Soulful harmonies-laded Jamaican music from The Inturns – who also recorded as The Viceroys and with other monikers from the mid 60s onward – and are really in peak form here in the later 70s! It's beautiful stuff, with rhythms that balance a rawer grit with a lighter touch – laid down at Channel One by Sly & Robbie, Ansell Collins, Skully Sims and other prime scene players – but it's really the soul-steeped vocals that carry the vibe here. The Pressure Sounds pedigree for underappreciated archival reggae continues to blow us away! Includes "Send Us", "Consider Yourself", "Detour", "Jah Ho Jah", "Nothing Is Impossible", "Get To Know", "Do We Have To Fight", "Sing A Good Song", and "Jah Ho". LP, Vinyl record album

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

Rare gems from the vaults of Jamaican production genius Bunny Lee – material cut mostly at his home studio, in the company of some very good friends and musical associates – hence the artist listing on the set! Some of the cuts here are from rare dubplates or acetates, others are extended or unreleased tracks from back in the day – and the work is united by a warmly collaborative vibe, and that nicely gritty way that Lee had of cutting a tune – leaving all the sharp corners in place, with an especially nice crackle in the rhythms, while also letting the sweetness really flow from the singer in the lead! Titles include "The Time Has Come" by Slim Smith, "Stick By Me" by John Holt, "Give Me Love" by Cornell Campbell, "Two Ton Gulletto" by U Roy Junior, "Sentimenal Man (ext mix)" by Ernest Wilson, "Devil's Brother In Law" by I Roy & Augustus Pablo, "My Confession" by Cornell Campbell, "Man Next Door" by Horace Andy, "Cherry Oh Baby" by Eric Donaldson, and "Any Heart Can Be Broken" by Delroy Wilson. CD

Don't think "disco" as in the New York scene at Studio 54 – as these cuts are much deeper and dubbier – served up under the supervision of Bunny Lee by studio maestros Barnabas and Pat Kelly! Instrumentation is by the Aggrovators, but the magic comes equally from the production effects as it does from the massive rhythms by the group – as all the elements are filtered out in space, and criss-cross back and forth in this wonderful way – never too sloppy or experimental, but definitely tripping out with the groove! Vocals are muted when they do make an appearance – and titles include "The Aggrovators Special Dub", "Money In My Pocket Dub", "Portobello Special Dub", "Super Rockers Dub", "The Bomb Dub", "The Killer Dub", and "The Dub Specialist". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of masterful collaborations between Bunny Striker Lee and Prince Jammy – fantastic dubs based upon rhythms by The Aggrovators! The set brings together two full albums – one from the late 70s, one from the early 80s – and while there's some slight shifts in production and technology, the overall vibe runs true and clear – that amazing ear for spacier sounds around the sides of the grooves that Jammy could do so well – beautifully captured in the overall production, and balanced against the depth of the basslines, and the warmth of some of the few horn parts in the mix! LP, Vinyl record album

Tripped-out greatness from the mighty Augustus Pablo – maybe one of the few cats in the world who could make the melodica sound like a cool instrument! This package digs deeper than some of the straight album reissues on the market – as the Pressure Sounds team have really unearthed some great cuts that originally only appeared as singles – 7" and 12" tracks that mix together heavy, dubby rhythms with Pablo's snakey lines on the breath-blown keyboard – all for a sound that's completely amazing. The set features work issued by a few different artists on the label, all with Pablo at the core – and titles include "Far East", "East Man Sound", "Up Warika Hill", "Mountain View Dub (versions 1 & 2)", "Pablo In Fine Style", "Ras Menilik Congo (Harp)" and "Kid Ralph" by Augustus Pablo – plus "Phillips Showcase" by the Pablo All Stars; "Levi Dub", "Raw Dub", "Cool Shade Dub", "Roots Dub" and "Zambian Style" by Rockers All Stars; "False Rumour" by Jah Levi; "Rockers Rock (version)" by Jah Iny; and "Chock Full & Dub" by Synthesis. And as always, a deluxe Pressure Sounds package – with excellent notes! LP, Vinyl record album

A host of rare gems from the early years of Lee Perry's legendary Black Ark studios – material recorded by Scratch himself, on some cuts featuring The Upsetters, others some close contemporaries – but all nicely unified here by contributions from Lee at just about every level! As with other Pressure Sounds collections, the approach here is wonderful – way past the entry-level reggae collections you might get elswhere, but also not overwhelmed with trainspotter attention to rareness over quality – as the cuts here are all pretty darn great, and feature many gems from the early reggae years that really show Perry's diversity past his own recordings. The set includes a number of Upsetters version recordings of vocal tunes – and titles include "Set Yourself Up" by The Upsetters, "Brotherly Lvoe" by Henrick Nicholson, "Roots Train (previously unreleased dub plate mix)" by Junior Murvin, "Woman Gotta Have Love (previously unreleased dub plate mix)", "Say A Little Prayer (12" mix)" by Eric Donaldson, "Mr Cravin" by Junior Murvin, "Such Is Life (version)" by The UPsetters, "Nu Fi Run It Down" by Danny Clarke, "Ska Baby" by Bobby Ellis, "Such Is Life" by Lord Creator, and "Oh Me Oh My" by Bree Daniels. CD

In spite of a few legendary battles with I Roy and Big Youth on wax, Prince Jazzbo never seemed to enjoy the notoriety, outside Jamaica at least, that many other Dee Jays did, though his rough and ready delivery over many self produced rhythms was no less worthy of note. This fantastic compilation brings together a load of great dee jay tracks, many of which hit huge in the dancehall, over solid rhythms laid down by the Aggrovators, Roots Radics & Revolutionaries. 17 tracks, with their versions, including the great "Kick Boy Face", "Mr. Funny", "Every N*gga Is A Winner", "Step Forward Youth" & "Jazzbo's Mercy". CD

Sweet early 80s tracks from the legendary Bunny Striker Lee – work that shows him stepping effortlessly into the dancehall modes of the time – still a master of rhythm, and of finding the right sort of talents to add to his sound! The package features a nice mix of bigger names and up-and-coming talents – and also includes a number of unissued tracks from Bunny's archives, which fit perfectly alongside the singles in the set – music that's mostly in a late roots-into-dancehall mode, instead of some of the bigger, more commercial work that would circulate under the dancehall name a few years later. As always with Pressure Sounds, the presentation, sound quality, and notes are great – and titles include "Gun Fever" by Frankie Jones, "People Cruel (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Errol Scorcher, "Lay Down Flat" by Devon Edwards, "Revolution Fighters" by Simple Simon, "Too Popular" by Trevor Castell, "Babylon No Badda Haul & Pull Me" by Devon Edwards, "A Place Called Zion" by The Paragons, "The Right Time (12" mix)" by Neville Brown & John Wayne, "Bandulo (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Scientist, "Know Yourself Mankind" by The Paragons, "Lazer Beam (12" mix)" by Don Carlos & Papa Tullo, and "I Man Come Again" by Johnny Clarke. LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of rare work from Jamaican studio genius Bunny Striker Lee – unusual cuts and unreleased material – all of it a further testament to his legendary ear for a mindblowing sound! These aren't half-baked cuts, or material that deserved to fall to the cutting room floor – because the style is years ahead of its time, and put together with techniques and styles that are still pretty darn revolutionary after all these many years! Some tracks have a strong vocal presence, others are more instrumental – and in addition to Lee's famous flying cymbals technique, there's lots more going on here too – including some totally cool space age sounds. Unreleased tracks include "Bell Road Rock" by The Aggrovators, "Joe Frazier" by Tommy McCook, "Go Jah Jah Pickney" by Linval Thompson, "No Man Is An Island" by Johnny Clarke & Horace Andy, "Bunny Lee & King Tubby's Dubplate Special" by Cornell Campbell, "Life Of My Own" by The Raver, "Look How Long Nyabinghi Calling You" by Linval Thompson, "King Tubby's Vs Arrows Dubplate" by Cornell Campbell, "Jamaican Fruit Of African Roots" by Lennox Brown & Sheila Richards, "No Babylon Shall Escape In This Time" by Johnny Clarke, and "Every Knee Shall Bow" by Ronnie Davis. LP, Vinyl record album

Essential! One wonders why when the original King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown album is so heavy, that you'd want another dub version, but one spin of this special reissue package and you'll be convinced. Altogether different dubs and versions of many of the same rhythm cuts as that watershed dub LP only prove that the whole concept of "versioning", and cutting multiple dubs of the same rhythms (usually to service selectors and sound systems who needed unique tracks) was pure genius on the part of Jamaican producers. Add that to the sheer weight of the rhythms used here, and you've got a formula for a potent set! Once again, the producers at Pressure Sounds have dug up some beautiful gems, finding unique versions of H. Swaby's melodica dancing over thundering Rockers' rhythms and taking a dip now and again in a bucket of reverb & echoplex. Insightful liner notes and a beautiful sleeve complete this package of 17 massive instrumental tracks, including "Black Gunn", "New Style", "El Rockers", "Skanking Easy", "Tribalist" and "Cassava Piece". CD

A host of rare gems from the early years of Lee Perry's legendary Black Ark studios – material recorded by Scratch himself, on some cuts featuring The Upsetters, others some close contemporaries – but all nicely unified here by contributions from Lee at just about every level! As with other Pressure Sounds collections, the approach here is wonderful – way past the entry-level reggae collections you might get elswhere, but also not overwhelmed with trainspotter attention to rareness over quality – as the cuts here are all pretty darn great, and feature many gems from the early reggae years that really show Perry's diversity past his own recordings. The set includes a number of Upsetters version recordings of vocal tunes – and titles include "Set Yourself Up" by The Upsetters, "Brotherly Love" by Henrick Nicholson, "Roots Train (previously unreleased dub plate mix)" by Junior Murvin, "Woman Gotta Have Love (previously unreleased dub plate mix)", "Say A Little Prayer (12" mix)" by Eric Donaldson, "Mr Cravin" by Junior Murvin, "Such Is Life (version)" by The Upsetters, "Nu Fi Run It Down" by Danny Clarke, "Ska Baby" by Bobby Ellis, and "Such Is Life" by Lord Creator. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic record from the great Delroy Wilson – a set that's dubby at the core, but also has a righteous sense of soul too – almost a Jamaican extension of the hippest styles of early 70s American soul! Delroy's vocals are wonderful – very powerful, even without trying too much – and set up amidst some great production from Bunny Lee that really makes the whole thing shine like a slow-burning dark star – a perfect vibe that's laidback, but never lazy – and a great change from some of the more polished early 80s Jamaican soul. Titles include a great remake of the Chi-Lites "Go Away Dream" – plus "No More Heartaches", "Spit In The Sky", "When She Was My Girl", "I Can't Take You Back", "I Can't Fight It Anymore", "Won't You Come Home", and "Silhouette Silhouette". LP, Vinyl record album

Rarities from the mighty Yabby You – with some remarkably strong, though little heard rootsy dub from Yabby and his extended brethren – including some recently discovered bits! The title Deeper Roots works on dual fronts. It's got pretty rare material, discovered by the always deep diggers at Pressure Sounds – but the material has deeper spiritual resonance, too – with a nice Rasta vibe running throughout! Yabby is joined by King Tubby, Barrington Spence, the rarely recorded Prince Pampidoo, King Manuel, The Prophets and others. Includes "Valley Of Joeasaphat" and "Joeasaphat Rock" with Smith & The Prophets, "Don't Touch I Dread" with Barington Spence", "Tutch Dub" with Prophet All Stars, "Dip Them Bedward" with Prince Pampidoo, "Dub Them Bedward" with Prophet All Stars, "Forward On The Track" with King Miguel, "Caymamas Rock" with King Miguel & The Prophets, "Cleo's Dub" with Hot City Allstars and more. Also includes some exclusive dub plate mixes with King Tubby – featuring Tommy McCook, The Prophets and others! 19 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Misty, Lion Youth, Black Slate, Tabby Cat Kelly, Reggae Regular, Trevor Hartley, African Brothers, Matumbi, Pablo Gad, Steel Pulse, Aswad & African Stone. CD

Nice One! A dozen smokin cuts produced by Clive Chin and engineered by the great Errol Thompson, whose deft hand at the mixing console highlights the best of these fat, groovy rhythms from the early 70s. Cut at Randy's, a record shop, distributor and studio, where Chin managed to keep his ear to the street, and what the sound systems were hungry for. This collection has a number of singers clearly inspired by US soul singers, evidenced by some great soulful covers, like Alton Ellis' "Too Late" a version of the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose's "Too Late to Turn Back Now", Donovan Carlos' lightly skanking version of William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful", and a mad, funky reggae take on the Mission Impossible theme. Beyond these great numbers, the collection is worth the price alone for the essential early Black Uhuru cut, released here for the first time "Going to Zion". And as usual the great Pressure Sounds package with insightful liner notes, and 4 bonus cuts on the CD! (and a great companion to the Forward the Bass collection on Blood & Fire) CD

Another incredible collection of rock steady from Pressure Sounds – some of the rarest singles ever from the Caltone & John Tom labels! It's very nice, very groovy stuff – mellow little rockers with sweet production by Phill Pratt, with vocalists that include a young Horace Andy, Ken Booth, Larry Marshall – plus instrumentals include work by Tommy McCook, Lyn Tait and others! 23 tracks in all: "Safe Travel" by Phil Pratt, "No One To Give Me Love" by Larry Marshall & Alvin Leslie, "Black Man's Country" by Horace Andy, "Time Is Getting Harder" by Peter Austin, "Bigger Things" by Tommy McCook, "You Left The Water Running" by Ken Boothe, "Bye Bye Bye" by the Clarendonians, "I'm Restless" by the Thrillers, "Victory" by Phil Pratt All Stars" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Nice, nice compilation of sides produced by the legendary Hookim brothers for their Channel One and Well Charged labels at the Channel One studios, all based on the Revolutionaries band, with Sly Dunbar and Ranchie Mclean as the foundation in the rhythm section. While many labels and producers churned out singles for the sound systems in a factory like production line, the Hookims always managed to coax the most of their singers and players, taking time to build not just hits, but classics. As with their other reissues, a number of great vocalists and deejays are featured, alongside the instrumental and dub versions of their tracks. Earth & stone, The Wailing Souls and John Holt are some of the singers, while Trinity & I Roy chat over the tracks too, like "Tribal War", "Shaka the Great", "Up Park Camp", "All Gone", "The Meaning of Life" and "Lawless Society". CD

Pressure Sounds does it again, with another fine collection of mighty, mighty dub! A much needed Blackbeard retrospective collecting 16 hard to get cuts from British dubmeister Dennis Bovell, rare dubs and instrumentals, plus a couple of outstanding vocal tracks from the man at the epicenter of the British reggae scene. Focusing on Bovell's early work, this collection brings some of his heaviest productions out for the first time since their original release in the mid-seventies, all propelled by his chubby bass playing and rounded out by his deft touch on the console. 16 tracks in all: "The Grunwick Affair", "Harmoniser Dub", "Dominion Dub", "Rowing (12" version)", "Zombie Zones", "Zion Dub", "Higher Ranking", "Ranking High", "Scientific", "Shi-cago", "None Jah Jah Children (Melodica version)", "Uganda Crisis", "Ah Fi Wi Dis", "Entebbe", "Blood Ah Go Run" and "Dub'er". As always, a wonderful package, with new liner notes and photos! LP, Vinyl record album

Another great Pressure Sounds reissue compilation of essential roots sides; written, produced and arranged by one of the greatest reggae talents, Winston Rodney AKA Burning Spear. Culled from sessions cut after he left Studio One, this incredible collection of original vocal tracks, discomixes & dub versions recorded around the time of the landmark "Marcus Garvey" & "Man In the Hills" LPs and throughout the 70s features Spear's conscious lyrics over some incredible rhythm tracks put together by some of the best musicians of the day: Sly & Horsemouth on drums, Family Man & Robbie on bass, Earl Lindo, Tony Chin, Chinna Smith, Ranchie McLean and a horn section featuring Vin Gordon, Dirty Harry Hall & Bobby Ellis. 16 massive tracks, including "Travelling" and its version "Walking", a discomix of "Institution", "Spear Burning", Phillip Fullwood's "I Gave You My Word" & it's version, "Free Black People" & "The Prophet". All packaged with great liner notes and photos in the typical Pressure Sounds fashion! CD

The first-ever CD issue of a range of material from this ultra-hip group – all tracks that originally appeared on vinyl-only releases, now making their CD debut in an overstuffed collection that features 24 tracks in all! The vibe here is great – that Karl Hector & The Malcouns mix of deep funk instrumentation and various global elements – almost an imagined version of 70s sounds from Africa and the Mid East, but served up with the sensibilities of a deep funk combo – which is what they are, given that the group is just the Whitefield Brothers and Poets Of Rhythm, working here under another one of their many names! Yet the instrumentation is quite different than those other acts, too – much more rootsy and filled with a lot of organic percussion and other global elements – as you'll hear on titles that include "Shangold", "Leealah", "Roads Of Otumpa", "Tamanrasset", "JB Rip", "Irtijal", "The Cave", "Orange", "Transition X", "Medium Rare (part 1)", "Beyond Squares", and "Coomassi". CD

Fantastic work from legendary producer Joe Gibbs – a key force in helping Jamaican music find the darker side of its groove at the end of the 60s, thanks to some groundbreaking work in the dee jay mode, and some other styles that are definitely an earlier precursor to dub! The set brings together 27 tracks that Gibbs recorded right at the tail end of the decade – many issued on the Amalgamated and Pressure Beat labels, including 9 tracks that appear on CD for the first time ever! But even the rest are pretty rare singles, most out of print for years – and as with other Doctor Bird collections, they're brought together here at a level that really makes sense, and illuminates the genius that's present in all of the individual cuts. Titles include "Niney Special" by Niney & The Destroyers, "Straight To The Head" and "Nevada Joe" by Johnny Lover & The Destroyers, "Echo" by The Now Generation, "Ghost Walk" and "Seeing Is Believing" by Carlton Gibbs, "Still Water Runs Deep" by Lizzy, "Jack Of My Trade" by Lord Comic, "Pussy Catch A Fire" by Two Soul Brothers, "News Flash Version" and "Rock The Clock (version 2)" by The Destroyers, "Perfect Born Ya" by The Immortals, "Honey No Money" by Niney & Slim Smith, and "Ghost Capturer" by Joe Gibbs All Stars. CD

Great duo vocals from the team of Albert Bailey and Clifton Howell – recording here with some excellent rhythms from Sly & Robbie and the rest of the Channel One crew! The music is mostly mellow, with a stepping groove that works great for the harmonies of the pair – and there's a fair bit of roots numbers here, mixed with some warmer lovers' rock titles too. Like other great titles on Pressure Sounds, this one does a great job of giving Earth & Stone the showcase they deserve – with excellent sound, and notes on the music – and titles that include "False Ruler", "Once Bitten Twice Shy", "Black Roots", "Three Wise Men", "Holy Land Of Home", "Jail House Set Me Free", "Devil Wise", "House Of Dub", "Wiser Dub", and "Jester Not". LP, Vinyl record album

The soulful genius of Frankie Knuckles never falters – as the dancefloor god delivers a stunning mix of recent house tunes, all infused with the majestic spirit that carried Frankie from Chicago to New York to Europe and beyond! The CD's a continuous mix of 11 tracks – like catching Frankie in one of his most spirited sets – and titles include "We Are One" by Urban Blues Project with Bobby Pruitt, "Alright With Me (Marki's Sunday voc mix)" by Shernette May, "Keep On Movin (original La Familia mix)" by Frankie Knuckles with Nicki Richards, "Faith (original M&M mix)" by Annette Taylor, "Higher (Journey to Heaven mix)" by Vernessa Mitchell with Rickey Dillard's New G, "The Pressure (Sound Factory mix revisited)" by Sounds Of Blackness, "He Is The Joy (UBP classic dub)" by Donna Allen, "Father (Frankie Feliciano rmx)" by Kenny Bobien, and "Walkin (Grant Nelson's divine gospel mix)" by Frankie Knuckles with Adeva. CD

A huge collection of work from the legendary Trojan Records label – the crucial British imprint who helped bring the sounds of Jamaica to the London scene, then helped encourage a lot of new English recordings as well! Trojan was more than a label, it was a key cultural conduit back in the day – as important to musical migrations as those of its customers' own – as you'll hear in this massive collection of tracks from the label's glory days! The set is much nicer than just a "best of" – as it's full of unusual numbers mixed in next to the classics – a set of 50 tracks that includes "Give Me All Your Love" by The Continentals, "Tell Me Darling" by Jackie Edwards, "One Eyed Giant" by Baba Brooks, "Keep The Pressure On" by Winston & George, "Perfida" by Phyllis Dillon, "King Without A Throne" by Sugar Simone, "Rock Steady Train" by Ewan & Jerry, "Rasta Never Fails" by The Charmers, "Them A Laugh & A Ki Ki" by The Soul Mates, "People Funny Boy" by Lee Scratch Perry, "I'm In The Mood For Ska" by Lord Tanamo, "Satan" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, "Rough & Tough" by Stranger Cole, "Man To Man" by Kentrick Patrick, "Rudy A Message To You" by Dandy Livingstone, "Way Of Life" by Lynn Taitt & The Jets, "Every Night" by Joe White & Chuck, "Hong Kong Flu" by The Ethiopians, and "Nana" by The Slickers. CD

A huge collection of work from the legendary Trojan Records label – the crucial British imprint who helped bring the sounds of Jamaica to the London scene, then helped encourage a lot of new English recordings as well! Trojan was more than a label, it was a key cultural conduit back in the day – as important to musical migrations as those of its customers' own – as you'll hear in this massive collection of tracks from the label's glory days! The set is much nicer than just a "best of" – as it's full of unusual numbers mixed in next to the classics – a set of 50 tracks that includes "Give Me All Your Love" by The Continentals, "Tell Me Darling" by Jackie Edwards, "One Eyed Giant" by Baba Brooks, "Keep The Pressure On" by Winston & George, "Perfida" by Phyllis Dillon, "King Without A Throne" by Sugar Simone, "Rock Steady Train" by Ewan & Jerry, "Rasta Never Fails" by The Charmers, "Them A Laugh & A Ki Ki" by The Soul Mates, "People Funny Boy" by Lee Scratch Perry, "I'm In The Mood For Ska" by Lord Tanamo, "Satan" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, "Rough & Tough" by Stranger Cole, "Man To Man" by Kentrick Patrick, "Rudy A Message To You" by Dandy Livingstone, "Way Of Life" by Lynn Taitt & The Jets, "Every Night" by Joe White & Chuck, "Hong Kong Flu" by The Ethiopians, and "Nana" by The Slickers. CD

Nice collectin on Trojan of this vocal group's rocksteady numbers. There's a bit of overlap with the set on Pressure Sounds, as there wasn't a whole lot of material laid to tape by this group. Nice steady rockers and lover's tunes, with sweet harmony vocals. Tracks include "People Rocksteady", "Gypsy Woman", "Girls Like Dirt", "That's the Way Love Is", and "My Woman's Love". CD

One of the coolest albums ever from Sunny & The Sunliners – and one of the funkiest too! The set still has the group handling some of the fragile harmonies and Texas-styled sounds of other records, but it also has them taking on James Brown and The Meters – both of whom give the album a harder, funkier edge than ever before – and whose sound also seems to inflect the group's original material too! The album's worth it alone for its great covers of "Cissy Strut" and "Soul Pride" – and other titles include "Madrid", "Uno", "Duffy", "Rosita Bonita", "Boo Boo", and "Pressure Cooker". A few tunes are more in their familiar Tex Mex mode – but the funky numbers more than make up for that! LP, Vinyl record album