Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - "Ghetto Skank" (3:00)
Review: In the mid-70s, reggae great Dennis Brown was on a creative high with producer Niney propelling him to stardom. However, around this time, he was transitioning back to working with Joe Gibbs, another masterful studio hand who would later cement Brown's superstar status. Gibbs had previously worked with him on the acclaimed Visions album, and this particular track was likely recorded during that era or slightly earlier. Despite its quality, the tune didn't reach the audience it deserved, largely due to Gibbs' lack of UK distribution at the time. For much of the seventies, Joe Gibbs remained sidelined in England, limiting the global impact of his exceptional productions, but reissues like this do a fine job of underlining his importance.
Cornell Campbell - "Heading For A Mountain" (3:00)
The Aggrovators - "Joe Frazer" (3:27)
Review: This rare gem from Bunny Lee's famously accomplished catalogue gets a welcome reissue and pairs a hard-to-find 1973 Cornell Campbell B-side, 'Heading For A Mountain', which was originally released on Duke UK, with a cosmic dub scorcher. The Cornell vocal is a soulful yet obscure cut that floats over a rootsy rhythm with a gloppy and wonderful bassline. On the flip, The Aggrovators 'Joe Frazer' is named in honour of the late great heavyweight legend of the 1970s. It's a great example of early synth experimentation in reggae with some filtered and shape-shifting leads reaching for the stars as the earth rhythms keep things rooted. A crucial slice of vintage roots and dub, full of mystery, groove and invention.
Review: Jamaican singer Clive Matthews has enjoyed a stop-start career, with relatively brief periods of activity in the 70s, 80s and early 2000s followed by a late blossoming over the last decade - a career bump provided by the backing of Spanish roots reggae outfit A-Lone Productions. They're at the controls again on Matthews' second album, Going Home, which marks the Trenchtown-born artist's first full length for seven years. Rooted in his love of roots reggae albums of the 1970s, but with occasional updated instrumentation, it's a classic-sounding set that provides a perfect platform for Matthews' conscious lyrics and honeyed, effortlessly soulful voice. The results are undeniably impressive, with our current favourites including 'Yes I Do', 'Ancient Lion', dancefloor-ready title track 'Going Home' and the pleasingly jaunty 'Reggae Music'.
Review: Jamaican reggae / rocksteady vocal trio The Pioneers hear two classics of theirs reissued: 'Some Having A Bawl' and 'Whip Them'. First released in 1968 by Joe Gibbs' Amalgamated Records, the tracks are raw, melodic social anthems, with the A-sider musing: "no time for fun, 'cos we're on the run", deliberating on the tearful unjust plight of some, and the unfair delight of others (note the clever entendre "having a bawl"). The B, meanwhile, iroincally likens singer-songwriting to coercive power; "left and right... I'm gonna whip them with my songs".
The Chosen Few - "Don't Break Your Promise" (3:57)
Eternals - "Queen Of The Minstrels" (3:23)
Norma Fraser - "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (3:14)
Ken Parker - "How Strong" (2:19)
Ken Boothe - "Set Me Free" (7:05)
Senior Soul - "Is It Because I'm Black" (3:13)
Jackie Mittoo - "Deeper & Deeper" (2:47)
Alton Ellis - "I Don't Want To Be Right" (3:27)
Willie Williams - "No One Can Stop Us" (3:20)
Review: There are many Soul Jazz compilations which have become iconic classics in their own right, and this is surely one of them. From their exhaustive framing of the mighty output of Jamaica's Studio One, Studio One Soul looks at the legacy of reggae, ska and rocksteady covers of US soul classics. Some of these versions threaten to supersede the originals, not least when delivered by such legends as Leroy Sibbles, The Heptones and Jackie Mittoo. 'Express Yourself' ports into a shuffling skank so naturally, while 'Can't Get Enough' sees Richard Ace doing an incredibly sweet twist on the Barry White anthem. The whole compilation is pure gold, start to finish.
Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - "Kansas City" (instrumental) (2:35)
Bongo Man Byfield - "Bongo Man" (3:04)
The Techniques - "What'cha Gonna Do" (2:07)
Eric Monty Morris - "If I Didn't Love You" (2:36)
Trevor & The Maytones - "Everyday Is Like A Holiday" (2:28)
The Uniques - "Just A Mirage" (2:47)
Patsy Todd - "Retreat Song" (3:10)
Roland Alphonso & The Beverley's All Stars - "Charade" (2:58)
Lee Perry - "Something You've Got" (3:16)
The Upsetters & Count Prince Miller - "Mule Train" (Upsetters version) (2:27)
Alton Ellis - "Trying To Reach My Goal" (2:09)
Harry J All Stars - "Je T'aime" (2:55)
Ken Boothe - "Is It Because I'm Black" (UK mix) (3:28)
The Messengers - "Crowded City" (2:56)
Review: Here comes a new V/A that toys with a great idea - there are no real "covers". Everything is a remix, so all musicians are "undercover'. Harlem Shuffle present this compilation to us as a convincing corollary. Many Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady musicians from the 1960s were fascinated by genres from jazz to rock to film soundtracks, and covered them readily. The twist is that none of these covers are of well-known pop songs; selected by expert DJ Helea, all are carefully picked to highlight Jamaican musicians' knowledge and enthusiasm for underground and lesser-known music from across the board.
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