Ace organ-driven rocksteady cut of Love Is A Message, recorded at Treasure Isle on Bunny Lee’s ticket, by youngsters Jacob Miller, Lawrence Weir and Lassive Jones aka Delroy Melody.
They were going by the name The Young Lads, but Jones remembers Striker’s strong advice: “there are too much Lads group, you boys are going to school, you boys are School Boys.”

The Shades had freshly peeled away from The Techniques, because besides singing Winston Riley wanted to try producing, and Bruce Ruffin needed room… and this is a gem of a calling card.
Sweetly hopeful, rocking rocksteady — with an undertow of foreboding — which Junior Delgado revisited for Dennis Brown, ten years later.
There’s a killer Marry Me dub on Meditation Dub, judiciously beginning ‘Boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss…’

Ruff, rugged, hypnotic, spiritual roots from this startlingly Swiss studio and label, with Half Moon, early Pablo, and stark Upsetter amongst its ancestors.

Secret-weapon late-70s mix; more light-footed, upful and optimistic.

Next Bunny Wailer installment from Dubstore Tokyo. You know the drill: silkscreened sleeves, beautiful labels, and out of this world selecting, like this limber, jazzy gem, still wiser than Solomon.

Lovely Impressions impressions on the eve of the group’s departure from Brentford Road.

Characteristically daring report of Haile Selassie’s visit to JA, kicking off in Amharic. A knees-up crossing of gospel, ska and rhythm and blues — the pianist and drummer taking different views — with vocal backing by The Gaylads. Plus a Soul Brothers on the flip.