‘Away with your fussing and fighting, away with your hypocrite system.’
A masterful Pablo production, sprinkled with Black Ark magic, finetuned by King Tubby; searing Delgado.
A rebel-rock masterpiece.
Ace.
Chugging, confessional, Chicagoan loveliness from Delroy Williams, Ricky Grant and George Allison.
‘I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, And in short, I was afraid.’
Thumping soundboy frightener from 1987, with nice Eastern flourishes.
The Treasure Isle masterwork… plus a sweetly rocking Tommy McCook.
Killer Osibisa do-over.
‘Trammy’ was the nickname of trombonist Ron Wilson; but this is Vin Gordon.
Irresistible version of the Isley Brothers.
Vin Gordon kicks it through the swinging doors and down the street, on the flip.
Apparently the Brothers were fed up with Berry Gordy pushing them around… but it’s timeless, universal advice: ‘Sock it to your neighbour / Sock it to your mother / It’s your thing / Do what you want to do.’
Soundboy vibes over a hard-driving, clattering rhythm.
Buoyant anthem to ghetto people boutiques.
You can get anything on Princess Street, ‘from a pin to an anchor… Just have some cash, and you will conquer.’ Not like Orange Street, which is always getting shut down by plod.
Transfixingly stone-faced dub, for all hard-core Channel One massive.
Fatis digi.
Opening with a Dennis Brown feint, Katt whirls through vegetarianism, military repression, street crime and religious salvation.
Breathtaking US roots. A super-heavyweight, high-drama Zap Pow rhythm, with luminous singing by Horace Campbell, on his own label. Second of just two Black Spades. You’d be mad to pass.
Tough mid-seventies steppers from the US, in tow to Johnny Clarke. A one-away for Bev; nothing to do with Jah Shaka (except he’d run it).
Rough dub, too.
Peerless cover of the soul classic — recorded at Randy’s in 1974 with Fully Fullwood, Chinna Smith, Tony Chin, Santa Davis… and Errol T at the controls.
It’s no surprise that Carless is a soul boy, into Jerry Butler and The Dells back then; one half of the Little Roys, when they cut Bongo Nyah for Lloyd Daley.
Crucial bunny.
Ace, freaky deaky boogie — dense, extrovert and synthy — originally out on Oil Capital.