big Youth, "Smokey Eyes" by Glen Brown", "Smokey Version" by The Cyrstalites, "Big Boy" by Junior Murvin, "Tougher Than Tough Version" by Augustus Pablo, "I Roy" by Frankie J & Melinda, "Blackula" by The Crystalites, "Bedroom Mazurka" by Agustus Pablo & Fay, and "Earthly Sounds" by The Crystalites. CD

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

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

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

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

Later work from legendary Jamaican producer Duke Reid – best known for the rocksteady classics on his Treasure Isle label in the late 60s, but still going strong here well into the 70s! The tracks here represent nearly every single 12" release issued by Reid on the many branches of Treasure Isle in the late 70s – music that takes full advantage of the extended length and the wider dynamic range offered by a 12" single over a 7" release – which means that the bottoms are even deeper, and the vocals seem to soar even higher – as Duke and his crew continue to perfect their talents in the studio. The set features a total of 38 tracks, all nice and long, 4 of which are from the vaults and appear here for the first time – supported by the usual fantastic Doctor Bird notes and details – with work by Phyllis Dillon, The Techniques, The Paragons, Alton Ellis, The Sensations & Jah Stone, Joya Landis, Ken Parker, John Holt, Alton Ellis & Papa Ritchie, Carly Bryan & The Supersonics, The Techniques & Ranking Trevor, The Jamaicans, and The Melodians. CD

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

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

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/Kingston bridge that would be such a big part of his sound! The album features work from Sly & Robbie, and the killer drums of Style Scott on rhythm – but also includes contributions by London hipsters Viv Albertine & Ari Up (of the Slits), and David Toop (noted music writer and historian) – quite a mix, and all brought together wonderfully by the Prince's production, and really unique vocal approach. Titles include "Jamaican Heroes", "Prison Discipline", "Musical History", "Natty Champion", and "Golden Throne". Next up is a classic from Prince Far I – Voice Of Thunder couldn't be a more appropriate album title or moniker! Recorded at Channel One in 1981 with incredible analog dub production, it fully carries the grit, murk, heavy and heady soul of the 70s into the new decade –even if the sound is ultimately a bit different then the what he delivered in the 70s. That thunderous voice toasting over the rhythms is as incredible as ever – over the commanding bass of Professor Larry Silvera, tripped out drums & percussion by Jah Lloyd & Scully, occasional swirling keys by Steely, Tarzan and Tony Asher and the other great Channel One players. Titles include "Ten Commandments", "Every Time I Hear The Word", "Head Of The Buccaneer", "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness", "Skinhead", and "Hold The Fort". Musical History is one of the last albums ever issued by Prince Far I – and a set that marks a fantastic cap to a too-short career! The Prince's vocal contributions are as impeccable as his dubby production work – and titles include "At The Cross", "More We Are Together", "Take Heed Frontline", "What You Gonna Do On Judgement Day", and "Tell Them About Jah Love". CD

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

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

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