Collected here are versions cut by U-Roy for the Treasure Isle label in the late-60s and early-70s alongside a second disc that features all of the original songs that he versioned. A total of 58 platters. All of which are essential. “Wake the town and tell the people, about this musical disc comin’ your way…”
U-Roy & Friends - Version Galore; Trojan, 2003
Two immensely captivating albums by Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré.
Rokia Traoré – Bowmboi; Nonesuch, 2004
Rokia Traoré – Tchamantche; Nonesuch, 2009
You Better Believe It! is a trawl through the pick of 70s Modern and Rare Soul across all the Warner’s labels, and the standard is never less than excellent throughout. Selected by Richard Searling and showcasing many ultra-rare, but keenly sought-after 45s with the majority appearing on album and CD for the first time.
You Better Believe It! Volume 1; Rhino, 2004
You Better Believe It! Volume 2; Rhino, 2006
São Paulo Confessions, the brilliant debut from the legendary Suba. While his production credits are laced upon many other artist’s albums, this record, filled with beautiful compositions throughout, would sadly be the only credited solely to him due to his untimely death from a fire in his São Paulo apartment just a few days after the album’s release. Read more about Suba’s works and life here.
Suba - São Paulo Confessions; Ziriguiboom, 1999
Checkin’ out the intimidating weather system that moved in at sunset while on the way back from Mu Koh Hong, Krabi. We were bookin’ it across the choppy water on that longtail to get back to Tubkaak safely. Areas seen are Koh Yao Yai, Koh Phi Phi (in the distance), Koh Poda, Koh Kai, Railay, Ao Nang, Nopparathara, Khlong Muang, Tubkaak and back north towards Mu Koh Hong (an archipelago).
Rare and unreleased Afro-beat and Afro-funk sides from the great Moussa Doumbia. A Mali-born saxophonist, arranger and composer who made Abidjan, Ivory Coast his home where he recorded for Société Ivoirienne du Disque. Downright raw and dirty grooves.
Moussa Doumbia – Keleya; Okiri, 2006
A case of confusion at Tesco Lotus in Lamai, Koh Samui.
Came across these bottles of gin while shopping at Tesco Lotus recently. The bottle reads “Uncle Tom Gin. White Spirit: The Spirit of Thailand.” It also says “Product of Thailand” yet the background graphic is a picture of Big Ben in London. Huh? Totally dumbfounded when I saw this one. Hope they do their research before trying to branch out to the U.S. market. Especially the Dirty South.
‘Bout to drop the needle on this new wax from Saravah Soul. Stoked to hear what it has to offer as their debut from a few years back stayed in heavy rotation. No doubt that the impeccable taste of Tru Thoughts and the diverse sounds this group can create will show up again in these grooves.
Saravah Soul – Cultura Impura; Tru Thoughts, 2010
Maximum Sound drops some killer versions of Johnny Clarke’s “Blood Dunza”, the wicked rough rockers tune released by Bunny Lee in 1977. The collection of three 7″s features the following. Click the links for samples.
Sizzla b/w The Agrovators (extended sample)
Lutan Fyah b/w I-Octane (extended sample)
Yami Bolo b/w Dean Fraser (extended sample)
In loving memory of the one and only Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott who passed away late last evening. He first made a name for himself on the Kingston scene as part of The African Brothers in the early 70s. After they disbanded in 1974, Sugar Minott moved into the Studio One stable at the tender age of 18 to lace his vocals over the treasured riddims of old. It was during this time that he showed his vocal prowess to the world and it was during this time that he honed his microphone skills that would lead him to become one of the first dancehall deejays.
While he has led an immensely successful career throughout the late 70s and 80s; nothing, in my opinion, tops the tunes found on the record below, At Studio One. Sugar Minott was inspired by the great Dennis Brown, the Crown Prince of Reggae who cut his first record, ‘No Man Is An Island, at the age of 13. Given this inspiration for the voice of the youth, he founded the Youth Promotion/Black Roots Soundsystem which has been solely designed to let the ghetto youth be heard. Enjoy the version and remember the man!
Sugar Minott – At Studio One; Soul Jazz Records, 2005
Herman Chin Loy always had a sound that was as distinctive as any in reggae. Specialising in the quirky and the offbeat, his Scorpio and Aquarius labels were responsible for some of the most innovative instrumentals in Jamaican music.
He was actually making instrumental records under the name of Augustus Pablo before a skinny young kid called Horace Swaby turned up in his shop holding a melodica! Herman took him to the studio and gifted the name Augustus Pablo on the young Swaby. The rest is history.
Based in his Kingston record shop at Halfway Tree and deejaying at some of Kingston’s coolest clubs, Herman was perfectly placed to pick up on the ’street’ vibes of many of his young, hip customers in the early seventies.
What we have here are some of the liveliest and funky reggae music that was ever made with a handful of vocal tracks including cuts from Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown and, the little known, but very talented, Archie McKay. Intros are served up by the likes of Dennis Alcapone and Herman himself. A delight from start to finish.
Aquarius Rock – The Hip Reggae World of Herman Chin-Loy; Pressure Sounds, 2004
Been searching for the first disc to this set for about five years now after some muthafucka stole the stereo outta my car with it inside at the time. Much to my delight, I finally came across it a week ago. I’ve had it steadily mashin’ up the hi-fi since with its roots vibrations. Riddims employed in the first set are “Real Rock”, “A Love I Can Feel”, “Sacrifice”, “King Pharaoh’s Plague”, “Rent Man”, “Matches Lane” and “Step It Up Youthman” among others. Here’s the details of the collection.
Roderick “Blackbeard” Sinclair, older brother of Tapper Zukie, is one of the most unassuming of Jamaica’s great reggae producers, and he continues to issue occasional singles on his Mr. Tipsy label some 30 years after he began as an apprentice to Bunny Lee. Blackbeard’s productions feature solid singing and bright, dub-like textures. This double-disc collection is the first extended release of Blackbeard’s work on CD, and it shows a producer who knows his performers well and always puts the spotlight on the song itself. There are a few straight dub tracks scattered through the set, but Blackbeard’s A-sides have such a dub feel in the first place that they seamlessly blend together.
Various Artists – Blackbeard Production: Too Much Iron in the Fire; Trojan, 2004
You’d have a job categorising Funny Funky Rib Crib. While ostensibly it’s a jazz record, Lancaster and his ensemble are hardly ones to fixate on a single genre, and so in addition to encountering the straight up swing and flailing funk of “Dogtown” there’s a quality to “Loving Kindness” that’s at once suggestive of George Gershwin and old-time spirituals. Also, there are some truly mindblowing guitar licks on “Work And Pray” – a real technical tour de force accompanying a contrapuntally languid, bluesy vocal.
Byard Lancaster – Funky Funky Rib Crib; Palm, 1974
Picked this collection up from eMusic years ago. I think it was exclusive to eMusic since I can’t find anything about it. Anyways, it gathers up a bunch of Ubiquity’s 12″s and puts them on a two-disc set. Check the track list here. Apologies in advance, but track two of the first disc is missing. Send it over if you got it.
Various Artists – Ubiquity 12s; Ubiquity, 2001
