Two excellent, righteous vocal cuts to a tough, downtempo, rootical rhythm, in a brief respite from dancehall at Tubby’s HQ.
Latest in Dub Store’s lip-smacking series of Firehouse dub plates.

Tremendous, tormented, abject vocal to Melody Maker, with a heavy dub — for the label Hudson co-ran with Gleaner journalist Balford Henry.
Via the safe hands of Dub Store in Tokyo.

Irresistible 1950s mento — singalong tunes, ebulliently performed, over-spilling with scandal, smut and impudence, sex, dancing and booze, word-play, jokes and up-to-the minute social commentary, and general love for life.

Ace early Tubbys digi — stripped and moody — with fine, amusing vocals.

Tough, dismissive, soundboy digi. A King Tubby dubplate from 1986.

Irresistible reggaeficatory bazookaings of Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa, upping the old-school funk, and garbling extra mamas.

Hymning the power of reggae, over a re-licked, surging Conquering Lion, with worrisome Tubbys bass. The dub is here.

The great singer addressing false authority, apartheid and the squandering of black lives. The rhythm is Tubby’s ace, ominous, digi re-working of Yabby You’s Conquering Lion.
Dubplate business from Dub Store in Tokyo.

Two goes, both brilliant, featuring ace trombone. The first take carries the swing, with its wailing, soul-jazz organ more to the fore.

A rollicking organ-and-drums grounation workout.
Plus Ken Boothe taking liberties with Nat King Cole’s Hazy Lazy Crazy Days Of Summer.

The 1969 High Note LP, on the cusp between rocksteady and reggae. Three of the former, with backing by Lynn Taitt & The Jets; nine of the new thing, featuring Sonia Pottinger’s in-house Soul Rhythms band. A great lineup of singers includes Delano Stewart, Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson.

Ska And Jump Up For Your Happy Dancing And Listening.
Ebullient Sonia Pottinger showcase out on Doctor Bird in 1966. Oswald ‘Baba’ Brooks and his group backing The Saints, The Techniques and co.

Lloyd Charmers, Alva Lewis, Glen Adams and the Barrett brothers, holding a candle for ska at the close of the 1960s. With a precious, uptempo, alternate take, on the flip.

Tough, lovelorn rock steady, with tasty organ asides. The flip is a lovely revive of the signature tune of the great JA calypsonian Lord Flea, bossed here by Lennie Hibbert.