Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: It's been a while since Soul Jazz tapped into the seemingly bottomless well that is the Studio One archives. This latest trawl through "Sir" Coxsone Dodd's landmark label focuses on the Jamaican imprint's ska output in the "downbeat" period between 1962 and 1965. It was in this period that the ska movement, reflecting Jamaica's newfound independence from the UK, truly began to find its own voice. While that alone makes Studio One Ska Fever worthy of further inspection, it's the tracklist - heavy on early scene classics such as "Freedom Sounds", "Marcus Garvey" and "Mad World", as well as lesser known gems and early works from Lee 'Scratch' Perry and the Wailers - that makes is essential listening.

Review: Back in 2019, Soul Jazz marked Record Store Day by releasing a rather tidy seven-inch box set of classic Studio One reggae jams, the simply titled Showcase 45. Six years on, they've decided to reissue the collection on CD in expanded, 18-track form (the original edition featured 10 tracks stretched across five 45s). It provides a perfect introduction to the Studio One universe, showcasing cuts from such masters of reggae, rocksteady and ska as Freddie McGregor ('Beat Down Babylon'), Bob Marley and the Wailers (the original version of the later re-recorded 'One Love'), Jackie Mitoo (the rhythm & blues-tinged, Hammond organ-rich 'Mixing'), the Heptones (the horn-heavy shuffle of 'How Can I Leave You'), Horace Andy (the cheerful-sounding 'Miami Blue') and the Skatalites (bona-fide dancefloor gem 'Sudden Destruction').

Review: Studio One Soul 2, the highly anticipated second volume of Soul Jazz Records' acclaimed Studio One series, dives deep into Jamaica's enduring love affair with American Soul and Funk. This special 18th anniversary edition features a vibrant array of legendary reggae artists like Horace Andy, The Heptones, Cornell Campbell, and Ken Boothe, all of whom got their start at Studio One before achieving global success. The album features a unique blend of classic and obscure American Soul and Funk tracks, reimagined with a distinct Jamaican flavour. Standout tracks include Cornell Campbell's stunning recut of The Mad Lads' Curtis Mayfield-penned 'Ten to One,' Winston Francis' soulful interpretation of The Five Stairsteps' 'Don't Change,' and Devon Russell's powerful take on 'Make Me Believe in You,' which arguably rivals Mayfield's original. This collection, featuring a mix of classics, rare gems, and previously unreleased tracks, has been meticulously remastered. Perfect for a serious reggae enthusiast, this compilation embodying the Studio One ethos of reworking influential soul records into a Jamaican soundscape.