Roots & Culture Sale 270 Items

Fresh heavyweight speaker-distressing business from The Disciples with a vocal track from the legendary Dixie Peach (Jah Tubbys, Fashion labels and many more).

You don’t often see Nassau, Covid and Grace Jones in the same sentence but these were in part the starting blocks for the creation of the brand new album Feel UP by DJ Vadim.

If someone had said in 2019 that a year later the world would literally close down due to a pandemic, very few would have believed a word (well, apart from those who have been expecting the apocalypse since yk2). But Covid did indeed come, countries shut their borders, clubs closed, and people retreated into various degrees of self-confinement.

As a very active international DJ, this was nothing short of armageddon for Vadim. The skies were blackened but rather than sink into inactivity and hibernation, DJ Vadim created his own tropical music festival in his mind, an alternative universe which shared some sort of kindred spirit with the recordings at Compass Point Studios orchestrated by Chris Blackwell for Grace Jones (1980-82), James Brown, Ac-dc…

It was a melting pot of world class musicians melding reggae, pop, soul and african vibes… together creating some of the worlds most influential albums of that period and that spirit was the inspiration and the title for this new DJ Vadim album, Feel UP.

40 years on since those sessions, the same quest of discovery descended upon Vadim’s studio in Barcelona. The urge for growth, self-discovery and the creation of new sounds took place. Out went the dubcatcher with its 80’s digital sounds and returned a global musical tapas of sounds.

Inhale, exhale, Feel UP is the soundtrack you never knew you were missing!

A 7-inch record coupling "Tour Of Jamaica", a sample cource of the Japanese hiphop classic "mess/age" by Seiko Ito and Yann Tomita, and one of the selector's must-haves, "Under My Skin", will be released from Think! Records!!

"Tattoo Woman" was originally released in 1965 and includes "Under My Skin", a favorite not only among calypso fans but also Ska and Reggae lovers! This is a calypso arrangement of Cole Porter's original song "I've Got You Under My Skin" and is truly a masterpiece! The album as a whole contains many wonderful pieces that convey the breath of calypso in its heyday! Please enjoy these two historical masterpieces by the god of calypso, Mighty Sparrow, together with "The Outcast", which will be released at the same time on analog LP!!

Willie Williams is one of those outstanding reggae individualists who has carved out his own musical niche, making a lasting impact as a beloved roots vocalist and lyricist. His unusual vocal tone is distinctive and affecting, and he has taken a singular approach to music production which parallels his uncommon spiritual beliefs; like his friend and collaborator, Yabby You, Williams is one of a select coterie of reggae figures who wear dreadlocks and celebrate the culture of rastafari, but who reject the notion of Haile Selassie’s divinity, standing firm in their belief in Jesus Christ. He will always be best remembered for his landmark Studio One recording “Armagideon Time,” which was memorably covered by The Clash, but Williams’ career has been long and varied, his story taking in many different twists and turns. Another truly original reggae great.

During the early 1980s, stylistic dancehall toaster Earlando Neil became Early B chatting on the sound systems Soul Imperial Hi-Fi and King Majesty, consolidating his reputation on the mighty Kilimanjaro. Scoring many hits before his untimely death in 1994, the posthumous compilation Immortal was compiled by Ossie Thomas, the producer of some of B’s greatest work; highlights include the smash hit ‘Gateman Get Fraid,’ the desultory ‘Imitator,’ the sadly prescient ‘If You A Coward Leave Out Badness’ and the salutary ‘Honourable Nesta Marley.’ Highlighting Early B’s lyrical prowess, Immortal lives up to its title for sure.

The Truth and Vibes label is back with its highly anticipated second vinyl release, and this time, we’re pulling out all the stops to bring you a diverse lineup of both fresh faces and familiar talents who have already graced our previous release. Our journey begins with the talented producer and our good friend, Bukkha, hailing from Spain. A notable figure on the dub scene, Bukkha has been invited to play at Dub der guten Hoffnung in Graz already twice, solidifying our productive creative relationship. The genesis of this release traces back to a track known as “Jah Praise”, which we’ve cherished as a dubplate for many years. As the years rolled on, an exciting development took place when our brethren, Joyful Lion, contributed a mesmerizing saxophone performance. It was at this moment that we knew this track deserved to see the light of day as a full release. The creative journey didn’t stop there. We embarked on a quest to infuse this already captivating tune with even more depth and soul. Enter the remarkable singer Galas, who lent his powerful voice to the project, introducing a theme of “Repatriation” that resonated deeply with our vibes. But we weren’t finished yet. To complement the rich lyrics, we sought the talents of our friend Vale from Berlin, known for his exceptional horn skills. The harmonious melodies he crafted were so captivating that we couldn’t resist asking him to contribute some solo sections, resulting in a full horns version of the track. With all the pieces falling into place, we entrusted the track to Matt from Pressure Mastering, who added the final touches to bring out its true essence. As always, we’ve teamed up with Austro Vinyl, nestled in the green heart of Austria, to deliver a high-quality pressing on heavy 180g vinyl. The release comes adorned with full cover artwork, ensuring that the visual experience matches the sonic journey.

Lovers Rock at its finest with a beautiful cover version of Merlyn Brooks' "You'll Never Need Somebody". Originally released in 1981 this release is the work of Reggae heavyweight Geoffrey Chung (who also worked on Dhaima with Phillip Michael Thomas, previously released on Missyou). This release features the original 7" version along with a small collection of other new mixes. On the A side, the Dub Organiser skillfully extends the original 3 minute track into a 7 and a half minute long trip along with a new "Dub" version, respectfully re-mixed from the original multitracks 40 years later. On the B-side, the mixing console is handed over to a dedicated student of Dub, the Swiss Androo who's clearly no stranger to studio work when it comes to dubby landscapes. Elegantly walking the tightrope between traditional approaches and raw experimentation with 3 new mixes, each with very unique feelings.

Mallory Williams (son of Jamaican pianist and band leader, Luther Williams), a celebrated musician, singer, arranger, and producer, launched his musical journey in 1976 as a keyboard player in various bands within Jamaica's vibrant tourism industry. Along his path, he performed and toured with prestigious groups like Jimmy Cliff's Oneness Band and also We The People Band, providing backing for countless Jamaican artists.

In 1985, during the reggae's digital revolution, Mallory Williams collaborated with Tony DaCosta (from Skatalites fame) and his group the Tony DaCosta Affair (tda), to craft the remarkable single "Yu Saaf." This release not only showcases DaCosta's impressive vocal range but also highlights Mallory's instrumental talent, which incorporates a pioneering proto-digital rhythm. We are thrilled to announce that the 7" reissue of this single will be released back again on Mallory's original 'now' imprint. "Yu Saaf," which translates to "You're Soft" is a pure sound business! It not only serves as a testament to Mallory's production skills but also possesses the power to silence any selectors.

Side A : 1968 Recording. Never Released. Wicked Winston Wright Playing Organ Rock Steady Instrumental. Side B : 1968 Released. Great Rock Steady Vocal By Bobby Davis Lead Singer. A premium series of limited edition Japanese pressed 7"s - featuring unreleased and impossibly hard to find gems from the Duke Reid archives.

A premium series of limited edition Japanese pressed 7"s - featuring unreleased and impossibly hard to find gems from the Duke Reid archives.Side A : Never Released. Early Ska Vocal.1961 Recording At Federal Studio. Unknown Duke Reid's Duo Artist. Side B : Recoding At Federal Studio 1961. Great Ska Instrumental. This One Was Recording Before "You're So Delightful" By Skatalites In Jamaica.

"Reggae Funkyfied" is a new series compiling soulful, funky and disco style reggae from Mid 70's to Late 80's! The new series includes reggae covers of classic songs by Barry White, Ohio Players, McFadden & Whitehead, The Temptations, etc., familiar to soul and rare groove fans, and the rare lovers' rock "Lot Of Love - Sheila Hylton" and other sexy crossover reggae 12-tracks that will heat up the floor. These are not just easy covers that are simply backed by soul, but excellent arrangements that showcase the abilities of the producers and musicians of the time, and crossover tastes that successfully incorporate the trends of the time, such as funk and new wave.

The reissue of "Jah Lives" by Thanks & Praises, originally released in 1988, is out now on 7". This captivating song was initially unveiled as an obscure vocal-only B-side, tucked away on the rare High Gate imprint serving as a perfect example of conscious underground US Digi roots.

Recorded and mixed at Monkey Hill Studio in Queens, NY, it was the creative hub of the talented musician and producer Dennis Mann (who is featured on drums and percussion here). Although the studio ventured into diverse music genres, only a select few reggae tracks were ever recorded within its walls. We are honored to present "Jah Lives" as a testament to the rich musical legacy left by Dennis Mann.

As a side technical note it is worth mentioning that "Jah Lives" was originally recorded using a multi-track cassette recorder, also known as Portastudio. Despite some inherent difficulties of extracting audio from a 35 year old cassette and dealing with issues such as sound bleeding, we took on the challenge of restoring it to revive the true essence of the song. To release 'Jah Lives' solely as a vocal cut would have been a tremendous disservice, so we also embarked on a meticulous restoration process to present the song in all its proper glory. In addition to the never-before-heard instrumental version, the reissue will offer listeners the chance to fully embrace the complete spectrum of the song and truly appreciate its beauty.

U Roy’s chart topper of 1970 “Wake The Nation” released with it’s original dub “Non Violence”.