Like a dream, but authoritatively, this remix from Jamaica magnificently crosses the Afrobeat of Fela Kuti with the grounation reggae tradition of Count Ossie.

Killer deep ska, superbly led by Roland A. Backed with the Black Brothers’ rude boy anthem, Born To Rule.

Tremendous, previously-unreleased takes of ska instrumentals by the Soul Brothers.
Rolando Al luxuriating in jazz; a Tommy McCook cha cha cha.

Head-to-head Bunny-Lee-supervised knees-up-mother-browns.

Deeper-than-Spinoza, heavier-than-lead nyabinghi cut of Yabby You’s awesome Love Thy Neighbours (itself produced by Family Man, in 1974). You can’t touch Tubby’s dub on the original Defenders 7”... but both versions here are uncompromisingly dread, and essential in their own right.

Giddily killer, unutterably majestic horns-led instrumental by the legendary bassist, alongside his co-Wailers.
Tubbys murder on the flip.
Brilliantly reissued by Dub Store, in Tokyo.

A sublime, freely creative, dubwise instrumental and its version, from the same hallowed, far-out neck of the woods as the deepest Upsetters and Wackies.

Pressed on vinyl for the first time.
‘A marvellous set of jazz reggae instrumentals… a unique entry of super cool amid the chaos of the On-U catalogue’ (Steve Barker, The Wire).
‘Beckett’s genius is that he is always true to himself, whoever he performs with. His effervescent, tumbling, improvised melodies never fail to lift the spirits.The Modern Sound Of Harry Beckett is a magnificent sonic treat.’ The Guardian.
‘Sherwood’s production style strikes a perfect balance here between sonic creativity and respectful restraint, and Beckett himself is brilliant, creating horn lines that weave and insinuate themselves through the grooves rather than riding on top of them. Established On-U Sound fans will find this to be an enjoyable curiosity; Harry Beckett fans may find it revelatory’ (All Music).

A melodica instrumental right up there with his very best cuts. A lot more exalted — Rockers International style — than his Studio One killers.

Tough harmonica version of Woman Of The Ghetto, with an excellent dub.

A knockout, proto-Pablo, rocksteady organ instrumental. Dandy Livingstone, surprisingly enough, riding east of the River Nile. Originally out on Trojan in 1968.

A sultry version of the Gershwin / Heyward aria, more body-rocking than spiritual, led by an identified singer. and swinging horns; and a rollicking Take The A Train, with solos by Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond.
Class.

Groovy version of the Deodato-CTI Gershwin interpretation; with a Willie Lindo. The dub does the trick.

A rollicking organ-and-drums grounation workout.
Plus Ken Boothe taking liberties with Nat King Cole’s Hazy Lazy Crazy Days Of Summer.

Breathtaking US roots. A super-heavyweight, high-drama Zap Pow rhythm, with luminous singing by Horace Campbell, on his own label. Second of just two Black Spades. You’d be mad to pass.