The Dennis Bovell / Matumbi dub set from 1976.
‘The peak of the era’s UK roots dub. For dubbing at its wildest, check out Za-lon and its version Halfway To Za-lon’ (Steve Barker, The Wire).
Jackie Bernard leading a thumping, yearning overture; backed with The Valentines’ classic Blam Blam Fever. Top-notch rock steady.
Top-notch, super-soulful rocksteady.
With an alternate take.
Lloyd Charmers, Alva Lewis, Glen Adams and the Barrett brothers, holding a candle for ska at the close of the 1960s. With a precious, uptempo, alternate take, on the flip.
Billie Jean UK-dubwise. A police-shoot-out scenario, with gunshots, sirens and a daft vocal interjection — Book im, Danno — plus burning horns. Original copies.
Unmissable, mid-seventies, undercover Viceroys, plus three deadly versions.
A swingeing Niney-style rhythm; superb, swirling dub. King Tubby’s way with the vocal is unforgettable.
It’s a must.
Beautiful mento sufferers for Ronnie Nasralla in 1966. ‘I am the man who fights for the right, not for the wrong.’
People say that’s the first deejay recording on the flip — the wonderful Lord Comic, and his cowboys. ‘Music is real sweet… For your dancing feet.’
A Federal 45 from 1974 featuring Ken Boothe, Lloyd Charmers, BB Seaton, Busty Brown… taking off from the Temptations’ Smiling Faces Sometimes. Plus a tropical disco chugger by Leslie Butler, with sick synths, originally out on Jay Wax in 1975.