JOHNNY OSBOURNE Vinilo y CD

Review: Diamond Geezer, the soon to become internationally renowned jungle artist, comes back with "Salute The Don", the second release on his new self titled imprint, Diamond Geezer. This time he takes a bit of Johnny Osbourne and throws in the drums and the bass to make something quite special.

Review: What a ting! North America's running wild with drum & bass right now but here are two of the realest, most enduring names: Marcus Visionary and Liondub International. Four tracks taken from Marcus's recent mix album, highlights include aggy dancehall hip-hop fusion of "Put It On" and the utterly disgusting roller "Original Bad Boy" from Bladerunner and DJ Westy. Featuring the likes of Navigator and Rankin Joe, there's some of the strongest voices possible on this collection. The Atlantic gates are well and truly open.

Review: Johnny Osbourne remains one of the most popular reggae vocalists of all time, and he is still turning out the jams now, well into his 70s. This one finds him billed alongside Jah Sawdem, about whom we know nothing and in fact this is the one and only entry next to his name on Discogs. A fine one it is, though, with a blissed out reggae rhythm topped by smooth as you like vocals and authentic instrumentals and keys. The flips side version from Natural Vibes & Pappa Tullo is 'Be Wise', featuring the same rhythm and different verses. Another big 12" from Jammy$ Jamaica that is primed and real for sound system deployment.

Review: Liondub isn't messing around with this one! The relentless label have invited the legend that is Johnny Osbourne into the fold for this swinging slice of authentic jungle in cahoots with Marcus Visionary that is fully primed for the dancehalls. Harmonic, sweet-toned and warm as toast, Osbourne's ode to the raving crew is crystalline and, with enough air time at the raves, will be very easy to sing along to. For more Marcus and less Johnny jump on the bubbly dub version. Bona fide jungle business.

Review: Johnny Osbourne liked singing about love. The Jamaican born reggae maestro has said love is universal, a hurting thing, confidential, international and even supernatural. And frankly we're ahoy to hear him doing so - his honeyed tones a perfect mix for rolling and dubbed out rhythm that is lovably languid and overlaid with acoustic riffs and loose percussion. On the flip here we get a heady, dubbed out and psyched-up mix from the one and only Roots Radics. Both of these tunes are brilliant on a loud system and never fail make their mark.

Review: Produced by Henry 'Junjo' Lawes and mixed by Scientist, 'Ice Cream Love' first slipped out it in its native Jamaica way back in 1980. The typically languid, weighty and dub flecked cut is built around a tweaked, replayed version of Coxsone Dodd's legendary 'He Prayed' riddim (a groove that has been used on countless reggae records before and since). Osbourne's lead vocal is typically relaxed and quietly soulful, while the involvement of Scientist on mixing desk duties guarantees more bass-weight and subtle dub inflections than your average roots number. Turn to the flip for a more spaced-out instrumental dub version based around the same riddim recording, with more effects-laden magic from Scientist.

Review: Johnny Osbourne liked singing about love. The Jamaican-born reggae maestro has said love is universal, a hurting thing, confidential, international and even supernatural. And frankly we're happy to hear him doing so - his honeyed tones a perfect mix for rolling and dubbed-out rhythm that is lovably languid and overlaid with acoustic riffs and loose percussion. On the flip here we get a heady, dubbed out and psyched-up mix from the one and only Roots Radics. Both of these tunes are brilliant on a loud system and never fail to make their mark.

Review: Radiation Records' 'Roots' arm explores only the best in roots reggae, exploring the many classic labels and LPs not normally given the credit they're due. This split from cool cat vocalists Johnny Osbourne and Michael Palmer hears them go head to head in a dancehall soundclash for the ages, nailing an early example of the genre. Compared to much lovers' rock or roots reggae, a harder-edged electronic sound is cut out here, with faster delays and metallic zaps adorning this LP. With Osbourne and Palmer alternating between instrumentals, locked in a head-to-head cypher, highlights include 'Cool Nuh' and 'Mamma Jamma In Dub'; in as much as they're good for reminiscing on an early reggae sound, these bits could work just as easily as part of a modern dub or oddballs mix.

Review: For their latest deep dive into the history of Jamaican music, Dr Bird has decided to deliver two key albums from the formative years of dancehall, both of which were produced by King Jammy and - remarkably - have never made it to CD before. Disc one boasts Sugar Minott's 1979 set Bitter Sweet, a super-sweet and hugely enjoyable collection that added traditional roots reggae style vocals and instrumentation to rhythms and grooves that provided the bedrock of the dancehall sound (for proof, check 'Give The People' and 'Not For Sale'). Over on CD2, it's all about Johnny Osbourne's 'Reggae On Broadway', a more weighty and low-slung affair that nevertheless proved influential to a whole generation of dancehall enthusiasts. 'Lend Me Your Chopper', 'Reggae On Broadway' and 'Folly Ranking' are particularly potent.