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A heavy package of treasures from the vaults of Studio One – tracks from the early days of the label that really illustrate the special touch that Studio One had right from the start! The work here is some of the most soulful from the early years of reggae – Jamaican music that's clearly drawn strong inspiration from American work, but which is already really finding its own sort of special groove – mellow burning rocksteady, early reggae, and more – still sounding every bit as righteous and powerful as it did back in the day! This double-length set brings together both volumes of the original compilations – and titles include "Peeping Tom" by Brentford All Stars, "Honey Come Back" by Jerry James, "Get You Off My Mind" by Larry Marshall, "I'll Be Waiting" by Alton Ellis, "Got To Be Sure" by Horace Andy, "My Eyes" by John Holt, "He Don't Love You" by Larry Williams, "Psychedelic Rock" by Ernest Ranglin, "Life" by Hortense Ellis, "Always Something There To Remind Me" by Winston Francis, "Old Time Saying" by Burning Spear, "Riddle I This" by Dennis Alcapone, "Feel Good All Over" by King Sporty, "Zion Higher" by Burning Spear, and "Home Home Version" by Dennis Alcapone & Ken Boothe. CD

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. LP, Vinyl record album

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. CD

A stunning look at the early years of the Jamaican music scene – tracks from the years before ska, rocksteady, and reggae really took over – but which really helped set the scene for years to come! All the work here is from the hands of Duke Reid – soon to be known for his famous mid 60s productions on the Treasure Isle label – already here with his ear to the ground, capturing the unique shifts in the island's culture – some in mento and calypso, some in jazz, and others in modes that are very similar to the sounds to come! You'll recognize more than a few names here from important later work – and the huge 84 track package features dozens of titles that appear here on CD for the first time ever – countless great gems from artists who include Derrick Morgan, Roland Alphonso, Cosmo & Dennis, The Prodigals, Derrick & Patsy, Laurel Aitken, Chuck & Dobby, Basil Gabbidon, Hortense Ellis, The Moonlighters, Eric Morris, Frank Cosmo, Monty & Roy, Rico Rodriguez, Jiving Juniors, Alvin & Cecil, Lord Power, Laurel Aitken, and even Duke Reid himself. CD

A really classic look at the legendary catalog of Studio One Records – one that not only offers up a special focus on the female artists who recorded for the label, but also really shows the wide span of sounds that Studio One created over the years! There's work here from the early rocksteady years on up to the birth of the digital age – and most of the cuts have a deeply soulful vibe throughout, with a nice balance between larger message and more personal hopes and dreams on the Kingston scene. Titles include "A Deh Pon Dem" and "King Street" by The Soulettes – an early group with a young Rita Marley – plus "I'm Just A Girl" by Hortense Ellis, "Dream Land" by Della Humprhey, "Give Love Another Try" by Claudette McLean, "I'll Give It To You" by The Tonettes, "You A Fool Boy" by Angela Prince, "War No Right" by Denise Darlington, "Tell Me Now" by Marcia Griffiths, and "Come To Me" by The Jay Tees. CD

Maybe one of the best reggae collections the Soul Jazz label has ever given us – a really rich collection of tracks from the Studio One collection, all with female singers in the lead – a good number of which have never been reissued before! Soul Jazz has been covering the Studio One catalog for many years – but this time around, they seem to have dug even deeper than before – mixing in lots of rare nuggets alongside the few familiar tracks – all to showcase a wonderfully soulful blend of singers who cut some great work for the label! The music begins in the rocksteady years, and moves onward – presented by Soul Jazz with their great ear for a set list, usual detailed notes that really get at the history of the artists and music. Titles include "Feel So Good" by Denise Darlington, "My Man Is Gone" by Angela Prince, "Welcome You Back Home" by Jackie & Doreen, "Friends & Lovers" by Rita Marley, "You're No Good" by Marcia Griffiths, "Sleeping Tree" and "Barb Wire" by Nina Soul, "Turn Turn Turn" by Jennifer Lara, "New World" by Myrna Hague, "Melody Life" by Marcia Griffiths, "Can I Change My Mind" by Hortense Ellis, and "Buck Town Corner" by The Jay Tees. CD