Thrilling primitive gospel from Alabama. Fuzzy, loud, dissonant guitar somewhere between Pops Staples, John Lee Hooker and the outsider R ‘n B of Hasil Adkins. True testifyin’ magic, and highly recommended.

Testing bossa conventions, encouraged by ACJ’s move to Creed Taylor’s ambitious set-up, abetted by Deodato’s brilliant arrangements. From 1970, with Airto and Ron Carter; and some lovely electric piano.

The first reissue anywhere of this fine sixties Detroit soul LP, treasured by the Northern Soul scene.

Vocal duo Albert Bailey and Clifton Howell emerged from the trio The Officials. The Studio One 7” Ten Years Ago is them; also the stone-killer Babylonians, with Niney. Lee Perry re-named them The Ark. Here they are with Ossie Hibbert at Channel One… wicked, propulsive, vocal-harmony roots, with dazzling drumming, and a Shaka-missile of a dub, featuring Dean Fraser. Crucial bunny.

1928-35 recordings by the Memphis bluesman (with Cherokee Indian close by in his family tree) — including That’s No Way To Get Along, later covered by the Rolling Stones as Prodigal Son.

With Lynn Taitt And The Jets at Federal in 1968. From Dubstore, Tokyo; now on vinyl.

Superb, sombre, tautly grooving sufferers, produced by George Woodhouse.
Same singer as Reward, on Channel One. Twin, dread killers.

Rugged 1974 dub LP replete with Upsetters and Tubby vibes, including the killer Macca Bee, and a nice vocal-with-deejay Love Me With All Your Heart, and featuring fine fleet flute froughout.

Truly pioneering electro-funk — treated, lo-fi, minimal, fundamentally desolate — this long overdue compilation of Sly’s own Stone Flower label runs the five 45s alongside ten previously unissued cuts, all newly remastered from the original tapes. The missing link between the rocky, soulful Stand! and the dark, ticking, overdubbed sound of There’s A Riot Going On, his masterpiece. The notes include an exclusive new interview with the great man himself.

London crew formed in the late seventies by Gus Phillips from Sierra Leone and Dominican Sam Jones. Nurtured by Grove Music; same family tree as Aswad. Just around the corner from Honest Jon’s in Ladbroke Grove, guitarist Peter Harris went on to set up the Kickin label (which put out Shut Up And Dance, Aaron Carl and Blaze).