Mid-seventies Alvin Ranglin productions — an original LP, not a compilation — with the Revolutionaries deep in the groove, Sylvan Morris from Studio One at the controls, the Tamlins on backing vocals, and Deadly Headley and co chipping in tough brass.
Top Gregory, with classics like Jailer and Border.

The third, 1980 LP of this vocal trio led by Trevor Bow. Recorded at Treasure Isle with expert backing by the Negus Dawtus, Family Man, Chinna, Rico…

‘An absolute must,’ as Steve Barker writes in The Wire. ‘The main Attraction is the dubplate mixes of the Jah Shaka power play Jah No Parshall, here retitled Gates Of Zion. One astonishing dub mix features vocals from Prince Mohammed aka George Nooks in his early deejay guise. Chopped from the lyric and dropped into the chasmic dub mix, the phrase ‘heavy as lead’ would have made an apt title.’

One of the unsung movers and shakers of 1970s reggae, Ivan Smith worked as in-studio producer and record promoter for both Bunny Lee and Channel 1, whilst quietly producing and releasing his own catalogue of high-quality 45s.
Here is the first ever compilation, pure classics, all taken from master tapes, in a lovely silkscreened sleeve.
Ace.

The dubwise companion to the recent Roots From The Record Smith compilation, featuring the B-side dub versions from the original 45s, nearly all taken from master tapes, and culminating cataclysmically in Tubby’s out-of-this-world dub of Ronnie Davis’ Power Of Love.

Late-eighties Jammys digital roots — with Steelie & Clevie at the controls — following up the classic Hell A Go Pop set. The hits were Running Back To Me and Distant Lover.

Killer lost blaxploitation soundtrack to Calvin Lockhart’s 1974 film fiasco — deep JA funk, rocking lovers, moody dub, punchy Carib jazz, and sweet soul, bubbling together, warmed by the genius of US inspiration like Jimmy Smith, Curtis Mayfield, and The Meters. There’s a deejay version of John Holt’s Same Song, with a red-eyed nod to U-Roy and Scotty from ‘The Scorpion’. Keyboardist Leslie Butler tears up the deadly instrumental originals Funky Nigger, Negril, and Ghetto Funk (which kicked off Darker Than Blue). Boris is especially heartfelt on the acoustic version of Star (which he wrote, and Big Youth covered). Gardiner on bass and Paul Douglas on drums keep it tight as Titus Andronicus; Tommy McCook leads the horns; Sid Bucknor from Studio One is at the controls, inside Channel One.

Only our favourite UK reggae LP of all time.
Uneasy, twisted, mysterious, deep dub music; utterly enthralling. Commercially speaking, couldn’t-give-a-fuck.
It’s like London calling the Upsetter and the Dark Prince in 1975-76, encircled by the National Front.
The story goes that the group dished out free copies — fresh from the pressing plant — at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1976 (before the rioting kicked off).

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.

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.

Booker Ervin! Mira!