... LP, Vinyl record album

Music from The Sonnets, Cousin Leroy, The Debonaires, Charlie & Ray, The Royal Holidays, Lightnin' Hopkins, The Triangles, The Rocketeers, Little Walter, The Smart Tones, The Turbans, The Five Willows, and more. CD

A stunning amount of music recorded in just the space of two short years – all standing as a mighty strong testament to the production genius of Niney The Observer during the roots reggae generation! The package features a fair bit of tracks that have never been on CD before, and as stated, includes a host of rare 7" singles originally issued on the Observer, Third World, and other labels – sounding far better here than on some crackly, mispressed, or recycled vinyl! The clarity of the package makes both the vocals and subtler elements of production come out strongly, while also giving plenty of grounding to the rhythms and their sweet dubby touches around the edges. The 49 track package is a who's who of hipper reggae singers of the time – with work from Gregory Isaacs, Junior Byles, I Roy, Horace Andy, The Soul Syndicate, Jacob Miller, Big Youth, Leroy Smart, Dillinger, and others – including Niney himself. CD

A smoking collection – one that manages to bring together a whole host of rare 12" singles from the late 70s, packed down into a sweet 4CD box set, all with better sound than the original pressings! The set's from a time when Niney The Observer was really setting the Jamaican scene on fire with his production genius – helping to expand the sound of reggae past the limitations of a 7" single, with extended cuts that bring in plenty of elements from dub culture as well – mixing righteous lyrical themes with very heady production – all at a level that seems to embrace all the best changes in reggae at the time, while also moving things forward a few notches too. Lots of cuts here appear here on CD for the first time ever, and all are 12" singles – 50 tracks in all, with titles that include "Wolf & Leopard/No Conscience" by Dennis Brown & The Soul Syndicate, "Clap The Barber/Run Baldhead Dub" by Michael Rose & The Observer All Stars, "Here I Come Again/Flat Foot Hustling" by Dennis Brown & Dillinger, "War Of The Stars" by Ossie & The Revolutionaries, "Rock On/Saturday Night" by Gregory Issacs & Christine Joy White, "Jah I/Observer Style" by The Jewels, "Jay Is My Light/Wicked East" by Dirt Leroy Smart & I Roy, and "Them Never Tell I/Lie Teacher Gal" by Horace Andy & Ranking Buckers. CD

A pair of King Jammy sets, both making their CD debut – and presented here with bonus tracks too! First up is The Exit – a stunning set from Dennis Brown, and the kind of record that shows why he was one of the most soulful singers of the early digital scene! King Jammy put the set together, and uses all these bits borrowed from dub, but in a sparing way – so that Dennis is allowed to step out strong, in a very straightforward way – crafting these wonderful vocals next to sweet electro bits and warmer rhythms – on titles that include "The Exit", "Too Late", "Dance All Night", "Tracks Of Life", "We Should Make Love", and "Material Girl". Added to the set is another great Jammy's production, but one that was never released at the time – the album Hold Your Corner, with vocals from Al Campbell – a mighty great singer, and one with a sweetly crackling style! Titles on that record include "Hot Love", "Big Wheel", "Equalise It", "Stop You Fussing & Fighting", and "Buss Them Shut". The CD also features four more Jammy's productions – on cuts that include "She's Done With It" and "I Love You" by The Mighty Rudo, and "She Only Want Something" and "Crucial Lover" by Leroy Smart. CD