Keith cut some sides for JA producers in the early ‘70s, before moving to New York. In the first half of the ‘80s, his Lovebird label released mostly his own productions, like Honey Bee Fantasy… slow-burning, mid-eighties boogie, nervy with a delicious outsider wrongness. None other than Charles Earland plays keys; Canadian singer Ann Marie handles backing vocals.
AM bounces back on the PM, fronting the first incarnation of the Roots Radics, including Blacka and Bingy Bunny from the Morwells. Sweetly fragile, tentative singing over a dreadnought rhythm.
Painstakingly sleeved as per the original.

The original JA mix, and Sid Bucknor’s UK remix for the Atra label, just down the road from us in West London. From 1975, twixt Flesh Of My Skin and Brand. Chinna and the Soul Syndicate, the Barrett brothers, Candi McKenzie… Rawly, uncomfortably compelling; discombobulating and moody as hell.

The Blues Buster showing his gospel roots in this superb, soaring version of the Sam Cooke, with support from Bobby Aitken and the Carib Beats.
Backed with some bumptious ska, led by Val Bennett.

Heavy, heavy early-eighties roots, mixed by King Tubby.

Ska classics produced by Ken Khouri (who founded the first recording studio in Jamaica), including deadly unreleased selections.
Murders from the get go — a knockout acoustic version of You Made Me Warm, by The Sharks.

Luxuriant, mesmerizing Black Ark classics.

Black Ark recording.

Nine minutes of Tuff Gong jazzy dread, set to the b-line Bunny copped for Amagideon.

Limber, improvisational twelve-minute version, never before released, complete with an instrumental cut.

First time out for this plaintive roots, recorded at Tuff Gong in 1979, and featuring Wailer Al Anderson’s fine acoustic guitar playing.

Startling digi do-over of Yabby You’s great Jesus Dread rhythm, with a driving, tumping dub and sermonizing keys. Mis-credited to Phillip Fraser on the label.

Horatian worries on the wicked E20 rhythm.

Characteristically masterful singjaying; duetting with himself, for added dancehall vibes. The message calls for self-respect to be tempered by humility… probably a bit rich coming from KK. Sick rhythm.

Tough dubs of a clued-up selection of Techniques rhythms, from 1976, including Stalag, Cheer Up Black Man, and Johnny Osbourne’s interpretation of The Delfonics’ Ready Or Not. Ace.

Tough, late-80s UK steppers, with a Mad Professor dub.