Roots & Culture 214 Items

The first international african hit, classic groove of summer ’73 gets instant jamaican treatments by ex-Melodians Brent Dowe backed by The Gaytones. Years before Manu Dibango came to Kingston for a Sly & Robby session, a tribute had been paid to the negropolitan”. From coast to coast! From Africa to Jamaica! This is Earth Sound!

Killer roots reggae tune produced by Alvin "GG's" Ranglin in 1977. Taken from the "Best of Freddy McKay" Album. First time on 7 inch with Dub on the flip !

This is the first release on All Nation Records new label, courtesy of French producer Simon Nyabinghi.
With all instruments and mix done in his freshly rebuilt studio, Simon delivers a proper roots and dub riddim that has already done the rounds as dubplate magic around the globe prior to its official release. With the help of young and upcoming talent Youthie on trumpet duties, this uplifting track will rock any sessions as well as your living room, especially when followed by the wild dub mix you’ll find on the flip of this record.

Horus Records’ fifth release is the first production played and recorded at their studio ‘The Arch’ in Tottenham, North London. An all analogue affair, recorded with real instruments live and direct to tape, sounds pumped through homemade valve pre-amps and other equipment amassed over the last few years.A 2015 production, heavily influenced by Horus' love for the sonic qualities and approach of 1970’s reggae. Ronnie Davis shouldn’t need an introduction, considered one of the founding artists of reggae music. Starting off with legendary rocksteady and reggae group The Tennors, he remained a prominent force throughout the 70s working with producers such as Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, to create tracks that are still relevant today. On this release, his voice is as distinctive and strong as it ever was – with lyrics to match.

Recorded at Federal Records Studios in early 70's & produced by Alvin Ranglin. The song appeared for the first time in 1973 on the compilation "Pipeline" .The B side instrumental was previously unreleased, transfered from original tapes by Aad Brakus aka "Dr Buster Dynamite".

Second single by Black uhuru. Recorded in 1975 at Randy's Studio. Augustus Pablo on Melodica. Produced by Clive Chin.

The African Brothers are Lincoln "Sugar" Minott, Winston "Tony Tuff" Morris, and Derrick "Bubbles" Howard. Famous 70's hit song recorded at Randys Studio, Produced by Clive Chin.

Legendary innovative instrumental tune by Augustus Pablo. Recorded at Randy's Studio in 1971. Produced by Clive Chin.

Rare Jamaican Digital tune. Tribute to Peter Tosh, recorded the year of his death in 1987. "The greatest man 'have ever known was raised in Kingston ghetto... They call him the Bush Doctor...Dread ! They call him the Bush Doctor ... Man ! They call him the Bush Doctor but Winston McIntosh was his name "

"Look at the trees, how their leaves are blowing away in the sky. Listen to the birds, how they're singing away their time. Look at the sun, how it shines, bright in the skies. Well, all these things were, created by the Father." Cover of the Dennis Brown's song. Recorded at Randy's Studio in 1975

First cut recorded at "Randy's Studio 17" in 1973. Produced by Clive Chin.

"Killer roots" tune of one of the most prolific Jamaican singer. Heavyweight dub on the B side.Recorded in the 70's at Randy's Studio 17 North Parade.

Million Stylez, Mr Williamz and Charlie P flow over “Modern Time Riddim“ produced by Dreadsquad.

Produced by Alvin "GG's" Ranglin in 1980. Killer roots vocal & Dj's, Dub on the flip.

Official re-issue and re-mastered 7-Inch single for much sampled singer Johnny Osbourne. "Ice Cream Love" (based on the 'He Prayed' riddim) is the 1980 tune produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes and recorded at Channel One studio with the Roots Radics Band. "Extra Time One" is the dub version mixed by Overton "Scientist" Brown at King Tubby's studio.

Liam Bailey comes out swinging with "White Light," an instant-classic, dancefloor filler. The rough and tough drum break intro catches you from the first beat before the track gives way to an infectious and uplifting reggae-dis- co number. Liam's instantly recognizable voice showers his muse with praise over deep round bass lines and a four on the floor beat. The combination of Leon Michels' crushing production and Bailey's lyrics like "You love yourself, you're so exciting, like no one else"... is sure to make this a staple in dj sets around the globe.The B side "Cold & Clear" is a proper lighters in the air, slap the wall, top ranking tune. The track struts in the door with a natural and undeniable confidence. Liam weaves a heavy metacognitive story over the one drop drums, perfect basslines, and organ stabs that will have people stepping in rhythm. The lo-fi production weaves elements from the finest early rocksteady era with touches from the late 70s / early 80s digital era and takes the entire vibe into the present with unorthodox arrangements and vocal treatments. Bailey has a tune here that will hold up next to the classics in the dancehalls from the yards of Jamaica to the discotheques in his homeland of England.

Soul Sugar drop their own reggae version of Marvin Gaye’s "I Want You". French outfit Soul Sugar – the brainchild of Guillaume “Gee” Metenier – deliver yet another soulful reggae 12”, this time a cover version of Marvin Gaye’s 1976 classic "I Want You". Jamaicain native Leonardo Carmichael sings lead vocals and legendary drums and bass duo Sly & Robbie add their flavor to the mix, with two versions on side B. Marvin Gaye’s single "I Want You" was a big step forward for his sound & vision and marked a change in direction – from hip Motown Soul to a more sultry, Disco sound. Marvin's vocals are notably intimate and the lyrics are more explicit, more personal. An original soul classic, "I Want You" is memorable for its unique combination of lush harmonies, a mesmerizing groove and the apparent sexiness of the theme itself. Soul Sugar's Discomix version combines a smooth mixture of reggae, soul and funk over beefy bass lines, designed for heavyweight sound systems. Sly & Robbie, rhythm duo known for their studio work on countless reggae classics since the 1960s deliver their version, taking us back to the golden age of Reggae, the days when it was typical for Jamaican musicians to record their own versions of American soul tunes ... Ace producer Jahno dubs the mix live and direct to tape, from his very own ' N.O.F Studio'.

Known by reggae fans worldwide as an original sound system toaster, Micah Williams professionally known as Mr Williamz is a Reggae/Dancehall artist born in London before being moved to Jamaica by his father aged six. By age ten, he was already MC’ing and winning local competitions – such was the culture in Jamaica. At 15, he returned ‘home’ to London ready to take on the world. With single releases on both Necessary Mayhem and Greensleeves Records, Williamz authentic sound is heavily inspired by the Dancehall style of the 80s/90s and truly channels the sound of Jamaica through a familiar London lens. In demand as an artist, he appears features on tracks from Major Lazer, Shy FX, Mungos Hi-Fi, and Green Lion Crew to name but a few. He has also recorded and performed globally with the lines of Chronixx, Damian Marley, Hollow Point, Gappy Ranks and more. Despite all the features, Williamz has kept fans waiting for his debut album… but they need wait more as ‘2021’ brings about the release of ‘Soundkiller Mindset’ and ahead of that a super ltd double A-side.

Beres Hammmond presents his new single! - "Call To Duty" is finest deep conscious music, a beautiful song with a powerful message, available as limted edition 7-inch single in a picture sleeve, right in time for christmas and the holiday season. The song, written by Mr. Hammond and co-produced with Clive Hunt, is familiar in its social themes, yet more dramatic as it is stripped of his usual rhythmic reggae pulse. The swells of emotive chords from keyboardist Robbie Lyn are punctuated to great effect by the all-star horn section of Dean Fraser, Oshane Love and Okiel McIntyre. Harmony House players Michael Fletcher, Errol Graham and vocalists Dorett Wisdom and Sherida Sharpe round out the session. The recording is both a strong statement about life amid a pandemic and a call to a shared vision of what our world can be.

In the last months we had the pleasure to open a connection with Eeyun Purkins, he helped us to mix some Abeng riddims and sent us some riddims to work with. February/March/April /May , the "lockdown months" have been very active and "Moonlight Runner" is one of the results of the collaboration we created during that period , Ian ‘Upsettah’ Burgess , Eeyun Purkins & Abeng worked independently on it so it's for us a pleasure to publish this music on our Dig This Way Records! We hope you enjoy this moody roots music... In the next months we will press more chunes born from this Roots-Heads meeting!

For us is a big pleasure to work together with Claudio AKA Abeng , other than a long time friend is a great musician with a deep Ska , Rocksteady & Roots Knowledge , we have been asking him a riddim which we could use for an instrumental and that's the 1st of the few we are working on right now (Yes we love instrumentals!)! It's always a pleasure to open new cooperations , have new musicians and studios playing together to create Roots Music! Rootikal Horns is the horn section of an historical Reggae Band from our area (Countryside of Milano) , Rootical Foundation , Gabri (Trombone) & Filippo (Sax) came to studio with us and we recorded few lines that will appear in a number of future releases. Obviously from this meeting , some more seeds has been planted and hopefully flowers will appear probably in the early 2021... Eeyun Purkins at Waggle Dance Studio, made a great job mixing the A side and Dubbing the B side! Many of you may already know this name ;) , founder of the Co-Operators and of the Waggle Dance Studio/Records have delivered a number of killer Roots productions in the last months and years , that's the 1st of a number of projects we have been working on during Lockdown Period , expect some Fyah Roots music from this Roots Heads meeting!