The recording debut of Baptista from Nagoya in Japan — ‘impulsive and driving but earthy and dark, buzzing with dense energy like a jungle yet spacious like the hall of a mountain king’ — topped off with a remix by Hodge.

Vintage UK digital, animated by Sugar; a Shaka tune in the day.
(A bit disappointingly, Preacher Cleavie Jefferey is three men: producers Preacher, Cleveland Neunie and Jeffrey Beckford.)

From the Life Style LP, produced by Alvin Ranglin in 1981, where it’s entitled I Hold The Handle. The lyrics re-purpose The Heptones, drawing its male-vs-female venom. Barrington’ superb singing luxuriates in this restrained, mid-tempo setting.
Plus dub.

Gospel house the Detroit way. Plus a tough techno-jazz bubbler, and Billy Love in soulful ecstasy, school of Marvin Gaye.

Two knockout Wackie’s 12” sides, paired together for maximum pressure. Each originally appeared on separate twelves, around ‘85 and ‘80. The A-side is another deadly Sugar shot, one of so many for Wackie’s. Backed here with the more obscure Zion Land, a stunning, shimmering roots chant. Both sides extended mixes.

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.

Beau Wanzer and Shawn O’Sullivan.

Two disco classics — Groovin’ You’ and Till You Take My Love (with Merry Clayton) — and the blissed-out jazz-funk of Modaji, featuring Hubert Laws.

Surprisingly the first time on 12” for this brassy, string-laden, modern/Northern crossover classic, more Philly than NYC. Beautifully written by Thom Bell, expertly remixed by Tom Moulton.

The first official 12’ release of these two walloping classics by one of the very greatest soul singers of all time. Undimmed after forty years.