A militant steppers — reminiscent of Johnny Clarke’s Blood Dunza — with magnificent trombone-playing by Vin Gordon. Shaka fire. Ace.

Magnificent, extended interpretation of his own Rastaman Camp classic for Studio One; this time with Niney at the controls. More trenchant and purposeful, less ecstatic. Burning, jazzy horns stand in for the nyabinghi drums of the earlier cut. Freddie slays it. ‘Throw away your folly.’

A deadly fleet of Studio One sevens, and one almighty ten-inch, swooping in from the Far East.

First time on 45 for this excursion on the heavy Roots Radics rhythm used for Barrington Levy’s Englishman.

Drawn from his six monumental singles for the Philips, Amha and Yared labels between 1970-73, revolutionising traditional Eritrean music via the innovations of amplified kirar, electric guitar and horns. Thick, deep declarations and considerations of love over a mixture of sombre and joyous tunes (with the hand-clapped beat often shifting into double-time near the end).
Co-released with Mitmitta Musika in Addis Ababa; handsomely presented in a tip-on sleeve, with extensive liner notes, translations and exclusive photos.
Fab.

Not a best-of compilation, this is the great singer’s fine fourth LP, squaring up to Roots in 1977, with the Revolutionaries.

In the ‘Blue Note Classic Vinyl’ series.

‘Classic Vinyl’ series.