freeskafoundation

Among the highlights is the original ’67 extended take of Prince Buster’s “A Tribute To The Toughest” aka "Ghost Dance" with Buster delivering a message and paying homage to his departed “rudeboy” friends…Tell them, music is the food of love, so I forever sing on....baah tuff!” 

 Also included are alternative takes of Buster's "Dark End of the Street" (a soul original by James Carr), Buster Allstars -"Come Get Me", Winston Samuels "I'm Still Here", a beautiful rock steady track with Larry Marshall on backing harmonies. You also have Buster covering songs from the likes of - James Brown "Bring It Up" (Clap Your Hand), Beginning Of The End "Funky Nassau" (Funky Jamaica), The Clovers "Don't You Know I Love You So".....Buster loved good songs when he heard them! Lee Perry makes an appearance with "Call On Me"....."so get my number - 6453708, just ask for the whup whop man!...". Prince Buster and Teddy Charmers also feature on the album with two previously un-released gems - "Got To Be Free" and "All My life" both recorded in '69. The great Gregory Isaacs one and only recording "Dancing Floor" is also included for your musical pleasure. Last but not least, "Black Soul" by Prince Buster Allstars from '69, a beautiful horns instrumental from the early reggae era! 

Prince Buster still remains one of the most iconic figure in Jamaican music and his music will forver live on.

Tracklist: 

1. Funky Jamaica - Prince Buster

2. Clap Your Hands - Prince Buster

3. Got To Be Free - Prince Buster

4. Black Soul - Prince Buster & His All Stars

5. Dark End Of The Street - Prince Buster

6. All In My Life - Teddy Charmers

7. Tribute To The Toughest - Prince Buster

8. Call On Me - Lee Perry

9. Don’t You Know I Love You So - Prince Buster

10. Dancing Floor - Gregory Isaacs

11. I’m Still Here - Winston Samuels

12. Come Get Me - Ernest Ranglin

Format - FLAC 

DWLD 

The Coming of Jah: Anthology 1967-76 Review by Steve Leggett

A gifted and versatile singer, Max Romeo's first big hits ("Wet Dream," "Wine Her Goosie") played with slack themes, but as this two-disc anthology from Trojan shows, he grew into more mature and spiritual territory.

 High points here include his one-off with producer Willie Francis, "Maccabee Version," released in 1970, and three solid songs for producer Winston "Niney" Holmes, "The Coming of Jah," "Rasta Bandwagon," and "Beardman Feast.

"Babylon's Burning," produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry, is another high point here. 

Romeo did his best work with Perry, leading to the masterful album War ina Babylon, which was released in 1976 and falls just out of the reach of this anthology. 

Listeners curious about Romeo should pick up that album first and then investigate this set, which traces the steps that led up to his masterpiece.

Tracklist: 

1.No Use To Cry

2.Rude Boy Confession

3.I Can't Do No More

4.I'll Buy You A Rainbow

5.I Don't Want To Let You Go

6.Soulful Music

7.Careless Hands

8.Put Me In The Mood

9.My One Girl

10.Walk Into The Dawn

11.Indeed I Love You

12.Wet Dream

13.Wine Her Goosie

14.I've Been Looking Back

15.Blowin' In The Wind

16.Sweet Chariot

17.Love Oh Love

18.Michael Row The Boat Ashore

19.The Horn

20.Let The Power Fall On I

21.Don't You Weep

22.Macabee Version

23.Black Equality

24.Holla Zion

25.Don't Be Prejudice

Disc Two

1.Jordan River

2.Rent Man

3.Chi Chi Bud

4.Ginalship

5.Aily And Ailaloo

6.The Coming Of Jah

7.Beardman Feast

8.Rasta Band Wagon

9.When Jah Speak

10.Fling Fire Stick

11.Babylon's Burning

12.Public Enemy Number One

13.Two Faced People

14.Pray For Me

15.Bald Headed Teacher

16.Murder In The Place

17.Everybody Watching Everybody

18.Sexy Sadie

19.Evening News

20.Hole Under Crutches

21.Nobody's Child

22.My Jamaican Collie

23.No Joshua No

24.Mr Fix It

25.I Man A African

FORMAT- FLAC 

DWLD 

Tracklist:

Big Youth - Cool Breeze

The Ethiopians - Good Ambition

I Roy - Tougher Than Tough

The Crystalites - Tougher Than Tough (Version)

Derrick Harriott - Slave (12" Version)

Big Youth - Dock Of The Bay

Augustus Pablo, Big Youth & The Crystalites - Bass and Drum Version

Dennis Brown - Concentration

The Ethiopians - No Baptism

Bongo Herman & Les Davis & Bunny - Know For I

Bongo Herman, Les & Bunny - Know For I (Version)

Dennis Brown - He Can't Spell

Augustus Pablo - Bells Of Death

Scotty - Draw Your Breaks

U Roy - Penny For Your Dub

Bongo Herman & Les Davis & Bunny - We Are Praying

FORMAT - FLAC 

DWDL 

1.Dennis Alcapone–D.J's Choice

2.Dennis Alcapone–The Funky Tang

3.Dennis Alcapone–Picture On The Wall

4.Lizzie & Dennis–Cry Tough

5.Natural Youth–Jungle Skank

6.Lizzy–Tricks Of The Trade (I See Your Face) (Version)

7.Dennis Alcapone–Wake Up Jamaica

8.Lizzy–Love Is A Treasure

9.Lizzy & Dennis–Ba Ba Ri Ba Skank

10.Dennis & Lizzy–The Right Song

11.Dennis Alcapone–Engine Engine Number Nine

12.Dennis Alcapone–The Wedding Song

13.Dennis Alcapone–Rock To The Beat

14.Dennis Alcapone–Love Is Not A Gamble

15.U-Roy–Super Boss

16.Dennis Alcapone–Teach The Children

17.U-Roy–Do It Right

18.U-Roy–True True

19.Dennis Alcapone–The Great Woggie

20.Dennis Alcapone & Hopeton Lewis–Judgement Day

Format -Flac 

CD, Compilation, Reissue 1995 

DWLD 

1.Techniques - Man Of My World 02:10

2.Techniques - Time Has Come 01:56

3.Techniques - You Are My Everything 03:07

4.Techniques - What Am I To Do 02:23

5.Techniques - Where Were You 02:36

6.Techniques - Just One Smile 02:35

7.Dave Barker - Your Love Is A Game 02:24

8.Techniques - Lonely Man 02:29

9.Techniques - I Feel Alive Again 02:16

10.Techniques - Heart Of A Man 02:05

11.Mad Lads - So Afraid 02:24

12.Techniques - The Reason Why 02:36

13.Mad Lads - I Never Know 02:20

14.Mad Lads - Mother Nature 02:14

15.Shades - She's Gonna Marry Me 02:10

16.Shades - Never Gonna Give You Up 02:07

17.Techniques - Silhouette 02:28

18.Techniques - Travelling Man 02:29

19.Dave Barker - Your Own Thing 03:01

20.Techniques - War Boat 02:17

Format : Flac 

DWLD 

Lloyd Willis & The Destroyers - Mad Rooster

The Inspirations - Ease Up

The Inspirations - Wet Dreams

The Inspirations - Why Do We Laugh At My Calamities

The Inspirations - Samfie Man

Ken Parker - Only Yesterday

Lloyd Willis - Reggae Fever

The Inspirations - Bongo Nyah

The Inspirations - Who You Gonna Run To

The Inspirations - Sweet Sensation

The Inspirations - Fattie Fattie

Lloyd Willis & The Destroyers - Liquidator

Joe Gibson & The Destroyers - Franco Nero

The Inspirations - Take Back Your Duck

The Destroyers - Niney Special

The Immortals - Perfect Born Ya

Joe Gibbs & The Destroyers - Rock The Clock

The Inspirations - La La

Joe Gibbs & The Destroyers - Money Raper

The Inspirations - The Train Is Coming

The Destroyers - Danger Zone(Only Yesterday Instrumental)

The Inspirations - Man Oh Man

The Destroyers - Hijacked

The Inspirations - This Message Is To You

The Destroyers & Count Machuki - Franco Nero Version 2

The Immortals - Red Red Wine

Format : FLAC 

DWLD 

Tracklist:

1. Soul Syndicate - Zimbabwe [Extended Mix]

2. Observers - Come Dub

3. Dillinger - Nebuchadnezze

4. Observers + Bobby Ellis - Head Shot

5. Observers - Last Call Version

6. Observers + Tommy McCook - One Train Load of Collie

7. Observers - Organ Satta

8. Scully, Bobby Ellis, Soul Syndicate - Doreth

9. Observers, Niney the Observer - Can't Enter Zion With Your Big Checkbook

10. Observers - Chapter Ten

11. Bongo Herman + Fay Bennett - Nosey Joe Version

12. Bottlehead - Bottlehead in Fine Style

13. Observers - Clean Heart Rasta

14. Observers + Tommy McCook - Zorro

15. Observers - Boiling Over

16. Observers - Beardsman Shuffle

17. Observers - Steam Pip

Format : FLAC 

DWLD 

1. Don't Stay Away (2:33)

2. (This Is) A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (2:50)

3. Tulips (And Heather) (3:09)

4. A Thing Of The Past (2:42)

5. Make Me Yours (2:20)

6. Leave It In The Hands Of Love (2:55)

7. Perfidia (2:46)

8. It's Rocking Time (2:49)

9. Nice Time (2:26)

10. I Wear His Ring (2:10)

11. Don't Touch Me Tomato (2:58)

12. Why Did You Leave Me (2:38)

13. Love Letters (2:38)

14. Love Is All I Had (2:46)

15. Boys And Girls Reggae (2:15)

16. Take My Heart (2:20)

17. The Right Track (2:28)

18. Walk Through This World With Me (2:15)

19. Remember That Sunday (2:37)

20. You Are Like Heaven To Me (2:05)

21. Living In Love (2:32)

22. Midnight Confessions (2:32)

23. Woman In The Ghetto (3:22)

24. I Can't Forget About You Baby (3:05)

25. Picture On The Wall (2:43)

26. Eddie Oh Baby (2:43)

27. The Love That A Woman Should Give A Man (3:28)

28. We Belong Together (2:54)

29. Love The One You're With (2:53)

Format : M4A 256klps 

                                                                    DLWD

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