ALL TIME TOP VOCAL AND DEEJAY LONG PLAYERS

Where as the multiple record stores tend to concentrate on currently selling artists, a visit to a good independent store should uncover some gems. The next two pages are just my guide to the essential purchases. Far from being a comprehensive guide, these are just some discs that if you see them are worth picking up. Remember, where ever possible support the few remaining reggae specialist stores or stalls at record fairs. Its always nicer picking up tunes from people who know what they are taking about.

STUDIO ONE / TREASURE ISLE

DILLINGER - READY NATTY DREADIE. Though Dillinger is better known for his work for Channel One, this is my favourite Dillinger long player. Includes many top Studio One riddims including his version of the ‘Real Rock‘, ‘Bangarang‘ , ‘Full Up‘, ‘Freedom Blues‘, ‘Fever’ etc etc . They all get a going over. If you see it, buy it!

LONE RANGER - BADDER DAN DEM. There are plenty of Lone Ranger long players on the market, but this has to be the one. Hardly suprising that this is corking selection of Studio One riddims with the unmistakable sound of Lone Ranger deejaying like only he can. ‘Bobby Babylon‘, ‘Please be true‘, ‘Full up‘, ‘Real Rock‘, ‘Things come to bump’ are all here. Can’t, and doesn’t, disappoint. .

WAILING SOULS - WAILING SOULS. One of those albums you never get sick of listening to. An absolute peach of an album and highly underated release from Coxsone Dodd. They certainly weren’t the first vocal trio’s, but they were, in my opinion, as good as the Treasure Isle / Studio One super groups who made that style so famous. Included are ‘Back Out‘, ‘Fire Coal Man‘, ‘Things and Time’ (which they re recorded at Channel One) and ‘Row Fisherman‘, ‘Pack Up‘, ‘Run my people‘, ‘Thou shall not steal‘. Track after track of pure quality.

HEPTONES - ON TOP. Lovely collection of Studio One stormers from the Heptones who are one of the many great vocal trio’s to record at Brentford Road. Every track is wicked, but for me ‘We are in the mood’, ‘Party time’ and in particular ‘Equal Rights’ deserve to be called classics.

HORACE ANDY- SKYLARKING. It doesn’t take a genius to work out this is one of the best vocal albums released. Sir Coxsone producing one of the most distinctive voices in reggae music. Tracks like ‘Every Tongue shall tell‘, ‘See a mans face’ ( a big time favourite at Revival Pressure) and ‘Something on my mind’ are the best of a very good bunch.

PRINCE JAZZBO - CHOICE OF VERSION. Whilst Prince Jazzbo’s releases are of differing quality, this is one of the greatest deejay lp’s to come out of Brentford Road. Jazzbo riding riddims such as ‘Love me forever‘, ‘Fire coal man‘, a wicked version of ‘You don’t love me‘, ‘Rockfort rock‘, ‘Rain from the skies‘. You know what to expect.

BURNING SPEAR - ROCKING TIME. Stormer of a record from the ever-burning Spear. Mr Dodd was the first to see the potential and the fact they became possibly the best known roots outfits is testament to that decision. Tracks like ‘Call on you’, ‘Foggy Road’, ‘Swell Headed’ and they are just the first three tracks! Quality.

DENNIS ALCAPONE - FOREVER VERSION. All you need to say about this release is that it is Dennis Alcapone on Studio One riddims. That should be enough. All the big boys are here. ‘Nanny Goat’, ‘Run run’, ‘Baby Why’, ‘Love me forever’ all get a going over in predictably fine style. A true deejay classic.

JOHN HOLT - LIKE A BOLT. Lovely little release this. Full of Treasure Isle classics. ‘Ali Baba’, ‘I see your face’ and the Revival Pressure favourite ‘Tonight’ are all here. With such a wonderful voice, John Holt gifted us many good long players, but in my humble opinion, this is the best.

U ROY -  VERSION GALORE. What a release! Every tune a thriller ,no filler on this release. Some of Duke Reid’s biggest riddim’s with Daddy Hugh Roy giving us a demonstration of why he is called ‘The teacher’. The Melodians ‘You have caught me’, The Paragons ‘Only a smile’, Alton Ellis’ Girl I’ve got a date’ and my favourite The Tenors ‘Hopeful Village’ are all blessed by Daddy Hugh Roy on this never beaten, essential long player.

PARAGONS - ON THE BEACH. Wicked release of classics by The Paragons featuring one John Holt. Stormers like ‘Tide is high’, ‘Only a smile’ and ‘Happy go lucky girl’ demonstrate the utter beauty of the Rocksteady vocal trio style. Treasure Isle at it’s very best.

ALTON ELLIS - MR SOUL OF JAMACIA. A collection of the great Alton Ellis’ treasure isle material. Tracks like ’Breaking up’, ’Remember that Sunday and not forgetting ’Aint that loving you’  beat even Mr Ellis’ Studio One work, which is very strong enough

GREGORY ISSACS - MR ISSACS. The Cool Ruler at his best. Produced by Ossie Hibbert. All corking tunes with a really nice, full sound that made 70’s roots the force that it was. ‘Get Ready’, ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Set the captives free’, the mighty ‘Slavemaster’ as well as one of the greatest riddims ever produced ‘Storm’ makes this an essential purchase. Gregory Issac’s soft voice suited this style so well.

MIGHTY DIAMONDS - RIGHT TIME. Quite simply, one of the greatest records ever released. Jamaica’s trademark vocal harmony sound carried itself through all the era’s of reggae and embraced the ’rockers’ sound of Channel One as well as it did in days gone back. All on big, big Revolutionaries riddims, this is rockers at its very best. Every track is a stormer, although ’Have Mercy’ is one of those tracks you can never hear enough. Essential.

DENNIS BROWN - SOME LIKE IT HOT. Thankfully for us, there are a number of  top notch Dennis Brown long player releases around. This is a collection of Mr Brown’s work with Niney the Observer, quite a combination! ‘Westbound train’, ‘My time’, ‘So long Rastafari’ and the title track are top tunes, that would grace any session. A collection of classics.

BURNING SPEAR - MARCUS GARVEY. One of the most important artists in the reggae world, with an unmistakable and original sound still evident in his work today. This is one great record. Produced by Jack Ruby, with lovely, full sound c/o some of reggae’s greatest musicians. Always completed by top-notch horns (Vincent Gordon, Dirty Harry, Bobby Ellis and Herman Marquis on this record), tracks like ‘Old Marcus Garvey’, ‘Give me’, ‘Marcus Garvey’ and the dance stopper ‘Slavery days’ makes this one of the most important records from the mid 70’s.

JUNIOR ROSS & THE SPEARS - BABYLON FALL. Where as I never feel Tappa Zukie receives the credit he deserves as a deejay, his producing skills were hardly lacking either. This is Tappa Zukie producing a wicked vocal group from the Greenwich Farm area of Jamaica. Filled with stormers like ‘Send me over there’ (a favourite at Revival Pressure), ‘Judgement time’, ‘So Jah Jah say’ etc, etc.

YABBY YOU - DELIVIER ME FROM MY ENEMIES. Vivian Jackson was responsible for some truly excellent roots music, with a very individual and instantly recognisable sound. This release contains the title track, which is indeed a mighty enough tune, as well as ’Judgement time’, ’Blood ago run down King Street’, ’Zion Gate’ aka Judgement on the Land and  the lovely ’Lonely me’. All wicked tunes.

STEEL PULSE - HANDSWORTH REVOLUTION. Proving that good roots can come from somewhere apart from Jamaica, this is a brilliant long players from Birmingham’s Steel Pulse. With a very British sound, this is still hard roots. Brilliant harmonies and well constructed tunes. ‘Prodigal Son’, Ku Klux Klan’ and the title track all give a very good account of UK roots at its best.

DILLINGER - CB 200. The original Raggnampiza, Ranking Dillinger’s strongest long player. His versions of Gregory Issacs ‘Sunshine for me’, Rod Taylor’s ‘Bad man come’, and one of the rockers era’s greatest riddims Ronnie Davis ‘No weak heart’ as well as the excellent ‘Lick chalice inna Buckingham Palace’. Top deejay release.

TRINITY - 3 PIECE SUIT AND THING. Why one of the big re-press labels have not got their hands on this release is baffling to me. An absolute peach of a record, crammed with the cream of Joe Gibbs produced riddims and one of the most accomplished deejays of the time, this is truly a top, top demonstration of ate 70’s deejay business at its best! Starting off with a wicked version of the ’Java’ riddim, carrying on with versions of ’Queen Majesty’, ’Baba boom time’, a big favourite here ’John saw them coming’ over a wicked version of the ’Hypocrites’ riddim, ’Rockfort Rock’ and the title tack which is the all time classic ride over Marcia Aitkens ’I’m still in love’ tune. Unbeatable.

TAPPA ZUKIE - LIVING IN THE GHETTO. Highly underated deejay and one of my personal favourites, this is quite some collection of classis. Kicking off with ’Oh Lord’ riding Gregory Issacs ’Storm’ riddim, an update of the ‘Simpleton leave out badness’ tune and the steppers special ‘Freedom Street’ makes this a very special release .

DOCTOR  ALAMANTADO - BEST DRESSED CHICKEN IN TOWN. This is a collection of Dr Alimantado’s finest work from Tubbys, Black Ark and Channel One, so it should be no surprise that there are no weak tracks to be found. His versions of Horace Andys version of ‘A Quiet Place’ and my favourite from this album, a wicked version over Gregory Issac’s thumper ‘Thief a man’. Essential.

LONE RANGER - M16. The very late 70’s/early 80’s brought a lot of deejay releases, few of which really reached the heights of the previous half decade. Lone Ranger’s M-16 long player is one fantastic exception. Lovely, fat Roots Radics style sound and slower pace suited Lone Ranger’s delivery. All tracks are stand-outs, but ‘Fist to Fist’ is regularly on the Revival Pressure play list. Lovely bouncy early 80’s deejay madness!