freeskafoundation

At the same time that Neville 'Bunny Wailer' Livingston recorded his debut solo long playing masterpiece, 'Blackheart Man', he was also creating a series of singles for his own Solomonic label.

 These records were every bit as good, at times even better, but they have never been released outside of Jamaica. Until now…

It is next to impossible to ever overstate the importance of The Wailers to the history of Jamaican music and, as the last surviving member of the group, Bunny Wailer rightly regards himself as the sole keeper of their history ever mindful of the group's exalted position in the story of reggae music and the importance of their legacy.

 In 2010 Dub Store were proud to be able to work with Bunny on re-releasing a selection of his earliest recordings for the Solomonic label, lovingly restored and presented in reproduction sleeves and labels, on limited edition seven and twelve inch singles. Now, taking another step forward, we are more than proud to present Bunny's timeless music on two beautifully packaged CD's and double LP's.

01 The Gaylads - Peace, Love & Understanding

02 Ken Boothe - I Wish It Could Be Peaceful

03 Delroy Wilson - Gave You My Love

04 Bruce Ruffin - Dry Up Your Tears

05 The Pioneers - Samphie Man

06 The Melodians - Sweet Sensation

07 Toots & The Maytals - Monkey Girl

08 The Gaylads - Cold & Lonely Night

09 Bruce Ruffin - Ooh Child

10 The Melodians - It Took A Miracle

11 Ken Boothe - Drums Of Freedom

12 The Pioneers - Driven Back

13 Toots & The Maytals - Peeping Tom

14 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Caution

15 The Gaylads - Don’t Listen To The Rumours

16 Bruce Downer - Free The People

17 The Pioneers - Money Day

18 The Melodians - Let’s Give Praise & Thanks

19 The Gaylads - There’s A Fire

20 Ansel Collins - Sentimental Journey

Released : 1997 

Format : Flac 

DWLD

Tracklist:

 1.Rita Marley & The Soulettes–(You're) My Desire

2.Joya Landis–Kansas City

3.Phyllis Dillon–Don't Touch Me Tomato

4.The Webber Sisters–It's You I Love

5.Dawn Penn–I Let You Go Boy

6.Nora Dean–Barbwire (O Mama)

7.Judy Mowatt & The Gaylettes–Zipa Dee Do Da

8.Dorothy Reid–Work It

9.Ken Parker & Dorothy Russell–Sincerely

10.Girl Satchmo–Take You For A Ride

11.Nora Dean–Angie La La (Ay Ay Ay)

12.Joya Landis–When The Lights Are Low

13.Hortense Ellis–Unexpected Places

14.Carole Cole & Sister P (Aisha Morrson)–Ethiopia

15.Cynthia Richards–Aily I

16.Hortense Ellis–With All My Heart

17.Phyllis Dillon–Something

18.Dorothy Reid–Give It To Me (All Your Love)

19.Joya & John– I'll Be Lonely

20.Derrick Morgan & Hortense Ellis–I'm Gone

Released : 2008

Format: Flac 

DWLD

Pick Up the Pieces Review by Nathan Bush

The story of Roy Cousins and the Royals is, sadly, a fairly common one in Jamaican music. 

The body of work the group released between the years 1973 and 1979 rightly places them amongst the finest vocal acts of the roots era. Yet the failure of various producers and distributors to support the group, and constant changes in membership, led to their eventual obscurity outside of a relatively small group of reggae collectors. Thankfully, Pressure Sounds has sought to remedy this situation with this enhanced restoration of the group's classic 1977 debut, Pick up the Pieces. 

Though the Royals toured the usual Jamaican studio circuit, recording for Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, and others, it wasn't until Cousins began funding and supervising the group's sessions that their music was given the necessary space to develop on record. 

What followed was a string of stunning, heartfelt releases showcasing the tight harmony singing of the shifting lineup, including "Ghetto Man," "Promised Land," "Only for a Time," and the classic title track. The U.S. soul stylings of the Drifters and the Temptations were an early influence.

 This explains in part why these titles are some of the most musically sublime expressions of Rastafarian faith and the hardships of ghetto living Jamaica has produced. Cousins moved to the U.K. in the late '70s and left the group shortly thereafter to focus on producing, thus ending an important chapter in the group's history. This reissue, then, is a much-needed testament to his work, made even more valuable with a host of bonus cuts appearing for the first time on CD.

 Another gem in the Pressure Sounds catalog.

Tracklist. 

01 - Pick Up the Pieces

02 - Ghetto Man

03 - Heart in Pain

04 - Only Jah Knows

05 - Sufferer of the Ghetto

06 - If I Were You

07 - When You Are Wrong (version 1)

08 - When You Are Wrong (version 2)

09 - Promised Land

10 - Message

11 - Only for a Time

12 - Genuine Way

13 - Blacker Black

14 - Peace and Love

15 - Facts of Life

16 - If You Want Good

17 - Make Believe (version 1)

18 - Make Believe (version 2)

19 - Leave out of Babylon

20 - Down Comes the Rain

Gussie presenting:  The Right Tracks, a 40-track set, remastered, which chronicles the work of producer Augustus “Gussie” Clarke with such notables as Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Augustus Pablo, Leroy Smart Jacob Miller and more.

Clarke’s very first production for I-Roy (one year after producing Big Youth’s Screaming Target) is a well-imagined and even better-performed response to Big Youth’s debut. I-Roy’s “Magnificent Seven,” signals that the young Clarke was a talent to be reckoned with.  Clarke kicked I-Roy’s career into high gear with “Magnificent Seven” and the follow-up “High Jacking” and the pair seemingly could not stop making hits.  It is Gussie Clarke who gives the most eloquent deejay of the time a harder edge and a sense of bravado that is unchecked on I-Roy’s debut album Presenting. The album is bubbling over with Gussie-produced hits and still stands as one of reggae’s greatest time capsules, hailing a period when Jamaican deejays would take shots at each other at every opportunity.  Iron Sharpen Iron.

He would go on to produce noteworthy, even classic albums for the likes of Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Mighty Diamonds, Cocoa Tea, and countless others earning his place in reggae history alongside the great producers like Lee “Scratch” Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, King Tubby and other giants.  Gussie Clarke is a giant even among giants.

DISC 1

The Right Track – Tommy McCook

Guiding Star – Leroy Sibbles

Scorch Special – Simplicity People

Gussie Special – Simplicity People

Classical Illusion (12” Version) – Augustus Pablo

Oh No I Can’t Believe – Gregory Isaacs

Believe A Dub – Augustus Pablo

Love You To Want Me – Horace Andy

Girl Don’t Come – Jacob Miller

Lying Lips – Leroy Smart

Schnectady’s Shock – Simplicity People

Logan Street Rock – Simplicity People

How Can I Love Someone – Delroy Wilson

Delilah – Horace Andy

Born To Love You – The Heptones

Born To Dub You – Augustus Pablo

Born To Dub You Pt. 2 – Simplicity People

Their Own Way – Dennis Brown

Pride And Ambition – Leroy Smart

Pride Version – Old Boys Inc.

DISC 2

Try Me – Roman Stewart

Leggo Beast – I Roy

Rhythm Style – Simplicity People

Stardom – Augustus Pablo

No, No, No – Leroy Sibbles

Magnificent Seven – I Roy

Origan Style – Augustus Pablo

K. G.’s Halfway Tree – Simplicity People

High Jacking – I Roy

Skylarking – Augustus Pablo

Skylarking 2 – Augustus Pablo

The Killer Version – The Society Squad

My Time – Gregory Isaacs

Funny Feeling – Dennis Brown

Danger In Your Eyes – The Mighty Diamonds

Danger In Your Dub – Tommy McCook

Black Foundation – Augustus ‘Gussie’ Clarke

Proud To Be Black – Mikey Dread

Love The Daughter – Trinity

Peace Can Solve It – I Roy

Released :2014 

Format: FLAC 

I Had A Dream

Come Down

I Am Holding On

You Belong To My Heart

Taller Than You Are

Mother's Choice

I Love You Truly

If You Were Only Mine

(Let Me) Dance With You

Iron Bar

Mattie Rag (Aka Ol' Matilda)

A Mother's Love

Downtown Gal

You'll Never Know

I'm In The Mood For Ska (Aka I'm In The Mood For Love)

A Dash Of The Sunshine (Calypso)

Got To Have You Baby (Gordon)

China Man (From Montego Bay)

Yellow Bird

Island In The Sun

Jamaica Farewell

Shame And Scandal (In The Family)

Rainy Night In Georgia

Friends Will Let You Down

Ol' Fowl

Released : 2007

Format : Flac 

DWLD 

Rita Wailer & The Soulettes – Play Play

1.Rita & The Wailers–Play Play

2.The Soulettes–Bring It Up

3.Rita & The Wailers–Lonely Girl

4.TheJustice Leagues–This World

5.Rita & The Soulettes–Why

6.Rita & The Wailers–Give Her Love

7.The Soulettes–My Desire

8.Rita & The Wailers–Give Me A Ticket

9.Rita Marley–When The Festival Is Over

10.Rita & The Soulettes–Friends & Lovers Forever

11.Rita & The Soulettes–Let It Be

12.Rita & The Soulettes–I've Been Lonely

13.Rita Marley–Rainbow Island

14.Rita & The Soulettes–Sylvia's Mother

15.Rita & The Soulettes–I Do

16.Rita Marley–Put Your Hand In The Hand

Released:2004

Format: Flac

DWLD 

The Tide Is High: Anthology 1962-1979 Review by Steve Leggett

Sweet-voiced singer/songwriter John Holt has been working professionally in the Jamaican music business since 1958, and his recorded legacy is a long one, with several peaks and valleys, but when he is on his game, and when he is working with a producer who cares about quality as well as commercial viability, he is arguably the greatest of Jamaica's balladeers. 

This two-disc, 50-track set from Trojan tells at least part of that story, beginning with Holt's wonderful work with the Paragons in the 1960s and continuing on through his subsequent solo career, which found Holt ranging from roots rock to string-drenched MOR fare and then transitioning effortlessly into the dancehall era. Although far from perfect, this interesting set does a wonderful job at profiling Holt's prolific output, managing to hit significantly more peaks than valleys along the way. Among the gems here are the early Paragons' hits "On the Beach" and "The Tide Is High" along with several solo sides where Holt is at his best, including "Never Hurt My Baby," "Have Sympathy," the truly eerie "Strange Things," an amazing Jamaican version of "Stagger Lee," and Holt's own "Up Park Camp," a brilliantly re-imagined and personal version of the Heptones' "Get in the Groove." 

Again, this collection doesn't tell the whole story of Holt's half-century long career (it covers the years 1962 to 1979), but it does show that the singer has more grit to offer than his smooth public image would suggest, and while there are plenty of love songs here, there is also some edgier material, too.

Tracklist: 

1-1.John Holt–Forever I'll Stay

1-2.The Paragons–Happy Go Lucky

1-3.The Paragons–On The Beach

1-4.The Paragons–Only A Smile

1-5.The Paragons–The Tide Is High

1-6.The Paragons–Wear You To The Ball

1-7.The Paragons–Talking Love

1-8.The Paragons–My Best Girl

1-9.The Paragons–Silver Bird

1-10.The Paragons–Memories By The Score

1-11.The Paragons–Left With A Broken Heart

1-12.The Paragons–Got To Get Away

1-13.The Paragons–My Satisfaction

1-14.John Holt & Joya Landis–I'll Be Lonely

1-15.John Holt–Tonight

1-16.John Holt & Tyrone Evans–Equality & Justice

1-17.John Holt–Ali Baba

1-18.John Holt–Never Hurt My Baby

1-19.John Holt–Share My Rest

1-20.John Holt–Have Sympathy

1-21.John Holt–Don't Break Your Heart

1-22.John Holt–Fat Girl, Sexy Girl

1-23.John Holt–Stealing Stealing

1-24.John Holt–Love I Can Feel

1-25.John Holt–Sometimes

1-26.John Holt–Let's Linger A While

2-1.John Holt–My Heart Is Gone

2-2.John Holt–Strange Things

2-3.John Holt–Sister Big Stuff

2-4.John Holt & Leroy Sibbles–Let's Build Our Dreams

2-5.John Holt–Riding For A Fall

2-6.John Holt–Stick By Me (And I'll Stick By You)

2-7.John Holt–Pledging My Love

2-8.John Holt–Looking Back

2-9.John Holt–Stagger Lee

2-10.John Holt–Anymore

2-11.John Holt–(Land Of) Ecstasy

2-12.John Holt–Don't Break Your Promise

2-13.John Holt–The Further You Look

2-14.John Holt–Help Me Make It Through The Night

2-15.John Holt–Dusty Roads

2-16.John Holt–In The Springtime

2-17.John Holt-Let The Wicked Run Away

2-18.John Holt–Up Park Camp

2-19.John Holt–Ghetto Girl

2-20.John Holt–Don't Fight Your Brothers

2-21.John Holt–You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

2-22.John Holt–Rock With Me Baby

2-23.John Holt–(I'm Just A) Country Boy

2-24.John Holt–You Are Everything To Me

Format: Flac 

DWNLD

Tracklist: 

 1.Rico & The Rudies–Session Begin

2.The Hippy Boys–Capo

3.George Lee–Burial Of Long Shot

4.Selwyn Baptiste–Mo' Bay

5.Boris Gardiner–Memories Of Love

6.Crystalites*–Bombshell

7.Vin Gordon–Liquid Horns

8.Tommy McCook–The Saint

9.The Dynamites–Phantom

10.Sound Dimension–Soul Food

11.Lloyd Charmers–Ling Tong Ting

12.The Aggrovators–The Sniper

13.JJ All Stars–Memphis Underground

14.Tommy McCook–Dance With Me

15.Joe White–Jucky Jucky

16.Ansell Collins* & G.G. All Stars*–Atlantic One

17.Lynn Taitt & The Jets–Love Me Forever

18.Herman Marquis–Tom's Version

19.The Upsetters–Cheerio

20.Larry McDonald & Denzil Lang*–Name Of The Game

21.The Tennors–Copy Me Donkey

22.Drumbago*–Flute Flavour

23.Winston Wright–Heads Or Tails

24.Augustus Pablo–Great Pablo

25.Harry J All Stars*–Border Song

26.Tommy McCook–Eight Years After

27.Music Doctors–Wild Bunch

Format: Flac 

DWNDL

Duke Reid’s nephew Errol Brown (not related to the late Hot Chocolate vocalist of the same name) got his start as a junior sound engineer at his uncle’s legendary Treasure Isle studio.

 As both the studio and label passed into the hands of Sonia Pottinger as the Duke’s health declined, Brown made his first tentative steps in production and 1975’s Dubb Everlasting was the result. 

Three years later Dub Expression followed. 

Now Brown’s work in Dub production is almost forgotten, but although he did not have the work-rate of King Tubby or Joe Gibbs, he did focus on releasing quality material in those mid-70s years that marked the high water of Dub.

 Key to this success was the crack outfit from the Channel One studio, the Revolutionaires. Featuring the eminent talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare to name but two, the band’s expansive skill, taste and restraint is evident and contributes to the success of the two albums we have here.

These records clearly marked out Brown as a talent to watch and eventually, through finding an advocate in the form of Marcia Griffiths, he entered the inner circle of Bob Marley and his Wailers.

 Leaving Treasure Isle to join Marley’s Tuff Gong studio, he engineered the Wailers’ Survival and Uprising albums which were big commercial successes.

 He also played a part in taking Marley and his band back towards a rougher sound after Island Records’ efforts to smooth them over into the Rock arena. Brown also worked with the Wailers on live dates and enjoyed further hit records manning the boards for the likes of Third World and Burning Spear. 

More recently he’s also worked as live sound engineer for Shaggy and Ziggy Marley.

Tracklist: 

01. Babylon Dubbing (3:06)

02. Escape Affair (2:47)

03. Biblical Dub (2:17)

04. Easy Locks (2:55)

05. Living Strings (2:38)

06. Eva A Dub (2:00)

07. Marigunna Affair (2:36)

08. Dub Due (2:18)

09. Winning Dub (1:54)

10. 37 Orange Street (2:17)

11. Spinning Dub (5:10)

12. The Gun Court Dub (3:36)

13. Ital Stew (4:08)

14. Super Tracks (3:20)

15. Dread At The Controls (3:32)

16. Ghetto Dub (3:32)

17. Ranking Marshall (4:20)

18. Down Town Thing (3:56)

19. Bond Street Rock (3:50)

20. Melodious Dub (3:14)

21. Mark Dis Yah Dub (2:39)

Format : Flac 

DWNLD

Let's Catch the Beat: The Music That Launched the Legend Review by Jo-Ann Greene

In on the ground floor, Robert "Dandy" Livingstone Thompson was instrumental to the spectacular growth and popularity of Trojan Records. 

Brought onboard as a stopgap, Dandy feverishly provided releases while the label heads busily head-hunted Jamaican producers. 

The singing producer was an astute choice by Trojan but the decision to sink money into full-priced, full-length albums was not; the reggae scene was singles-driven, and it wasn't until the second half of the '70s that a market for 33s came in. Thus, 1968's Follow That Donkey was a flop, as was its follow-up, Dandy Returns (in later years both were highly sought after by collectors).

 Trojan learned the lesson, and when Dandy's third 33, Let's Catch the Beat (credited to the Brother Dan All-Stars) was released in 1969, it was priced at a much more enticing 99p (less than the cost of two 45s), and swiftly turned into one of the label's biggest-selling records. 

The two-CD Let's Catch the Beat reissues all three albums in their entirety, while also rounding up all of Dandy's non-album A- and B-side 45s, including his productions, from 1968. Closely following the Jamaican scene, the artist immediately picked up on all the latest fashions emanating from the island, be it the rage for donkeys, ribaldry, or the new reggae rhythm. But even though all of Dandy's productions and arrangements were highly indebted to his homeland, he brought a distinctive British flavor to his records that set them apart from the originators. 

Dandy's first two albums may have remained in the shops, but the records themselves were a revelation, while his singles were sweeping through the British sound systems like blazing fire. Dandy would finally break out into the U.K. chart in the following decade, but long before that he was a superstar in the reggae community, Britain's own answer to Prince Buster, and just as influential. Kudos to Trojan for making these crucial records available to modern fans.

Mr. Perry I presume kicks off with the over looked 12’ version of George Faiths ‘Don’t be afraid’. Left off the classic ‘Super 8’ LP that George Faith recorded at the Black Ark. It’s slightly rougher around the edges than most of the material on that album. There’s Perry returning to ‘Words’ – that is also featured in accapella style.

 But it’s best to let the tracks speak of a creative mind in full flow. The album comes with an unusual cover photo that was taken by the actress Nathalie Delon (then partner of actor Alain Delon) who was on a visit to the Black Ark studios in the mid 1970s. 

The sleeve notes by Jeremy Collingwood focus on the UK sound system scene that Perry had become such an integral part of. His trips to the UK were frequent and he was amongst the small group of Jamaican producers that pioneered the development of Jamaican music in the UK. 

These trips were both profitable (cutting dub plates) and useful for picking up musical ideas to take back to Jamaica. Most of the material on Mr. Perry I presume is previously unreleased. An excellent addition to the previous Lee Perry albums on Pressure Sounds. As we continue to plug the gaps of one of the most innovative producers in popular music.

Tracklist:

1.George Faith - Don't be afraid (12'mix) 05:42

2.The Gatherers - Words (previously unreleased acapella mix) 02:04

3.Lee Perry & The Upsetters - Jah I (dub plate mix) 03:34

4.Joy White - Lay besides you 03:59

5.The Upsetters - Big bird skank 03:44

6.Noel Robinson - Along the way 02:22

7.The Upsetters - Along the way version 02:24

8.Lee Perry and the Upsetters - War and peace 04:17

9.The Upsetters (featuring Bob Marley) - Sun is shining 02:11

10.Peter and Paul with the Upsetters - Ethiopia Land 04:17

11.Keith Rowe and the Upsetters - Groovy Situation 04:31

12.Susan and Bunny - Keep on trying 02:59

13.The Upsetters - Police and dub 04:12

14.Keith Rowe and the Upsetters - Living my life 03:24

15.The Upsetters - Devils dub plate 03:35

16.Augustus Pablo and the Upsetters - Keep on moving 02:26

DWLD 

Don't Check Me with No Lightweight Stuff (1972-1975) Review by Jo-Ann Greene

Like most Jamaican stars, I-Roy was prolific to the point of deluging the market with releases, but unlike many other artists, most of his work during the apex of his career was all of decidedly high caliber. 

A box set is desperately needed to round up the best of his work during the '70s, but as that's unlikely, Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff is an excellent start. The title, incidentally, is taken from a spoken line in the intro to "Look a Boom," and is appropriate, as the set rounds up 16 heavy-hitting numbers. The collection draws exclusively from 1972-1975, the period between his breakthrough in Jamaica and his inking a deal with Virgin Records.

 Across this three-year period, I-Roy unleashed scores of singles, self-producing some while also cutting records for virtually every producer on the island. However, this is by no means a greatest-hits collection, as a number of the DJ's biggest smashes, "Black Man Time," "Monkey Fashion," and "Tripe Girl," are missing. However, you do get "Buck and the Preacher," an equal chart-buster, the seminal "Sidewalk Killer," and "Holy Satta," his Psalm-filled version of the Abyssinians' masterpiece, "Satta Massa Gana." 

One of I-Roy's many fortes was his thematic diversity, and his toasts ranged from Rasta-fired preaching inspired by the Psalms, strong societal messages, and chatty pieces on more popular concerns to sharp, rousing cuts aimed at firing up the crowds at the sound systems.

 This set showcases his versatility, his excitement at the latest black films ("Superfly" and the aforementioned "Buck and the Preacher"), keenness for literacy ("Sound Education"), condemnations of anti-social behavior ("Noisy Place" and "Hot Stuff"), and warnings to the wicked ("Double Warning" and "Hospital Trolley"). The DJ pays his respects to saxophonist Tommy McCook on "Sidewalk Killer," and offers comfort to a boxing great on the superb "Don't Get Weary Joe Frazier." Every one of the numbers boasts a superb musical accompaniment, all skillfully reworking rhythms into sizzling mixes that provide the perfect template for I-Roy's toasts. As one has come to gratefully expect from the Blood & Fire label, the album includes a sumptuous booklet, with a bio written from an interview with the late DJ, plus information on each track. By far, Don't Check Me is the best collection of the artist currently available.

Tracklist 

Sidewalk Killer

Hot Stuff

Buck And The Preacher

Ken Boothe Special

Black Talk

Look A Boom

Don't Get Weary Joe Frazier

Sound Education

Noisy Place

Fire Burn

Sufferer's Psalm

Superfly

Hospital Trolley

Double Warning

DWLD 

Recall does its typically great double-disc reissue thing and compiles a slew of sides by the Skatalites recorded originally for the Moonska label. The most amazing thing in the long life of this band is that the quality never suffered even when the recording techniques got better. There are numerous vocalists here including Laurel Aitken, Lord Tamano, King Bravo, and Doreen Shaffer, among others. The band plays more than its fair share of instrumentals, as well, and of course, the late, great Tommy McCook was in the house.

Tracklist: 

1.Freedom Sounds

2.Eastern Standard Time

3.Four Corners

4.Bridge View

5.Simmer Down

6.Sugar Sugar

7.Come Down

8.Confusious

9.El Pussycat

10.Freedom

11.Guns of Navarone

12.Phoenix City

13.In The Mood For Ska

14.Come Down

15.Bad Minded woman

16.Rude Boy Dreams

17.How They Laughed

18.The Man with the Big Trombone

Don Drummond

19.Golden Love

20.A Loving Princess Diana

21.Be Honest With Me

22.Can't You See

23.Toasters Back In Town

DWND 

Fy-Ah Fy-Ah: The Jad Masters 1967-1970 Review by Richie Unterberger

Despite being encased in a handsome box set featuring a 16-page booklet decorated with nice graphics, the rambling liner notes and other documentation don't give a totally clear idea of when the 68 tracks on this three-CD package were recorded, or (less forgivably) a totally clear context of how they fit into Bob Marley & the Wailers' career.

 It's more important to enjoy vintage reggae than to get upset about the historical details, however, and all you really need to know is that this material was cut circa 1967-1970, mostly for JAD (though there are a half-dozen sides identified as "Wail'n'Soul'm" versions, presumably indicating recordings done for their own Wail'n'Soul'm label). Most important of all, this is really first-rate early reggae music, from a juncture in the group's career that's been too ill-documented, despite having yielded much fine work.

 While relatively few of these songs will be familiar to many Marley/Wailers fans (an early version of "Stir It Up" and "Soul Rebel" being exceptions), it could be argued that at no other time did the band strike such an even balance between early reggae, lingering American soul influences, tender love songs, and stirring social consciousness. The production is for the most part pretty clear, and always lighter and more basic than the somewhat slicker recordings through which Bob Marley & the Wailers would rise to international stardom in the 1970s. 

Sometimes there's even a mild pop touch, particularly as non-Jamaican musicians (including guitarist Eric Gale, drummer Bernard Purdie, and jazzman Hugh Masekela) play on some of the cuts.

 Too, there's a real sense of these singers being a true group, even if Marley wrote the lion's share of the tunes, as there's so much effective give-and-take vocal harmonies among the Wailers (with Rita Marley's voice frequently heard in the mix). 

There are too many quality songs to specifically cite in one or two paragraphs, but "How Many Times," "Gonna Get You," "Freedom Time," "Fire Fire," "Rocking Steady," "Hypocrites," "Can't You See," and "Mr. Chatterbox" are all among the outstanding ones. As for less expected covers, you have the Archies' "Sugar Sugar," the traditional spiritual "This Train," and pretty nice American pop-influenced tunes written by JAD's Jimmy Norman and his collaborators, while emerging Rastafarianism can be heard in "Selassie Is the Chapel." Eight "versions," less essential than the fully vocalized renditions but nice for collectors to have, fill out the CDs, the last of which ends with a demo of "One Love, True Love" and a "Dub Plate special" of "How Many Times."

Tracklist; 

Fire Fire

Bend Down Low (Wail'n'Soul'm Version)

Freedom Time

Dem A Fi Get A Beatin'

Play Play

This Train (Wail'n Soul'm Version)

Funeral

Hypocrite

Mellow Mood (Wail'n'Soul'm Version)

Pound Get A Blow

Stir It Up

Thank You Lord (Wail'n'Soul'm Version)

Nice Time (Wail'n'Soul'm Version)

Bus Dem Shut

Steppin' Razor

Don't Rock My Boat

The Lord Will Make Away Somehow

I'm Hurting Inside

Chances Are (Wail'n'Soul'm Version)

Lyrical Satirical I-Versions

Hypocrites - Version

Mellow Mood (Wail'n Soul'm Version)

Thank You Lord - Version

Nice Time - Version

Sugar Sugar

Soul Shakedown Party

Cheer Up

Stop The Train

Soul Captives

Caution

Can't You See

Do It Twice

Soon Come

Go Tell It To The Mountain 

Back Out

Mr Chatterbox

Adam & Eve

Thank You Lord (Pounder Version)

Wisdom

This Train (Pounder Version)

Selassie Is The Chapel

A Little Prayer

Versions

Soul Shake Down Party (Version)

Soon Come (Version)

Mr Chatterbox - Version

How Many Times

Touch Me

Bend Down Low (1968 Version)

Rocking Steady

Soul Rebel

Nice Time (JAD Version)

Gonna Get You

There She Goes

Hammer

Stay With Me

Chances Are (JAD Version)

Treat You Right

Stranger On The Shore

Fallin In & Out Of Love

Mellow Mood (JAD Version)

Milk Shake & Potato Chips

Put It On

Splish For My Splash

The World Is Changing

What Goes Around Comes Around

It Hurts To Be Alone-Version

What Goes Around Comes Around - Version

Bonus

One Love, True Love (Demo)

How Many Times - Dub Plate Special

DWLD

                                                                       Tracklisting: 

1 Ethiopians (The) - Mother's Tender Care

2 Hugh Roy - Love I Tender

3 Mellolads - Chatty Chatty Mouth

4 Stranger Cole - Crying Every Night

5 Phyllis Dillon - Woman Of The Ghetto (alias In The Ghetto)

6 U Roy - Wake The Town

7 Dorothy Reid - All Your Love

8 Chosen Few - Boom Shaka Lacka

9 John Holt - Tonight

10 Eagles (The) (Reggae) - Rub It Down

11 U Roy - Rule The Nation

12 Dominoes (The) - Mighty Redeemer

13 Winston Jarrett - Ease Me Up Officer

14 Dennis Alcapone - Wake Up Jamaica

15 Melodians (The) - Passion Love

16 John Holt - Ali Baba

17 Lizzy - Love Is A Treasure

18 Phyllis Dillon - One Love To Give One Life To Live

19 Ethiopians (The) - Pirate

20 U Roy - Version Galore

21 Nora Dean - Ay Ay Ay

22 Dennis Alcapone - DJ's Choice

23 Alton Ellis - Remember That Sunday

24 Cynthia Richards - Ailyi

25 John Holt - I See Your Face

26 Hugh Roy - Wear You To The Ball

DWLD 

A gem of a lovers rock compilation spotlighting the UK's master producer, Neville King. "lovers Rock Revisited" is a new compilation series selected by Zunggu Zunggu, author of "lovers Rock Record Guide (Rittor Music)"! The first volume spotlights Neville King, a famous UK producer who is indispensable to the genre, and compiles a unique collection of his works from the 70's to the 80's. The album features many of the groups and singers unique to his label, such as One Blood, Blood Sisters, and Karen Dixon. This is a piece of music that is well worth listening to for beginners and experts alike.

A1 Unique - They Don't Stay Long

A2 Tony Hearne - Without Your Love I'd Go Crazy

A3 Sensations - Not My Baby

A4 Charisma - Open Up The Door

A5 One Blood - Come On Sister

A6 The Sadonians - The Day Will Come

B1 One Blood - Are You Ready

B2 Blood Sisters - What About Me

B3 Leroy Simmonds - At The Dance

B4 One Blood - Lady Lady

B5 Love & Emotion - Love Sweet Love

B6 Karen Dixon - It's Love That Makes A Woman

DWLD 

                                                                         Tracklist : 

1)King Alpha [The Beginning]

2)Dance Beat 1

3)Jump For Joy

4)Soul Language

5)Herbsman Shuffle

6)Lick It Back

7)Lee Van Cleff

8)On The Street

9)Vigorton Two

10)On Year

11)Fire Corner

12)I For I

13)In The City

14)Rub A Dub

15)Soud Of The 70's

16)Christmas Tree

17)King Of Kings

18)Queen Omega [The End]

DWLD

 Clancy Eccles - Freedom: The Anthology 1967-73. Clancy Eccles was one of the major producers of rocksteady, the Jamaican music style that built on ska and soon developed into reggae. Besides being an accomplished singer and producer, Eccles had deep political beliefs in the healing power of socialism, and he practiced what he preached, lending his voice to the cause, both political and interpersonal. Eccles helped Lee "Scratch" Perry set up his studio and did everything he could to help his fellow Jamaican musicians gain prominence during the 70s. He also apparently coined the term "reggae" from the slang term "streggae," which referred to a lady of easy reputation. This anthology, released by the amazing Trojan label, is uniformly excellent

Disc 1

What Will Your Mama Say - Clancy Eccles

Stay Loose - Hemsley Morris

Say What You're Saying - Eric Morris

C. N. Express - Clancy, Lee & Sticky

Oh My Lover - Clancy Eccles & Velma Mongal

Two Of A Kind - Clancy Eccles & Claudelle Clarke

I Did It - Winston Wright & The Dynamites

Please Stay - Larry Marshall & Alvin

My Lonely Days - Eric Morris

Easy Snappin' - Theo Beckford

Here Comes The Night - Busty Brown

Feel The Rhythm - Clancy Eccles

Let Us Be Lovers - Clancy Eccles & Velma Mongal

Deacon Don - Clancy Eccles

Don't Brag, Don't Boast (AKA Bagaboo) - Clancy Eccles

Last Call (AKA Tribute To Drumbago) - The Dynamites

Fattie Fattie - Clancy Eccles

Rodney's History - Carl Dawkins

I Don't Care - The Dingle Brothers

John Public (AKA Tom Hark) - The Dynamites

Sho Be Do - Clancy Eccles

Fire Corner - King Stitt

Mount Zion (We Want To Go Back Home) - Clancy Eccles & Noel 'Scully' Simms

The World Needs Love - Clancy Eccles

Vigerton 2 - King Stitt

Mr Midnight (AKA Skokiaan) - Winston Wright & The Dynamites

Africa - Clancy Eccles & Chorus

Foolish Fool - Cynthia Richards

Don't Mind Me - Joe Higgs & Ron Wilson

Disc 2

Dance Beat - King Stitt & Clancy Eccles

The Ugly One (AKA Lee Van Cleef) - King Stitt & The Dynamites

Freedom - Clancy Eccles

Kingston Town - Lord Creator

Holly Holy - The Fabulous Flames

I Fe Layo (AKA The Name Of The Game) - Larry McDonald & Denzil Laing With The Dynamites

Conversation - Cynthia Richards

Herbsman Shuffle (AKA Herbman) - King Stitt & Andy Capp

Phantom - The Dynamites

Love Me Forever - Barry & Affections

Zion - The Westmorlites

Love That Builds - Joe Higgs & Ron Wilson

Credit Squeeze - Clancy Eccles

Live And Love - Barry Wilson

Sweet Jamaica - Clancy Eccles

Unite Tonight - Clancy Eccles

Growing Up - The Fabulous Flames

Hi De Do - The Fabulous Flames

Rod Of Correction - Clancy Eccles

Teardrops Will Fall - The Silvertones

Power For The People - Clancy Eccles

Hallelujah Free At Last - Clancy Eccles

Send Me A Picture - Glen Ricketts

Ganja Free - Clancy Eccles

Stop The Criticism - Clancy Eccles

You Can't Be Serious - Tito Simon

People Can't You See - Third World 

DWLD