Stanley Bryan was a jack of all trades at Channel One in its heyday. As an engineer, he mixed the Eek-a-Mouse classic Wah Do Dem, for instance. If a drummer dropped out of a session, Stan was the man to step in. And into the night, Ranking Barnabas worked the mic for the Channel One Sound System, often toasting over rhythms that he had recorded himself in the studio. Though Barnabas mixed countless dubs during these years, The Cold Crusher is the only LP released solely under his name, as a limited edition in the US.
Very well presented by the Italian label Jamming, with new notes, and expert sound restoration at Dubplates & Mastering. The terrific cover photo is by Beth Lesser.
Dub fans, don’t dilly dally. This won’t stick around.

Instrumentals in ska, mento and other Caribbean styles recorded in 1966, at the threshold of rocksteady. The only one of his eight Federal albums to feature ska. Super-fine LP from Dub Store.

First time out for this plaintive roots, recorded at Tuff Gong in 1979, and featuring Wailer Al Anderson’s fine acoustic guitar playing.

Superb 1983 LP out of Channel One.

Monumental soul-reggae in its full 12-inch glory, with a terrific old school rap from Welton Irie, and two dubs.
Arguably the definitive version of the Randy Newman song, though it’s probably a Nina Simone cover.

Extended, with dubs.

Late seventies; Channel One.

Their 1990 masterwork expanded to include everything from the recording sessions previously restricted to CD.
Religious chants over a layered, dubwise backdrop of African hand percussion.
An outernational classic.

The definitive version of this sufferers’ anthem, in the best format, with a killer dub following up the deejay cut on the flip.