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The first Lee Perry-produced Wailers album, reissued in a glossy gatefold digipak by the Lilith label. This was essentially an expanded version of the Soul Rebels album from 1970, but the additional tracks like "Mr. Brown(1)" and "Duppy Conqueror(2)" make Rasta Revolution...
expand review even more potent. As the title suggests, this album found Bob, Bunny and Peter "affirming their spiritual commitment to Rastafari" and moving further away from their early, more traditional sound. It's evident in the soulful vibes on the album, and on the 3 bonus tracks that Lilith added to this reissue: "African Herbsman(3)," "Trench Town Rock(4)" and "Lively Up Yourself(5)." The liners don't mention anything about remastering but audio quality here is great. 16 tracks; 47 minutes total. -Larri Byrd
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If Soul Jazz's string of theme-based Studio One comps are getting a little heavy for you, reach out for this Winston Rodney retrospective. It captures a selection of tunes from both his incredible S1 albums (Rocking Time and the self-titled one), many...
expand review of them in alternate versions, and includes 3 extra cuts that were 7" only. Now if you are already familiar with those two albums and the power contained herein, you're also familiar with the absolute lack of quality pressings. Like all Studio One records, they have been repressed countless times over the years, most likely without changing the plates. While that scratchy hiss is an accepted setback, and an endearing comfort to seasoned collectors, it doesn't have to be that way folks. Lined up all together, these supreme tracks have never sounded better. The set begins with the track that would define the name "Burning Spear," his debut "Door Peeper(1)," in the original Supreme label 7" version. Cuts straight to the bone. The instrumentation throughout is this brand of restrained Studio One acoustics that lets Winston Rodney's voice and the vocal harmonizing fill the max amount of space. At the risk of sounding terribly corny, there is some truly spiritual stuff here. Check out the Coxsone dj version of "Rocking Time(2)," the masterful "Creation Rebel(3)," the necessary love song aberration "Down By The Riverside(4)," plus "Foggy Road(5), Swellheaded(6)" and "Get Ready(7)." The essential "Joe Frazier(8)" dub version of "He Prayed" is also included as one of the bonus cuts. This later in-house versioning is said to be Coxsone's answer the dancehall success Joe Gibbs had with Big Youth voicing over the rhythm for his "Big Fight" series of 7s. Pretty cool. 18 tracks total. -the mgmnt
The long-awaited (at least by us) sequel to Eleven's killer roots/dancehall mix from 2006 features even more hits -- both known and unknown, current and classic -- for you to, uhhhhh, relax to. Smooth mixing as always, never taking you out of...
expand review the vibe, with tracks by Jah Cure, Marlon Asher, Morgan Heritage, Collie Buddz, Ray Darwin, Tarrus Riley, Tony Curtis, Luciano, Mark Wonder, Buju, Sizzla, Chezidek, Tanya Stephens, Beenie, Assassin, Tinga Stewart and more. 45 tracks; 74 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
Warehouse find! Da'Ville is currently slaying reggae charts worldwide, but in 2005 he was cooking up this CD of collabos, exclusives and dubplates with Federation Sound's Curly Locks. It's got tracks like "Heaven" and "Lion Sleeps" plus many tunes exclusive to this...
expand review mix on riddims like Real Rock, Ali Baba, Free Up, Guillotine, Safe Sex and Baby Father, and guest spots from Vybz Kartel, Marcia Griffiths and more. Excellent summer listening. 39 tracks; 76 minutes. Limited stock. -Chris Lemon-Red
Reeeeewiiiiinnnddd!!!! 100% dubplate mix starring Philly's always hype Federation Sound System. For those who don’t know, dubplates are exclusive one-offs made specifically for a DJ or sound system, remixes of already popular songs which the original artists re-record with shouts to said...
expand review DJ or sound system (and sometimes shit-talking against rival crews). Obviously these are great for battles, but also for just general bragging rights and awesomeness if you are a DJ. I don’t usually love them, to be honest - they are often mad interrupted with tons of those shout outs and shit, and the original song is almost completely gone. But this mix is killer. The songs are still bangers and the dubs just amp them up, rather than getting annoying. 53 tunes of Federation exclusives here, all mixed with each riddim getting about four different dubs in a row. Starts off with Revolution, and includes tunes on riddims such as Answer, Bam Bam, and the classic Real Rock. Includes tracks by Sizzla, Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Half Pint, Luciano, Buju, Bounty Killer, Cham and many others. 53 tracks total, 72 minutes. -RikRok
Philly's Solomonic Sound and NY's Federation meet in an all exclusive, all dubplate, all specials mix! They take things pretty much head to head, trading off dubplates from all the biggest artists, with special versions of some absolutely monster tunes. The cd...
expand review is arranged by riddim, so you get stuff like a John Holt dub of "Police In Helicopter," followed by no less than 3 Capleton vocals over the same riddim. Shit gets real serious when they start heading into things like the Real Rock, Far East and Stalag and it's capped with a tune fi tune segment featuring insane versions of Sugar Minott's "Never Give Up," Sizzla's "Solid As A Rock," Buju's "Murderer" and much more. Partial artist list: Damian Marley (on the Truths And Rights riddim), Johnny Osbourne, Richie Spice, Bounty Killer, Sanchez, Marlon Asher, Anthony B, Chuck Fender, Yami Bolo (killer version of "Put Down The Weapon"), Beres Hammond, Luciano, Turbulence, etc. Extra points for the super cool throwback cover- recommended. -the mgmnt
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From Soul Jazz: "The Ragga Twins are the link between UK dancehall reggae, jungle and hip-hop. This is a retrospective of their classic (and now very rare) early tracks produced by Shut Up and Dance at the start of the 1990s. The...
expand review Ragga Twins (alongside producers PJ and Smiley, aka Shut Up and Dance) revolutionized UK dance music at the start of the 1990s bringing reggae and hip-hop styles together to create jungle. As drum and bass approaches its 20th anniversary and as new developments such as grime, UK garage, and most recently dubstep, create artists and producers who continue to cite jungle as a pivotal moment in the UKs musical history, Ragga Twins' Step Out chronicles one of the most important groups of this time. The Ragga Twins began their careers as MCs for North London's legendary Unity reggae sound system. The Ragga Twins were born after Shut up and Dance sampled the pair's introduction on a dancehall mix-tape and then offered them a deal. At the height of rave culture, the Ragga Twins found themselves playing at raves up and down the country. With one album (Reggae Owes Me Money) and a steady stream of killer singles over the next couple of years the Ragga Twins' musical blueprint of basslines, breakbeats and ragga defined Jungle music in the years to come. The album comes with extensive sleeve notes, photographs and interviews." 18 tracks on 2 CDs. -the mgmnt
Uh oh, Heavy Manners in the place! We don't get many culture or dancehall mixes anymore, but with the HM brand involved, plus Sizzla hosting, plus Tribe of Kings' Dash Eye holding it down on the mix, you know we had to...
expand review get our hands on this one. Fire 'Pon Dem is pure weapons grade, with Dash spinning all the biggest tunes on the most choice riddims: Kingston Town, Tear Drops, Funny Man, Gang War, Bad Dog, Air Waves, Gully Beans, etc. Skip at Heavy Manners also got Sizzla to record dubs of "Praise Ye Jah" and "Smoke The Herbs" down in JA, plus The Rub's DJ Eleven and our own Lab homies Snack & C'mish contributed exclusivo remixes. Includes songs from Movado, Alborosie, Collie Buddz, Busy Signal, Mr. Vegas, Sean Paul, Kiprich, Buju, Beenie, Tony Matterhorn, T.O.K., Ms. Thing, Cham, and of course plenty of Sizzla. Basically, this is heat. Over 40 tracks total. -Chris Lemon-Red
Damn, what to say about this one? It's pretty much automatic. The Rub's DJs Ayres & Eleven follow up their their solo reggae mixes (Sun Lovers & J.A. Goods) with this MEGA dancehall collab. Now, I thought I was up on my...
expand review dancehall classics, but I feel like one of those fucking fratboys who only owns Legend when I look at the back of this CD. Even if you know a lot of the artists here, I betcha most of the tracks will be unfamiliar. 68 tunes spread over two CDs, so getting into names would be kinda foolish... but here's some anyway: Buju, Sizzla, Pinchers, Wayne Wonder, Ini Kamoze, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Shinehead, Johnny Osbourne, Beenie Man, Super Cat, Cutty Ranks, General Degree, Spragga Benz, Shabba and lots (LOTS) more. Not to mention the Rub have stepped their duplication game up and these are two real (not CDR) discs in a jewel case... shrinkwrapped! Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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If you haven't kept up with the Honest Jon's / Basic Channel / Rhythm & Sound co-curated reggae & dancehall reissue label since its inception in 2004, this unmixed sampler will help get you up to speed with rare sides from the...
expand review likes of Jackie Mittoo, Gregory Isaacs, Courtney Melody, Prince Jazzbo, White Mice and more. The label doesn't concern itself with just one style, instead choosing to reissue everything from 70s roots burners(1) to obscure 80s digital dancehall hits(2) and even great 90s almost-were's(3). More samples from the sampler: White Mice's "Nothing Never Done Before The Time(4)," Jackie Mittoo's cosmic "Ayatollah(5)" and "Dealing(6)" from Mr. Isaacs. 16 tracks; 60 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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