Roots & Culture 232 Items

Picturedisc, ltd. 500 copies

Side A lifts the vocal from Devil’s Pie by D’Angelo and adds it to a nicely
rocking reggae groove result! And on the flip side there's a killer reggae dub version of WU-TANG’s
C.R.E.A.M !!

All Nations Records offers another splendid roots tune produced at Conscious Sounds studio by master chief Dougie Wardrop. This is another great one drop riddim with the notable participation of some top musicians regularly working for that studio: I David on keys, Hughie Izachaar on guitar and bass and Zinxx on drums! With the addition of great lyricist Danny Red from Kingston Jamaica delivering another very relevant song warning all bad minded men to not trouble any roots daughter, this is a very fine roots tune fit for 2022

Corcs Drum&Organ is exactly that, an instrumental two piece formed by Oriol Casas on the drums and Joan Sobrevals on the organ. This 7” captures two of their first recordings together, ‘Cory Wong’ by Vulfpeck, and the classic ‘A Message To You Rudi” by The Specials. This single is part of the collection of 7” celebrating the 15th anniversary of the label Buenritmo Records.

Rabadàb is the side project of four musicians that also play in bands such as L’Home Llop & The Astramats, The Pepper Pots, Thorpedians, Corcs Drum&Organ or The Island Defenders. In Rabadàb they cover Christmas and traditional songs in the style of Jamaican music like ‘Los Peces En El Río’ and ‘El Petit Vailet’. This single is part of the collection of 7” celebrating the 15th anniversary of the label Buenritmo Records.

Released in the UK as part of Brooks’ ‘One Love’ album in the early 1980s, ‘No War Over Woman’ was originally recorded at Channel One around 1975, with musicians apparently including Sly & Robbie rhythm section, Ansel Collins on keys and Deadly Headley on saxophone, and mixed at King Tubby’s. It is arguably the first time it gets issued as a 7’’ single including a version on the flip side. Extra tip: roots fans will recognise the riddim from Knowledge’s monumental ‘Stumbing Block’, which appeared on the Tamoki Wambesi label.

"Grammy-winning outfit Black Uhuru is one of the most known and beloved reggae bands of all times. The group was formed in 1972 in Waterhouse, Kingston. Initially known simply as ‘Uhuru’ (the Swahili word for ‘freedom’) it was formed by the likes of Garth Dennis, Don Carlos and Duckie Simpson. But it wasn’t until 1977, when Errol Nelson and Michael Rose joined Duckie to replace Carlos and Dennis, that they started to build a solid reputation both in Jamaica and the UK with a stream of now legendary albums. African Love is part of Black Uhuru’s debut album ‘Love Crisis’, produced and mixed by Prince Jammy in 1977. The somehow ‘raw’ production quality of this early versions allows the listener to sink into the band’s unmistakable talent."

We are happy to unveil a new collaboration with prolific Jamaican singer and producer Mike Brooks. Born in the Westmoreland parish in the early 1950s, Mike Brooks’ journey in music kicked off around the legendary Channel One studio where he was involved with Lloyd Park’s Skin Flesh and Bones band for some time, before devoting himself to singing and producing, mainly through his own ‘Teams’ label.

Includes reworks by 7 Samurai & Mocambo!

Terrific single from Patrick Andy, written and produced by Yabby You. This is the first time this track has been released on vinyl. Killer dub on the flipside mixed at King Tubby’s. Heartfelt uncompromising and rootsy vocal from Patrick Andy as good as anything he recorded for Yabby. A smooth rhythm punctuated by Tommy McCook’s led horns section. Comes in a Yabby You sleeve. You need this.

High ranking anthem from 1982 with the Roots Radics in full effect and backed by world cup winning Scientist dub. Sampled countless times in drum and bass, this is the first time legit seven inch pressing for this original ruling version. Both tracks produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, recorded at Channel One and mixed by Scientist at King Tubby’s studio. Limited one-time press only, 7-inch-single with Jah Guidance label prints in a grey/white sleeve with Johnny Osbourne and "Junjo" images. European pressing.

Rhythms recorded in Jamaican. Overdubs recorded at Glass Studios, Wirral, England

Here comes a next 12” in the “Songs Of Upliftment” series. This time with the dubplate provider Jah Baker (part of the Rootikal Vibes HiFi sound system from Besançon, France) on the musical recipe. Two melodious steppas pieces out of his oven - each with a dub - to uplift and nourish mind and soul, while giving your bass box a proper test.

Highly regarded deep roots nugget from ’73 now twin-spinned with the famed Big Youth microphone attack. A first time Glen Brown rhythm coupling and a limited one-time press only, 7-inch-single with Pantomine label prints in a grey/white sleeve, both tracks mixed by Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock. European pressing.

Recut By The SOA Band of Freddie McKay's tune "Travelling Man". Dub on the flip side.

Following the inspiration of the great 70's Roots, Abeng drop this brand new Heavy Weight Roots track " Run Come Rally " spreading Gathering and Unity Vibes. After a long time of de-socialization "locked in Babylon, it's time to gather and be free" he sangs.

Abeng, the multi-instrumentalist "roots-head" arranges, plays and sings the whole track. This project signs a new co-operation for our label in order to follow our ideal of worldwide connections!!! Flip side "No Botha Dub" is the dub version coming from our friend Michael Exodus at the Dub Basement Studio in Rome.

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

The tune-whistling DJ collective Siffleur are back with two quasi-mashup remixes of retro pop that combine Italian nostalgia, soulful beats, and Jamaican jungle vibes. This is a brilliantly smooth and playful blend, perfect for chilling out and languorous dancing.

An absolute sound system killer, this 2002 Jah Works classic is now available for distribution through Triple Vision. The enigmatic Mene Man joins Jah Rej on a riddim guaranteed to shake up your woofers.

Barry Bigg, killer roots tune from the 70's with King Tubby's Dub. On the flip, Robbie Lyn previously unreleased keyboard version.

Here comes a heartical salute to the golden Wackies times. A fresh riddim by King Stanley was voiced by Love Joy and Jah Batta at Forcemusic Studio (run by Wackies’ original bass player Jah T) and afterwards the project was given to the legendary trumpetist, producer, composer, arranger, engineer and general multi-instrumentalist Maurice "Azul" Clive Hunt aka Lizzard for mixing. The result: two tuff vocals on a driving riddim, beautifully mixed, presented with two (dub) versions. Press play and let the time traveling begin…

Jamaican love songs always came across as heartfelt poetry whether they conveyed a broken heart, unrequited love or even the message ‘it’s all over don’t bother to come back’ anecdotes. But whatever the mood the singers of these songs were so good and versatile that putting such subject matter over in a few verses was always so moving and believable. Jamaican love songs were a constant in the ever evolving sounds and journey’s that reggae music took us on, from ska to rocksteady to the early reggae sounds of the late 1960’s early 1970’s. We have complied a great selection of songs that all deal with that timeless subject matter. Max Romeo’s heartfelt ‘Sometimes’ opens our set in fine style, known more for his roots singing this song proves what a great singer he is. The Melodians a great Jamaican vocal group are featured here with ‘Best Girl’. The Sensations provide us with our title track ‘Born To Love You ‘and the theme for this compilation a great rocksteady tune with fantastic harmonies. Alton Ellis gives us the soulful ‘Room Full Of Tears’. Ken Boothe provides us with his rendition of Dennis Brown’s ‘Money In My Pocket’ the ode that money cannot buy you everything. Cornell Campbell sings one of his most overlooked classic songs with his prideful `She Wears My Ring’. The great singer of love songs himself Mr John Holt tells us that we should all `Reconsider’, before giving up on love and a great lost singer Monty Morris gives us two great examples of how to find love in `Do It My Way’ and `Magic Moments’. A great selection delivered as only Jamaica can do with style and feeling…….

Hope you enjoy the set …greetings from Jamaica… love songs for all…

Tapper Zukie still asking the questions and stating the facts that few artists of his calibre would attain to.His classic Dee-Jay style has been copied by many but bettered by few.Over some of his killer rhythms that he previously worked up while producing fellow roots groups such as ‘Prince Allah’, ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Junior Ross and the Spears’. Alongside some fresh rhythms, he has taken these as a backbone to some further questions and biblical reasoning that needed answering. Tapper tells it as it is on this mighty collection of tunes put together under the name ’X is Wrong’. This is the first time this set of remarkable tracks have seen a proper release only previously being available as a download from Tapper’s website. A great set of songs that finally get the release they deserve…. Hope you enjoy the set….

During the eighties dancehall era, a number of record producers claimed to be the real authentic sound of downtown Kingston but Ossie Thomas’ Black Solidarity label, operating out of Delamere Avenue in the heart of the ghetto, was the real deal.

“Black Solidarity was a youth club in the Kingston 13 ghetto in a road named Crescent Road and it was a Rasta come up with the name Black Solidarity. But through the political violence a get high man start to spread rumours saying Black Solidarity a go gets guns to go kill off people and it’s a revolutionary Cuban thing we’re there ‘pon! A lot of people used to go away to Cuba and we called them brigadista. So, through it was in a PNP area man start spreading rumours saying the PNP a go plan to send the whole of Black Solidarity to Cuba and them all turn brigadista!

So, the rumours kinda mashed up the club! But we held on to the name and said, ‘we’ll give you a record label named Black Solidarity’. So, after that I talked to the Rasta who coined the words and he said, ‘I have to rate you’ and me say ‘why?’ and the man say, ‘Black Solidarity is a struggle and you realise that’ and me say ‘Yeah… me realise’. So, we take it up serious and deal with it and make it work! You know what I mean?” Ossie Thomas

There was no safe uptown haven to retreat to after work had finished but, after growing up in the deprived Kingston neighbourhoods of Denham Town and Jones Town, Ossie Thomas had nothing to be afraid of.

“This was the start of the seventies when the political rivalry got heated between the JLP and the PNP and the shots start fire… you know. Mum got scared and said she’s going to get a safer place for us to live so she moved up into the hills of St. Andrew… then six months after she died! Can you imagine that? She’d gone to the safest place and died there. From that me just go right back to Kingston… I said to myself ‘don’t be scared… if you’re gonna die you’re gonna die’. From that me not scared of Kingston… me just say to myself ‘my mother scared of Kingston and run and left Kingston’ but through me just live there all of my life on any street downtown me just feel comfortable.” Ossie Thomas

This album provides an insightful glimpse into life in these unforgiving Kingston neighbourhoods describing not only the poverty and desperation but also how, at times, styles, fashions and the cathartic joys of music and the dancehall could transform this harsh, unforgiving environment into one of joyous celebration.