Paul Whiteman aka Paul Blackman with a self-doubting, heartfelt lover’s lament, with moody, Sounds From The East backing vocals, over a deadly rhythm. Correctly matched with its masterful dub, too; subtler and gentler than the Tubby’s excursion on Meets Rockers Uptown.

Killer, mournful roots. Plus Pablo on xylophone, over his own awesome rhythm.

Olive ‘Senya’ Grant makes Horace Andy’s Please Don’t Go her own.
Family Man at the controls, on Clive Chin’s ticket.

This Rebel Music anthem is for us the prime example of Bob Andy’s songwriting genius.
The perfect accompaniment to following your own path in life. Non-conformity set to music.
The defiantly carefree scatting at the end is killer: the coup de grace.
What a record.

A double-header of booting, irresistible JA rhythm and blues.

Lovely harmonising by Devon Russell, Prince Lincoln Thompson, Cedric Myton and Lindburgh Lewis, over a chunky rocksteady rhythm. Plus a sweetly imploring Tommy McCook instrumental on the flip, with deft guitar-work by Hux Brown, and a gently rocking brass section.

Kaboom!
Flashing the black spot of Niney at his deadliest — Zorro, merciless avenger of the oppressed, re-stoking the furnace of his Westbound Train, but wheeling around and blazing eastwards…
And that’s only a secret-weapon version of None Shall Escape The Judgement on the other side, with Owen Grey at the mic.
Raging Tubbys fire.

Ritchie McDonald from the Chosen Few rides Glen Brown’s stunning Dirty Harry rhythm.
Dark, haunted, portentous singing — a dream-like blend of Barry White and Keith Hudson — over some of the heaviest, most concussive reggae music of all time.
On the flip, Tommy McCook props up the body and kills it again.
Almighty, off-the-scales roots. Completely unmissable.

“Tune into the king of sounds and blues, that you will never refuse, you gots to pick and choose before you lose. On the Pantomine label. Crossroads, Caledonian Place, you know where. Do it to it, Gods Sounds, y’know.”

Ace, driving, digital roots, with a lethal dub.
Reggae veteran Dennis Fearon lends a hand.

Soon after leaving JA for the US in 1978, Max conducted this moody survey of 8th Avenue, Manhattan.
With the same measures of disgust, funk and soul as Melt Away.
Don’t miss the organ instrumental on the flip, originally entitled Sin City. Jackie Mittoo in his own time and space.

Haunted, hurt reasoning rides a chunk of brawny Revolutionaries, with wailing organ and moody horns.

Heavy, stricken, searing Wailers; dreader than dread. Plus one of the all-time great dubs: desolate, abyssal; a matter of life and death.