Family Man and Jimmy Riley had worked together in the late sixties — a Hippy Boy and a Unique — way before this terrific collaboration in tough, anguished sufferers, woozy with the natural mystic, around the same time as Cobra Style. Signature Wailers music-making seals the deal, with classy, burning horns.

Ritchie McDonald from the Chosen Few rides Glen Brown’s stunning Dirty Harry rhythm.
Dark, haunted, portentous singing — a dream-like blend of Barry White and Keith Hudson — over some of the heaviest, most concussive reggae music of all time.
On the flip, Tommy McCook props up the body and kills it again.
Almighty, off-the-scales roots. Completely unmissable.

“Tune into the king of sounds and blues, that you will never refuse, you gots to pick and choose before you lose. On the Pantomine label. Crossroads, Caledonian Place, you know where. Do it to it, Gods Sounds, y’know.”

Sublime, masterful singing — poetic, polyphonic, evocative sufferers — over a stately and atmospheric Java excursion, more sombre than mystical. Super-soulful. Ace.

This essential reggae LP was recorded at Randy’s and the Black Ark, and originally released in 1975 on Black World. Powerful songs, steeped in no-messing revolutionary socialism, beautifully delivered by Max Romeo at his peak, clear as a bell, with expertly lean production by Bullwackies’ Clive Hunt (besides Pete Weston and Lee Perry himself). The CD adds a heap of dubs, and toasts by Prince Far-I and I-Roy.

“Got to clean up your hammer and sharpen your sickle… In this time of revelation… Dread… Coming from high places where there is no screw faces… Selfish barbarism has got to stop.”

Island disco sung by a Rasta in the Bronx, over an 808 & chopper bass, with a gospel chorus, and fuzz guitar which sounds like P-Funk! Originally released in 1982 on the Sunshine label.
Plus Wilie Lindo leading a mellow instrumental version of Barry White’s Midnight & You, with Lloyd Charmers at the controls, for all the lovers in the dance. Original released in 1975 on Wild Flower.

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.

Luminously upful mid-seventies roots.
Scunna’s bro King Tubby dishes up a heavy dub.
Lovely record.

This rare roots outing by the lovers specialist is a sweet, heartfelt tribute to the great JA revolutionary. A Lloyd Parks production, with a proper dub.

Good advice, beautifully delivered by the pair who had appeared as pre-teens ten years earlier in the film Rockers. Later known as Bitter Roots.

An unnerving ride on Yabby You’s almighty Conquering Lion rhythm — a darkly atmospheric tale of pestilence and the dark arts, our kind of Christmas Carol. Crowning a great year for Digikiller, this is essential.

Ace, driving, digital roots, with a lethal dub.
Reggae veteran Dennis Fearon lends a hand.