RE-ISSUE LONG PLAYERS UPDATE OCT 06

There is nothing like flicking through endless lines of long players, unearthing gems  and getting your hands on some weighty Ja press albums but there are always going to be releases that you can either not find or are put off by the sometimes obscene amounts of money being asked for them. Certain companies have taken it upon themselves to start re-issuing hard to find releases as well as lovingly putting together compilations of those labels whose output has not been as prolific as others. Quite a bit of Studio one material especially seems to get re-pressed in quite small quantities and these tend to appear and disappear quite quickly, the following records should be around for a little longer.

VARIOUS-PSALMS OF DRUMS-THE BLACK AND WHITE STORY.(Pressure Sounds) Is a prime example of an overdue release. Black and White were an awesome label constantly releasing quality material, but as far as I know lacking a definitive collection such as this. Talk about starting in style, in comes King Tubbys ‘Psalms of Drums’ (in my opinion, Tubbys greatest piece) then the album continues with strong tracks from Dillinger, Bobby Kalphat, Michael Scotland and finishes of f with the discomix to end all discomixs’ (and a big favourite at Revival Pressure) ‘Let me go girl’ by Carlton Pattetrson, Lloyd Parks and Trinity. A must buy release.

Straight into VARIOUS-BLACK SLAVERY DAYS. (Honest Johns) This is a collection of tunes from the Parish of St Annes, birthplace of Bob Marley and Winston Rodney. The tunes have a similar sound to Burning Spears mid to late 70’s output, with a horns section of Vin Gordon, Herman Marquis and Bobby Ellis, you should expect a thick horns soaked sound. One of the most important producers in reggae’s history has to be Joe Gibbs. There are quite a few compilations of his early work, but now I am going to focus on his work at the latter end of the 70’s.

JOE GIBBS AND THE PROFFESIONALS-NO BONES FOR THE DOG. (Pressure Sounds) is a truly overdue collection of the Mighty Two (Joe Gibbs and Slyvin Morris) version to tracks released on the Mighty Two, Joe Gibbs, Town and Country and Joe Gibbs other labels. Effect drenched versions to tunes like Naggo Morris classis ‘Su su Pon Rasta’, Trinity’s ‘John saw them coming’ and Cultures ‘Jah see them a come’. Where as producers like Tubbys, Jammys and Lee Perry will always be remembered for championing versions, the one of the Mighty Two deserve a release as good as this.

VARIOUS-JOE GIBBS PRODUCTIONS. (Soul Jazz) contains treats like ‘Jah Jah see the a come’ by Culture, ‘Identity’ by the Mighty Diamonds and the tracks ‘Three piece suit’, ‘Kingston Two Rock’ and ‘Starkey and Hutch’ by Trinity. Joe Gibbs productions always carry a good sound and he brings the best out of all the artists he dealt with. Staying with Soul Jazz Records’ long list of Studio One compilations, I have picked out two.

VARIOUS-STUDIO ONE DEEJAYS. (Soul Jazz) is a wpnderful collection of some of the best deejay sides recorded by Coxsone Dodd. ‘Rockfort Shock’ by Prince Francis, ‘Natty Kung Fu’ by Dillinger and ‘The Answer’ and ‘The big Match’ by Lone Ranger should be enough by anyone’s standards. Very well presented with some early photos of Mr Dodd and the featured artists.

VARIOUS-STUDIO ONE SCORCHER. (Soul Jazz) is a collection of all those riddims still rightfully being versioned today. From the select musicians that graced the Brentford Road Studios, you should know what to expect. With the sad passing of Dennis Brown recently, it is only fitting some of his hard to find material sees the light of day.

DENNIS BROWN-THE PROMISED LAND. (Blood & Fire) is a re-issue of the ‘Josephs coat of many colours’ album along with some odds and ends thrown in for good measure. Starting off in awesome style with ‘Emmanuel’ and carrying on with tunes like ‘Troubled World’, ‘What about the half’, ‘Slavemaster’, ‘Cup of tea’ carrying on through ‘Don’t want to be no general’ with its Ranking Dread deejay cut and ending with the dub you never want to end, the version to ‘Emmanuel’. A fitting tribute. A label very important certainly in th UK at the end of the 70’s and well into the 80’s was Greensleeves and they have recently had the good sense to re release some of the excellent albums they have had hidden away. Numerous long players came out, the stand out album for me was

RANKING JOE-WEAKHEART  FADEAWAY. (Greensleeves). Being widely recognised as being an important force in the 70’ and 80’s deejay business I have always felt there is one hell of a compilation just waiting top be released. Whilst this is not really that, it is a collection of Ranking Joes Channel One sides. Using riddims like ‘Joy within our hearts’ by the Wailing Souls, and the title track which is a Revival Pressure favourite toast to the Junior Byles classic ‘Fade away’, this is a very good collection (if a little short).

Another label who decided to re release their quality material is Virgin’s Frontline label. Again, numerous releases to choose from. I have choosen

TAPPA ZUKIE-TAPPA ROOTS. (Frontline). Containing many of his late 70’s sides like ‘Oh Lord’, ‘Satta’, ‘Rastaman Skank’ and ‘Greenbay Murder’ and finishing off with the classic ‘Simpleton leave violence’, this comes very highly recommended. Also from the same label     

U BROWN-YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN. (Frontline). This is U Brown at his energetic best. Containing classics like ‘Weather Balloon’, ‘Tie and Dye’ (also known as ‘Hold on’ over Gregory Issacs ‘Storm’ riddim) and ‘Row fisherman, row’. This is a prime slice of 70’s deejay work. It’s often overlooked, but there was a lot of very good roots sides released in the UK  and some of those gems are featured on

VARIOUS-DON’T CALL US IMMEGRANTS. (Pressure Sounds). This is full of tip top sides from these very shores. ‘Rat a cut bottle’ by Lion Youth, ‘Gimme African love’ by the African Brothers and the mighty Revival Pressure favourite ‘Hard times’ by Pablo Gad all showcase this countries talent with that distinctive UK sound. If you haven’t already, give it a try. One of the most important figures in the UK roots scene has to be one Jah Shaka and I am glad to see a lot of his recording output has been recently re-issued. On the dub side of things, check out 

JAH SHAKA-COMMANDMENTS OF DUB PT1. (Jah Shaka Music). This is Shaka bone shaking dubs on vinyl. Starting off with that famous siren, we are treated some some excellent dubs from the King of UK sound. On the vocal side of things, we have

JAH SHAKA-MY PRAYER. (Jah Shaka Music). I don’t think Jah Shaka gets the credit he deserves for his vocal releases. Pure chanting style, steppers tunes like Rasta ‘Deh Ya’,  ‘Rise and Shine’ and the title track demonstrate the mans versatility. Where as everyone should already have U Roys ‘Version Galore’ album (what with it being one of the greatest albums released), Trojan came up with the brilliant idea of releasing that long player with many of the vocal original that daddy Hugh Roy is toasting over.

U ROY & FRIENDS-VERSION GALORE. (Trojan) contains vocals like ‘True,true,true’ by Ken Parker, ‘The tide is high’ by the Paragons and ‘Do it right’ by The Three tops as well as U Roys versions of them. Genius!  For more rocksteady madness check out Trojan’s Tommy Mccook compilation

TOMMY McCOOK-REAL COOL. (Trojan) contains two sides. One of his 60’s and 70’s ska and rocksteady instrumentals and then forward to the 70’s with some prime slices of rockers material. You can not underestimate the influence Mr McCook had on the progression of reggae through the years. Also just out of press but still about is the ‘Down on Bond Street’ collection of his work also from Trojan. There is an awful lot of dub being re-issued, most of it just re-packaged versions of tunes you already have and a lot of it ‘not what it say’s on the tin’, so I always approach new dub releases with some caution.

Well worth checking out are

KING TUBBY’S-FREEDOM SOUNDS IN DUB. (Blood & Fire). This is a collection of Tubby’s version to Freedom sounds releases. Always a bonus on any Freedom Sounds 7, it is a high quality collection indeed. Wall shaking dubs to tunes like ‘Come Ethiopians’ by Phillip Fraser, Earl Zero’s ‘Shackles and Chains’ and the all time dub classic ‘Great stone’ which is a version of the Prince Alla classis ‘Stone’. Certainly not just another dub release. Also highly rated here at Revival Pressure is

NINEY THE OBSERVER-SLEDGEHAMMER DUB. (Motion). This is a collection of Nineys dubs to mainly Dennis Brown tracks like ‘Westbound Train’ and ‘So Long Rastafari’. The vocals are good enough and the fierce dubs are well worth checking out. As we are talking dubwise, another producer who produced some awesome dubs was one Ossie Hibbert. Steve Barrow’s Hot pot label have recently released not one, but two Ossie dub long players.

REVOLUTIONARIES-EARTHQUAKE DUB. (Hot Pot) is the first I will look at. Upfront and in your face dubs to tracks like ‘Judgement time’ by Junior Ross and the Spears are good enough, but it’s the two versions of Dennis Brown’s mighty ‘Whip them Jah’ that leave you struggling for breath.

OSSIE HIBBERT-LEGO DUB. (Hot Pot) is a bit more of a laid back release. Big Riddims all the way here. The pick of them being the Gregory Issacs classic ‘Storm’ riddim as well as a number of other recognisable riddims for your listening pleasure.

THE UNIQUES-WATCH THIS SOUND. (Pressure sounds) is a comprehensive collection of one of reggae’s big outfits boasting the vocals of one Slim Smith. Lovely, sweet voiced rocksteady all the

Way. Tunes like ‘My Conversation’, ‘Gypsy Women’, ‘Never let go’ all classics. Every track a thriller, no filler. The Wailing Souls were responsible for some of the strongest material to come out of Studio One (Check out their Studio One album if you can find it) so it should have been of no surprise that their Channel One output would have been of the same standard.

WAILING SOULS-AT CHANNEL ONE. (Pressure Sounds) is a re-issue of the Best of album released on the US label, Empire, but with added versions and deejay cut added for good measure. Tracks like ‘Joy within our hearts’, ‘Jah give us life to live’, ‘War’ complete with the Ranking Trevor deejay cut, ‘Things and Time’ and the all time Shaka favourite ‘Very well’ complete with rumbling version are prime time 70’s roots at it’s very best.

Another demonstration of classic Channel One roots sides is demonstrated on

EARTH AND STONE-KOOL ROOTS. (Pressure Sounds). Although their output was never as prolific as other outfits, the quality never fell short of excellent. Some show stopping tunes like ‘False Ruler’,  ‘In time to come’, ‘Three wise men’ and ‘Jailhouse, set me free’ are included here and just for good measure, Pressure Sounds have given us the dub lp for combine with the vocals. How kind! Like the U Roy ‘Version Galore’ release, Bob Marley’s prime time recordings for Lee Perry should already have pride of place in your record collection, but Trojan have released them in bulk just for your convenience.

BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS-TRENCHTOWN ROCK. (Trojan)  contains 51 tracks of pure Wailers quality. Tunes like ‘Sun is Shining’, ‘Duppy Conqueror’, ‘Mr Brown’, ‘Dreamland’ and the title track just seem to get better every time you listen to them, proving the genius of not only Bob Marley, but Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and the rest of the Wailers. Lee Perry’s productions are also featured on

LEE PERRY-PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY THE UPSETTER. (Pressure Sound). An absolute peach of an album containing Black Ark classics like ‘I Man Free’ by King Burnett, ‘Bike no licence’ by Easton Clarke and the Meditations classis ‘House of Parliament’. A true greatest hits collection completed by the dubs in their unmistakable Black Ark style. Every now and then an album comes out and you wonder why it has remained hidden for so long. This is the case with

U ROY-THE LOST ALBUM (Sound System/Heartbeat). This is Daddy U Roy at his best. With a nice laid back feel, U Roy rides some of the best Channel One riddims. ‘Ali Baba’, Ronnie Davis’ ‘No weak heart’, Mighty Diamonds ‘I need a roof’ all get a U Roy blessing in what I can only assume is a collection of specials for King Attorney Hi-Fi (due to the amount of references to that sound). Lost album indeed! An absolute classic. Thankfully found now.