The utterly brilliant Roy Samuel Reid at the top of his game, riding tougher-than-tough Nineys. Back in.
It’s a shame he doesn’t stick to his theme, instead wandering into auto-pilot, but we’d happily listen to the great man recite a parking ticket.
A second helping as sublimely pleasurable as the first, with Prince Buster, Rupie Edwards, Derrick Harriott, Dobby Dobson and Joe Higgs amongst the singers.
‘Enthralling to anyone,’ according to The Guardian.
Monumental Tubbys digi terror. Tougher than Lee Van Cleef. Heavier than lead and cold as ice.
Nice gospelized harmonies… with a touch of The Lecture to the flip-side sufferers.
Total murder!
A stealth-weapon version of the classic tune — same sublime Gregory, plus fatter-than-your-mama trombone by Vin Gordon, and evilous Niney dub.
Dennis Brown and Dillinger incinerate the B-side, too… Jah Is Watching / Flat Foot Hustling.
Unmissable.
Mid-seventies Alvin Ranglin productions — an original LP, not a compilation — with the Revolutionaries deep in the groove, Sylvan Morris from Studio One at the controls, the Tamlins on backing vocals, and Deadly Headley and co chipping in tough brass.
Top Gregory, with classics like Jailer and Border.
Just like cream-of-the-crop digi Tubbys. From the New Dance album sessions in 1988, with the Firehouse Crew. Mixed by Leroy ‘Fatman’ Thompson — formerly apprenticed to the King, en route to Jammys — and produced by Bunny Gemini and Tristan Palma. Gregory is desolate and compelling… and the dub is murder.
Masterful Gregory from 1997, sounding spooked and hunted over a juddering, propulsive Music Works rhythm, fulgent and full-on, with deep, pounding bass, clattering percussion, parping horns, classy backing vocals and harp starbursts… top-notch Gussies.
Two extended vocal versions, and two dubs, all quite different.
Bimmety bim bim.