His masterwork, from 1975. Great songs — a tough mix of mysticism, politics and philosophy — with Robbie Lyn from the Sound Dimension, Geoffrey Chung gently testing the reggae envelope, Clive Hunt from Wackies, a sprinkling of Black Ark, masterful drumming by Horsemouth… and PM’s compelling voice.
Rodders meets Wrongtom, re-running original raps like Chin High and Juggle Tings Proper, this time with reggae in their jeggae. Spirited but a bit Trojan.
Top-notch Messengers, from the same enraged 1961 recording sessions as Freedom Rider.
Six compositions by Wayne Shorter, kicking off with the fierce jazz-dancer Ping Pong.
Bobby Timmons alternates with Walter Davis Jr.
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.’
Trenchant political reasoning over his own giddyingly brilliant production.
From 1978; in the same vein as Bafflin’ Smoke Signal.
Inimitable Upsetters genius.
The original Randy’s version is a desert island disc — and nearly twenty years later this a magnificent do-over by way of the Black Ark, originally released by Tony Owens’ Seven Leaves, in Kensal Rise.
A baker’s dozen of rare or unreleased dub instrumentals by Augustus Pablo at the height of his powers, mixed at King Tubbys.
First the set of Prince Philip dubplates from Digikiller, stateside; now this from Only Roots in France.
Biff!... Baff!
Knockout stuff.
Roots anthem, produced by Tubby for Bunny Lee.