Irresistible 1950s mento — singalong tunes, ebulliently performed, over-spilling with scandal, smut and impudence, sex, dancing and booze, word-play, jokes and up-to-the minute social commentary, and general love for life.
Tremendous, tormented, abject vocal to Melody Maker, with a heavy dub — for the label Hudson co-ran with Gleaner journalist Balford Henry.
Via the safe hands of Dub Store in Tokyo.
Monumental Tubbys digi terror. Tougher than Lee Van Cleef. Heavier than lead and cold as ice.
Melting, copybook Lovers Rock from 1977.
Willie Lindo, Harold Butler Robbie Lyn and co at Federal. Marcia Griffiths on backing vocals. A classy Waiting In Vain.
Buoyant anthem to ghetto people boutiques.
You can get anything on Princess Street, ‘from a pin to an anchor… Just have some cash, and you will conquer.’ Not like Orange Street, which is always getting shut down by plod.
Transfixingly stone-faced dub, for all hard-core Channel One massive.
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.
First time out for this plaintive roots, recorded at Tuff Gong in 1979, and featuring Wailer Al Anderson’s fine acoustic guitar playing.
Limber, improvisational twelve-minute version, never before released, complete with an instrumental cut.
Nine minutes of Tuff Gong jazzy dread, set to the b-line Bunny copped for Amagideon.
Black Ark recording.
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.