Back catalogue: All genres

Notes: Introducing the third and final volume of the trilogy, Beyond Heaven: Volume III. This book reflects a more recent expansion of Mario "Liv It Up" Luna's collection of Chicago house music flyers (a.k.a. pluggers), ranging from the years 1983 to 1992. The selection includes a number of rare and important flyers ranging from parties at the Muzic Box, Medusa's, Sauer's, and the Rainbo with heavy hitters like Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Mr Fingers, Marshall Jefferson, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Jesse Saunders, Lil Louis, Chip E and various combinations of the WBMX Hot Mix 5, to Luna's own scene of Latino party crews, dance groups, and DJs across the Southside. Sharing the same format as the two previous, this volume once again brings you straight to the source for the who/what/when/where and visual aesthetics of the time when house music was born and took over Chicago!

Published by Almighty & Insane, 96 pgs, 14 × 21 cm, softcover, 2022

Notes: The birth and growth of the Jamaican recording industry...

Records have played an integral part in the history of Jamaican music and the importance of making records, as opposed to making music, can never be overstated.

These are the stories, told through first-hand accounts wherever possible, of the men and women... manufacturers, musicians, arrangers and record producers... who made the records and who made the sound of reggae available worldwide.

"An absolutely crucial survey of the origins of the Jamaican music industry replete with chapter and verse quotes from many of the pivotal movers and shakers. A wealth of new information, expertly marshalled: this is a book whose time has come."

Steve Barrow- Co-author of 'Reggae The Rough Guide'

"Noel Hawks' history of Jamaican studios and the characters involved provides an intriguing insight into the development of ska, rock steady and reggae. His lifelong love and deep knowledge of the music prove to be invaluable assets as he takes us on a journey from the primitive 'direct-to-disc' mento recordings of the Fifties through to the sophisticated roots and dub reggae of the Seventies. As both a music fan and a reggae business insider he has had access to the main players in the Jamaican music scene, and this book offers a genuine and unique insight into Kingston's studios and the producers and musicians who worked in them."

Chris Lane- Fashion Records

"Any music reference book should balance knowledge of an expert and enthusiasm of a fan in roughly equal measure. Noel Hawks' 'Jamaican Recordings' unquestionably succeeds in doing both. The wealth of facts and information that Noel has amassed in almost fifty years of researching and collecting reggae and its musical antecedents are presented here in a way that will show any reader that Noel still gets as much pleasure out of finding new classic music, not to mention acquiring new know how about it, as he and others among us did when we started our individual collector odysseys.

'Jamaican Recordings' is a fine read and a book that anybody with more than a passing interest in Jamaican recordings will need to add to their library right away."

Tony Rounce- Author & Music Historian

Format: 188 Page Hardback Book Illustrated throughout with period photos, artefacts & record labels