No surprise that JC does the absolute business over this scorching do-over of Winston Riley’s Nothing Is Impossible rhythm (as nailed originally by the Interns / Viceroys).
A Keith Hudson production with a strong whiff of Studio One to its bumping rhythm. JC typically bosses this song about requited love, which gives no clue where the golden snake comes in.
That’s none other than Clive Chin from Randy’s, toasting on the flip.
Originally out in 1982 on the London label Arts & Crafts, heralding a stint in the city for the great singer, and opening a collaboration with producer Stafford ‘Mafia Tone’ Douglas. All self-penned songs, over Roots Radics rhythms.
Clement ‘Minkie’ Moore at Harry J’s in 1980, revisiting the tough Wickedness rhythm — also favoured by Yabby You and Alric Forbes — this time to sing. Babs Gonzales died in 1980 but his genius flourishes in the insouciant exchange between a scatting, I-Do-My-Thing Minkie and some fat, newly-added trombone.
Clifton Gibbs was in the Selected Few, who cut the all-time-classic Selection Train for the Studio One imprint Money Disc. Under his own name, he recorded Brimstone & Fire, another deadly 45 for Coxsone, originally out on Bongo Man. (Chase down the old Heartbeat CD entitled Soul Defenders At Studio One for more of the Clifton Gibbs story.)
From the precious handful of his complete recordings, here’s another scorcher. Emergency roots reasoning, over a chunky rhythm, with expressive backing vocals in Selected Few style. Sounds like Soul Defenders in the house, with some tasty trombone interjections by Vin Morgan, maybe. Vivid shades of Tubby in the expert, stern dub.
Crucial bunny.
Ten vivid, dynamic dubs from Randy’s legendary Studio 17, in North Parade, with Karl Pitterson taking over from Errol Thompson, alongside Clive Chin… stripping, tweaking and burnishing these superbly limber rhythms by Skin Flesh & Bones, the Wailers Band and Now Generation.
Pure, expert instrumental reggae — no bells, no whistles — to run alongside vocal cuts by Ta-Teasha Love, Tony Tuff, Carlos Malcolm and co.
Originally released on Impact! in 1975, in a pressing of barely two hundred copies.
Previously a super-scarce JA blank. Hail the almighty Don D’s scorching solo — flashing a split-second premonition of Rico on Message To You, Rudy.
Tough roots, produced by Rod Taylor.