At Jammys in 1985, just prior to the Sleng Teng revolution. An excellent, old-school set, with plenty of strong, one-away rhythms.
Even leaving aside the epochal title track, this is unmissable. Wildly original Jammys rhythms, cool as cucumber, with his old next-door-neighbour in full flow. Fire like E20, Like A Dragon, My Lord My God, Icky All Over…
The dub is tough, funky drum-and-bass business, with stiff shots of guitar and brass.
Classic, feel-good, disco-friendly Lovers Rock from 1980. Sonia is so happy she sings to herself.
Titfers off for Frankie Beverly. Don.
The third, 1980 LP of this vocal trio led by Trevor Bow. Recorded at Treasure Isle with expert backing by the Negus Dawtus, Family Man, Chinna, Rico…
Brawny, get-onboard rocksteady, with nyabinghi drumming throughout — including a tasty break. A first sighting of Solomon, from Police And Thieves.
Hard to resist Junior Murvin in this teasing, saucy mood, on a lovely nyabinghi rocksteady rhythm.
With an alternate take.
Dynamite, previously unissued rocksteady version of the monumental Skatalites scorcher from a few years earlier.
Rollicking, mid-sixties, post-Skatalites ska thriller, led by Bobby Ellis and Roland Alphonso, with slightly different soloing to the original release.
Backed with a charming, forsaken, rare Summertairs: ‘I love you, Errol… come back today… but not too late… Errol, my dear.’
Stone cold murder. Archetypal, slow-mo, eastern-sounds post-ska from Jackie Mittoo, Dizzy Moore, Roland Alphonso and co, around 1965.