Great early-eighties Channel 1 excursion on the same version of DEB’s Revolution rhythm as Barrington Levy’s Black Rose.

Heartfelt, blessed early-eighties Maxfield Avenue roots, in short supply from the off. Pressed from the original stamper, Digikiller-style: a few clicks at the start can’t test rudie.

Both these sides are previously unreleased blends of the old and the new, in extended mixes.
Can’t Fool I re-unites the born-a-fighter roots warrior with Tasha producer George Nicholson, his chum from school — at last voicing a rhythm from the label’s first-ever recording session, at Channel One in 1978, with the Revolutionaries.
Easy Skanking is Alla on a brand new rhythm by Danny Bassie and Barnabas.

A stupendous haul of sound-system specials and inspired experiments conjured from some of the greatest reggae rhythms of all time, from the inner sanctum of King Tubby’s studio in the mid-seventies (where Philip Smart was second engineer).
Seething with lethal touches of Tubby; dotted with head-spinning walk-ons for Hugh Mundell, Johnny Clarke, Jacob Miller and co; steeped in the genius of young Augustus Pablo, Smart’s childhood friend.
A staggering turn-up. Utterly crucial.

Heavy lovers, a Kush Dan I production.

Sublime, masterful singing — poetic, polyphonic, evocative sufferers — over a stately and atmospheric Java excursion, more sombre than mystical. Super-soulful. Ace.

Fifteen sides produced by Carl ‘Stereo’ Fletcher for his Uprising and Stereo Beat labels. Quality, mellow, seventies roots, in vocals, toasts and instrumentals. Five previously unreleased recordings in amongst hard-to-finds, and classics like Little Roy’s Christopher Columbus.

One of the unsung movers and shakers of 1970s reggae, Ivan Smith worked as in-studio producer and record promoter for both Bunny Lee and Channel 1, whilst quietly producing and releasing his own catalogue of high-quality 45s.
Here is the first ever compilation, pure classics, all taken from master tapes, in a lovely silkscreened sleeve.
Ace.

The dubwise companion to the recent Roots From The Record Smith compilation, featuring the B-side dub versions from the original 45s, nearly all taken from master tapes, and culminating cataclysmically in Tubby’s out-of-this-world dub of Ronnie Davis’ Power Of Love.

An unnerving ride on Yabby You’s almighty Conquering Lion rhythm — a darkly atmospheric tale of pestilence and the dark arts, our kind of Christmas Carol. Crowning a great year for Digikiller, this is essential.

Ten killer dubs of Barrington Levy, mixed at Tubby’s, mostly unreleased. (The album was shelved in late 1980.)

Late-eighties Callo Collins production of the Youth Promotion cohort.

Upful, infectious, buzzing dancehall vibes, flirtatiously mashing in lines from Sunfire’s boogie classic Young, Free & Single, over the same murderously bumping digi rhythm as Frankie Wilmott’s I Won’t Give Up.

Jubilant, party-hearty deejay cut to a thumping, body-rocking Jah Life do-over of the almighty Love Without Feeling rhythm. Sister Carol smashes it out of the dancehall and into the trees. The dub is knockout, too: raw drum & bass, in your face.
‘Mi have di potential an mi have di credential… in a dance hall, concert an’ rehearsal… mi will mash it, as per usual.’

Three the hard way — the Don at the mic, Roots Radics, Scientist — in the early eighties. Previously unreleased.

Blazing start and great delivery, but rather treading water over killer late-80s digi.
Same vintage as his massive Dangerous hit for Redman. Not to mention the more voluble Don’t Touch The Crack by Dignitary Stylish.
Zinging with raw dubplate-style presence, like the other two 45s on this rhythm.

Three chilled, heavy dubplates deployed by Junjo’s Volcano and Hyman Wright’s Jah Life soundsystems, back in the day, on John Holt’s Chanting rhythm.