Routinely passed over, King Edwards ska is for the gods, so a phase of Dub Store reissues is a mouth-watering prospect.
This opening salvo is low-slung, moody, trombone-led fire.

The leader usually goes by the diminutive Ron, reserving Ran and Rad for his Pantomine sides. He was an Alpha Boys alumnus, a Soul Brother after Don D’s departure, and an Upsetter for Blackboard Jungle.

Wayne and Larry Douglas’ flip is the A-side of the original Rio 45, from 1965: a stomper illumined with sweet lyrics about suffering, gratitude, and fidelity.

Poignantly-reflective next version of Horace’s Jah Is The One rhythm (from the Pure Ranking set), with MR’s unmistakable moves, and dub.

First time out for this recent do-over of Yabby You’s mighty King Pharaoh’s Plague — with dub.

Fine roots from 1986, with a dose of Burning Spear in the singing. Produced by the Blackheart Man, favoured by Shaka.

Aka Olive Grant — the same Senya who broke through at Randys in 1974 with Oh Jah Come and Children Of The Ghetto — with The Wailers backing.

This beautiful acoustic cut is previously unissued. Raw soulful lovers, with close-harmony backing, and double bass and guitar as irresistible as Egyptian Reggae. Terrific.

All-time-classic Stalag excursion.

Killer roots detournement of Georgia Turner‘s dread blues about a New Orleans brothel, to the tune of a seventeenth-century English folk song, by way of Bob Dylan, Nina Simone and The Animals.
Bunny Gale revives another folk song on the flip — Dead Man’s Chest — via The Viceroys’ classic Studio One outing.
More crucial Keith Hudson runnings, courtesy of Dub Store in Tokyo.