... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Essential dub material from the legendary King Tubby – a set that's one of the best of the genre during the classic years – and which stands as a true testament to how great the format can be when handled right! The watchword here is simplicity – as the key elements are almost isolated in little sonic chambers, then set to resonate alongside each other – pulled from rhythms from tracks initially done as vocal productions, but reworked through the mixing talents of Erroll "ET" Thompson and Tubby. Players include Bobby Ellis on trumpet, Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall on tenor, and Augustus Pablo on organ and piano, plus a bit of clarinet. Titles include "Keep On Dubbing", "Stop Them Jah", "Young Generation Dub", "Each One Dub", "555 Dub Street", "Braces Tower Dub", "King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown", "Corner Crew Dub", "Say So", "Skanking Dub", and "Frozen Dub". CD

With selections by Thomas Chauke & The Shinyori Sisters, Mlokothawa, Amaswazi Emvelo, Kati Elimnyama, MD Shirinda & Family, Armando Bila Chijumane, and Usuthu. CD

A well-done collection of 80s soca – with tracks from Safi Abdulla, Ras Iley, Baron, Bro Resistance, Black Stalin, Nelson, Red Plastic Bag, and Johnny King! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

A record that's perhaps one of the best-known albums from British guitar legend John Renbourn – as it was issued widely in the US, and kept in print for a surprisingly long time over the years! The approach here is slightly different than Renbourn's previous records – a bit in the image presented by the cover, although with maybe not as slavish a sound – as John just uses the whole thing to go a bit more ancient than before, in ways that echo the time travel that the whole British folk scene was taking as the 70s approached. The tunes are done in ways that are really beautiful – still lots of the incredible guitar work that made Renbourn such a standout on the scene – plus flute from jazzman Ray Warleigh, who's very different here than usual – and spare use of finger cymbals, African drums, and glockenspiel by Terry Cox. Titles include "Morgana", "Transfusion", "The Trees They Do Grow High", "Sweet Potato", "Seven Up", and "White Fishes". CD

... CD

Titles include "Illiteracy", "Higher Ground", "King Kong", "Atlas", and "Unseen Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from Augustus Pablo – and a great demonstration of the way that the best of the classic 70s Jamaican artists were able to shift their styles slightly during the 80s, but still come up with a sound that was every bit as great! There's more digital elements here than before – especially in the crackle of some of the rhythms – but in ways that are right around the edges, and which echo the sort of effects that might have been cooked up by tape in the studio – used here to bring a nice bite to the mix of melodica and melodica like keyboard lines from Pablo! Mixes are by Scientist – and titles include "Dub Wiser", "Rising Sun", "Fire Red", "Jah Wind", "Pipers Of Zion", and "African Frontline". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from James Brown, The Meters, Dyke & The Blazers, Kool & The Gang, Rodger Collins, The Impressions, The Fantastic Johnny C., Curtis Mayfield, Cymande, Isley Brothers, The Mighty Tom Cats, Bull & The Matadors, and Cliff Nobles & Co. CD

... CD

Essential! The mighty debut album from African disciples Culture pairing up with the Mighty Two, Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson is one of the landmark sets of roots reggae, a defining moment of the genre dropped during the year when two sevens clashed. And though the apocalypse didn't rain down from the skies in '77, this album was certainly a world-changing event, one of the finest moments in Kingston's rich musical history! Gibbs provides the trio with a set of uplifting rhythms over which to harmonize, and Culture comes correct on every track, combining a tightly harmonized approach with a rawer, rootsier sound. 10 tracks in all, including "I'm Alone In The Wilderness", "Pirate Days", "Two Sevens Clash", "Caling Rastafari", "I'm Not Ashamed", 'Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion", "Black Starliner Must Come", "Jah Pretty Face", 'See Them A Come" and "Natty Dread Taking Over". CD

The first album from Culture, and still their most classic – a set that takes its title from a prediction by Marcus Garvey – who said that there would be trouble in the world when "two sevens clash" on July 7, 1977! Fortunately, we made it all through that date in one piece – and good thing too, as the record's gone on to even more legendary status as the years have gone on – with a righteous sort of energy that just seems to get more important over the decades. Joe Gibbs produced, and arranged with Errol Thompson – and the slow-stepping rhythms of the set, heavy on bottom-end sounds, are a perfect backdrop for the message-oriented lyrics in the music. Every cut's a classic – and titles include "I'm Alone In The Wilderness", "Pirate Days", "Two Sevens Clash", "Calling Rastafari", "I'm Not Ashamed", "Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion", "Black Starliner Must Come", "Jah Pretty Face", "See Them A Come", and "Natty Dread Taking Over". This 30th anniversary edition combines the 10 tracks of the original LP with 5 bonus numbers! CD

Another great one by Fela! Recorded in Lagos and mixed in Paris, with a hard raw afro funk groove. Two long tracks, as usual, played with a lot of fire by the Egypt 80 band with nice hard sax solos and choppy funky guitars. A real turn back to hard and heavy afro funk, after the Celluloid recordings of the mid 80s! Titles include "Just Like That" and "Beasts Of No Nation". CD

The Floacist, sounding better than ever – in a record that may well top any of her previous work – and maybe even music by Floetry too! The set begins with a wonderful duet with Raheem Devaughn on the cut "Start Again" – a cut that feels like some lost treasure from the 70s, maybe a Marvin Gaye duet from the I Want You period – which then sets the stage for some perfect Floacist numbers that have a wonderfully righteous feel! Her solo identity is really coming together here – bold and proud, and never too smoothed out for commercial ends – on tracks that include "Children Of The Sun", "Slow Down", "Could It Be You", "Speechless", "Roots Of Love", "This Love", and "Start Again". CD

Guitarists Henry Kaiser and David Lindley accompanied by musicians from Madagascar. CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album