Wicked EP!
Lloyd Parks’ soulful sufferers, beautifully sung — a worthy reggae answer to Joe Bataan’s sublime Ordinary Guy — plus a deadly dub, with mad effects; then a melodica outing by Augustus Pablo, with clavichord; and finally the gob-smacking leave-the-studio-sah excursion.
Trumps trumping trumps.

Curtis Mayfield, every way but loose. A version of The Impressions’ classic marks PK’s first recording with Bunny Lee; and Glen Adams moodily rides the same rhythm Lee used for Slim Smith’s cover of Gypsy Woman, on the flip.

Tough, lovelorn rock steady, with tasty organ asides. The flip is a lovely revive of the signature tune of the great JA calypsonian Lord Flea, bossed here by Lennie Hibbert.

Great early-eighties Channel 1 excursion on the same version of DEB’s Revolution rhythm as Barrington Levy’s Black Rose.

Conscious lovers — Paulette’s own upful, considered advice, delivered with fresh, youthful persuasiveness, and deadly horns. Another killer one-away.

Sweet, sweet sufferers on Tommy McCook’s lovely Schenectady’s Shock rhythm, featuring Augustus Pablo on glockenspiel. (‘Shock probation’ is an alternative to prison in Schenectady County, New York.)

Heartfelt, blessed early-eighties Maxfield Avenue roots, in short supply from the off. Pressed from the original stamper, Digikiller-style: a few clicks at the start can’t test rudie.

Dapper 1967 rocksteady, previously unreleased. Eddie also recorded as a duo with Alton Ellis — Alton And Eddy.

Ace, fired-up, new version of Pablo Gad’s classic, anti-colonial, UK-JA sufferers. Tippa from the legendary Saxon sound; the Lovers Rock maestro. Lovely to see these two Londoners sparring together again thirty-plus years after The New Decade session.
Get-loose, gimme-the-mic, basement-session vibes. Nick Manasseh expertly runs the desk.

All together now… ‘When I was a yout I used to bun collie weed in a rizzla, I use to bun it in a rizzla. Now I am a man I jus a burn collie weed in a chalwah, I just a rub it in a chalwah’... Can’t hear you… ‘Do you really wanna know about the half that never been told? Do you really wanna know what appen to our silver an gold ? We buck up on a hard time, we buck up on a hard time.’

Vintage, discursive, witty-and-wise dancehall toasting by the Metro Media Sound deejay and Jammys trooper; originally released on his own imprint.

Lovely, upful, Chi-Town, rare groove vibes, with falsetto singing, horns and chorus. Produced by BB Seaton;  originally out on Golden Heart in 1974.