Review: Originally released under the name The English Beat in 1982, this album sees the Two Tone experts spreading their wings and incoporating African vibes and jazz into their revolutionary sound. It's joyful, party-fuelling stuff but usually with a social message snuck in for good measure, which is just how we like it. Throw in some bonus studio and live tracks on this double deluxe RSD version and it really can't be Beat.
Review: During Wellington's cultural renaissance, The Black Seeds emerged as trailblazers and soon hooked in audiences with their energetic live shows and earning a reputation as summer festival favourites. In 2004, they blended funk and soul into their signature roots-reggae style to create this, their second studio album which became not only a Triple Platinum album but also a defining moment in modern New Zealand music history. Featuring three hit singles and including the Quadruple Platinum anthem 'So True,' this record embodies the Kiwi summer spirit and Gareth Moon's accompanying video with the band cruising sunlit locales in a classic Holden wagon only cemented that legacy.
Dennis Bovell Dub Band - "Suffrah Dub (Sufferer Sound Disco 45)" (6:03)
Pebbels - "Positive Vibrations" (3:46)
Cosmic Idren - "Compelled" (3:38)
Dennis Curtis - "Come With Me" (3:21)
Matumbi - "Dub Planet" (4:14)
African Stone - "Run Rasta Run" (2:50)
Matumbi - "Fire Dub" (5:38)
Errol Campbell - "Jah Man" (3:53)
Young Lions - "Take Dub" (5:01)
Dennis Bovell/Janet Kay - "Game Of Dubs" (4:53)
African Stone - "Dub Choice" (3:34)
Angelique - "Cry" (4:07)
DB At The Controls - "Crying" (4:29)
Review: Dennis Bovell's Sufferer Sounds vinyl compilation showcases an essential chapter in his diverse career, focusing on his contributions from 1976 to 1980. With 15 tracks, including a rare dub mix of Janet Kay's celebrated Silly Games, all meticulously restored and remastered at Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin. The vinyl edition brings a fresh and clear sound to these tracks, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the warmth and depth of Bovell's arrangements. Renowned for blending genres, Bovell's exceptional production skills shine throughout this collection. Accompanying the music are insightful notes by Bovell that provide reflections on each track's creation. The sequencing of the album takes the listener on a compelling journey through his emotive and dynamic music, revealing the depth of his talent. One of the best compilations we have heard in some time.
Review: Dennis Brown's No Man Is An Island is a prime example of the reggae legend's emotive vocals and unmatched delivery. His voice, laden with warmth, effortlessly conveys the song's message of self-reliance, bolstered by Studio 1's signature rhythmic backdrop. The track's production features tight drum patterns and rolling bass, creating a captivating groove that allows Brown's soulful performance to shine. On the flip, 'Going To A Ball' brings a change of pace, with its lively horns and upbeat tempo, showcasing his versatility. Both tracks capture the essence of Brown's contribution to reggae, marking him as one of the genre's most enduring and influential figures.
Review: First released in 1972, this authentic and essential reggae album showcased the most popular tracks recorded by a young Dennis Brown under the guidance of renowned producer Derrick Harriott. The third album in Brown's career, Super Reggae and Soul Hits marked a significant turning point and helped to establish him as a versatile singer-songwriter capable of crafting deeply soulful music. It highlighted his ability to connect with an adult audience as he explored the interaction of reggae with soul influences, emotional depth and musical maturity. This album played a crucial role in solidifying Brown's reputation as one of reggae's most influential artists so remains an essential part of his story.
Review: 1978 was a standout year for the great Al Campbell, with five album releases across various labels. This particular album, originally released on Phil Pratt's Terminal label, was originally released in 1981 and stands as one of his most notable. It features powerful roots tracks like 'Foot Stool,' 'Soul Sister' and 'No More Running' which combine militant rhythms with Campbell's soulful vocals fusing conscious reggae and emotional depth. It is a true classic of its genre that now comes on nice coloured wax that looks as good as it sounds.
Review: A key figure in Jamaican music who first gained recognition with The Uniques before branching out as a solo artist and producer. By the late 60s, he'd honed his skills in arrangement and keyboard-driven reggae, culminating in Reggae Is Tight and Reggae Charm. Reggae Is Tight bursts to life with the insistent chant of '5 to ', riding a thick organ groove. Charmers reinterprets The Uniques' 'Watch The Sound' as the flowing piano instrumental 'Follow This Sound'. He transforms classics like 'Blue Moon' into reggae gems, while 'Psychedelic Reggae' leans into dubby echo effects. The album thrives on tight, dancefloor-ready rhythms, with 'Stronger' capping off the set in style. His deal with Trojan Records led to Reggae Is Tightia stunning example of his keyboard prowess over driving, fast-paced rhythms. Blending infectious organ grooves with classic boss reggae energy, the album captures the golden era of Jamaican sounds. Now reissued as a limited edition on orange vinyl, Reggae Is Tight remains an essential listen for vintage reggae enthusiasts, highlighting Charmers' innovative touch and deep influence on the genre.
Review: If you like your reggae true to the original sound then this one is likely already long on your want list. It's a stone-cold classic from Dillinger that was one of the great DJ albums for Studio One back in the mid-1970s. It is packed with classic rhythms that were all produced with the expert guidance of Clement Dodd. Ready Natty Dreadie features non-stop highlights such as 'Pretty Looks' and 'Ten to One', the weighty low end of 'Full Up' and the magical top lines of 'Creation Rebel'. A crucial reissue.
Review: This brilliant 1980 debut release by the The English Beat set them on course to become one of the most influential groups to emerge from the British Two Tone Ska movement. This album is wall-to-wall bangers and showcases some of their very best tunes, with earworm melodies encasing punchy and irreverent lyrics. Opening cut, 'I Confess' is a case in point: "Just out of spite / I confess I've ruined three lives / Now don't sleep so tight." Musically, The English Beat had style, substance and the ability to baffle and challenge their heroes. Guitarist Dave Wakeling stumped guitar heroes with his "Dad-Odd" guitar tuning. It's said that Pete Townshend phoned Wakeling up and said: "I'm sitting here with David Gilmour and we're having a bit of trouble finding your tuning for 'Save It for Later'." A superb endorsement for The English Beat, who grew up inspired by The Who and Floyd.
Review: You can probably work out what's going on here from the title: a superb collection of reworked Hall & Oates classics inna reggae style. They are the fine work of Black Market Dub who likes to reimagine classic sounds through a 70s Jamaican lens. The techniques used throughout are superbly authentic with hissing hi-hats, lazy tumbling beats and snaking baselines. The vocals remain in their original, often polished, falsetto style and extra horns are added for a lush sunny impact. Great fun, but also great quality.
Review: The image of a reggae singer "floating around in the sun" is a peculiar one. Are we orbiting the sun, or are we *inside* said seething sphere? Perhaps only the Invaders crew could could keep their cool in such heat. An elusive Jamaican reggae band active from 1967 - and not to be confused with an early avatar of the band Madness - this four-year retrospective compilation spans the bulk of the Invaders' best work between 1970-74, in which time they made some of their most brilliant records, in the estimation of label collaborators DKR. Having managed to license a portion of the band's output for reissue (as well as their other incarnations as Splenders and Stepping Stones), and hearing anecdotes about the band from this or that person, DKR never managed to track them down directly, despite this reissue. Of course, it doesn't help that one of the front cover images really does resemble a composite missing persons sketch! Sleuthing efforts reveal untimely deaths by members, but luckily founding Invader Delroy "Bongo Pat" Forde is still around - and as 'Conquering Lion' intones, "he will return as a conquering lion, and rule...". The record is seemly, tinged with gospel, and seesaws between religious tones ('Holy Mountain') and an instrumental, cartoon charm ('African Safari').
Review: Released in 1991, Forever brought together the sage dubwise forces of Wiss, Skelly and Apple - who were joined by the Roots Radics, and produced under Doctor Dread's guidance - for a recorded, controlled pandemonium laid down at the Lion & Fox Studios in Kingston. The Jamaican reggae group, formed in the 1970s, assembled as a merry band of brothers in the lyrical nascences of 'Poor Man Cry', 'Soldier of Jah Army', 'Reggae On The River' and 'Red Eyes', all of which feature here. Reissued on vinyl for the first time since 1991 and on CD for the first time since 1996, both formats have been remastered to provide the perfect listening experience for this legendary album.
First We Take Manhattan (with Dr Ring Ding) (4:15)
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (with El Bosso) (3:56)
Love Is A Losing Game (with Susan Cadogan) (4:24)
Winning Streak (with King Django) (3:52)
Top Of The World (with Dr Ring Ding & Stephanie K) (4:04)
Something (with Horacio Blanco) (3:04)
Such A Shame (with Mick Clare) (4:06)
No Rain (with Dr Woggle & Dr Ring Ding) (3:41)
Review: Germany is not usually associated with reggae - unless we have missed something - but several of the country's finest musicians came together to form The Lock Downers. They have dropped plenty of useful digital singles in there last few years and here they all get collated onto one new album that fuses myriad reggae styles. Dr Ring Ding is the man who assembled this crew and he features on the wonderful cover of 'Billie Jean' while plenty of other superb reggae versions of the classics take in 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' and 'Basket Case' amongst others.
Review: Bob Marley remains a towering figure in world music many years after his death. His work to popularise reggae around the world is never likely to be equalled, which is why we keep on coming back to his grand canon. This label in particular has done a fine job of shining a light on it. After the success of Trenchtown Rock, Small Ax, and All in One, here comes the final chapter of this quadriptych of albums dedicated to Marley's musical legacy. It's a jam-packed collection that mixes up incandescent grooves with universal messages and takes in plenty of his lesser-known jams on a nice acid-yellow vinyl.
Review: A formative moment in the Wailers' illustrious career and, as the title of the album would suggest, a pivotal record in reggae history, marking the Wailers' evolution into a socially conscious powerhouse. Originally released in 1970 under the production genius of Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the album features the Wailers' transition from ska roots to the deeply introspective and groove-laden sound that would define their legacy. Now reissued on striking blue smoky vinyl, this release offers fans a beautifully remastered glimpse into the early brilliance of Marley, Tosh, and Livingstone. From the hypnotic title track 'Soul Rebel' to the r&b-infused 'Try Me', the album ability to blend heartfelt lyrics with understated yet compelling instrumentation. Tracks like 'My Cup' and 'Souls Almighty' exude a raw charm, with Perry's minimalist production accentuating the trio's vocal harmonies and the dominant, pulsating basslines. Tosh's contributions, including the reflective 'No Sympathy' and the urgent '400 Years', add depth and edge to the record, balancing Marley's easygoing delivery with a sense of defiant purpose. Despite its stripped-down approach, Soul Rebels brims with atmosphere, offering an entrancing listening experience.
Review: This electrifying 1973 live broadcast captures Bob Marley & The Wailers during their US tour supporting the Burnin' album. Originally aired on KSAN-FM, the set showcases the legendary lineup of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Aston "Familyman" Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Earl "Wire" Lindo and Joe Higgs, all of whom were at the peak of their powers. The album takes in standout cuts from Burnin', including unforgettable contributions from Tosh and the performance follows their short-lived stint touring with Sly & The Family Stone. It's an unfiltered, visceral document of reggae history in the making that reflects the Wailers' seismic impact just before they exploded into international stardom.
Review: Veteran Wackie's artist and reggae don Coozie Mellers returns with a fresh ten-track long player that bridges the label's deep roots heritage with modern reggae sensibilities. It blends crisp digital rhythms with heartfelt lovers' rock and roots textures and features the standout track 'You Move', which was previously released as a 10" single in 2015. Mellers' vocals are beautifully soulful and glide over the smart dubwise arrangements and bring a mix of both warmth and grit, with jams like 'Special Friend' unfurling slowly and seductively and 'Your Love Is Dangerous' being sentimental heart swellers.
Review: The debut album by The Melodians is a rare 1970 release that offered up the smooth, effortless vocals of the iconic Jamaican reggae supergroup which was formed by Tony Brevett, Trevor McNaughton and Brent Dowe. Focused on their collaboration with legendary producer Leslie Kong, this newly remastered album features ten of their most beloved tracks for Beverley's Records. The title track, 'Rivers of Babylon' was made famous by Boney M and was a favourite of Jimmy Cliff as well as appearing in his film The Harder They Come. This album is essential listening for early reggae lovers.
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