Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: This 2xCD set celebrates Dennis Bovell's exceptional talent during the golden years of reggae, from 1977 to 1981, a time when he was also playing a pivotal role linking punk and post-punk to reggae via collaborating with Orange Juice and producing key records such as The Slits' debut Cut. Featuring a mix of major hits and rare tracks, this collection highlights his brilliance as a producer, arranger and pioneer of roots, dub and lovers rock. Not only was he one of the first to blend disco with reggae but he was also important for fusing the disco standard 12" and using for Lovers Rock artists. His use of the format to create dynamic dub edits is a standout element, cementing his legacy in reggae production. Disc 1 includes Errol Dunkley's title track, Marie Pierre's soulful gems and Janet Kay's classic 'Silly Games', which brought lovers rock to mainstream audiences. Tracks like Errol Campbell's 'African Queen', Angelique's 'Cry' and Africa Stone's 'Choose Me' capture the era's emotional depth and Bovell's masterful touch. Disc 2 delves into 12" extended mixes, showing Bovell's innovative fusion of reggae and disco. A lifetime of great music within just two discs.

Review: While born in Jamaica, like many of the Windrush Generation Robert Thompson AKA Dandy made his name in the UK, subsequently making some of the earliest - and most successful - British Ska records with the assistance of Australian entrepreneur and Crossbow Records founder Millie Small. This fine compilation, one of the first to showcase the work of a UK-based ska star, tells the story of Thompson's work in 1964 and '65, much of it alongside fellow vocalist Keith Foster as Sugar N Dandy. There's much to enjoy throughout, with highlights including the organ solo-sporting delight of 'Oh Dear', the fuzzy jazziness of 'I'm Not Crying Now', the Mod-friendly 'Blues Got a Hold On Me' and his superb ska cover of Hermans Hermits' hit 'I'm Into Something Good'.

Review: For the label's latest essential two-disc trawl through the archives of Jamaican music culture, Doctor Bird has decided to take us back to the late 1970s and the dawn of dancehall - then a kind of harder, more upbeat take on reggae rather than the drum machine-powered rhythmic powerhouse it became. The Volcano Dancehall Albums Collection features a quartet of full-length excursions produced by early dancehall hero Henry 'Junjo' Lawes: Barrington Levy's influential 'Bounty Hunter', 'Weh Dem a Go Do' by young deejay/toaster Cocoa Tea, and a pair of sets by fellow patois proto-rapper Charlie Chaplin ('Sound System' and the superb 'Dancehall Rockers'). Throw in a handful of essential bonus cuts (including the full 12" version of Barrington Levy's take on Horace Andy favourite 'Skylarking') and you have an indispensable collection of formative dancehall classics.

Review: By the close of the 1960s, a number of dynamic, independent record producers were beginning to make their mark on Jamaica's fast-developing music scene. Chief among these initially small-time music-makers were the likes of Lee 'Scratch' Perry, 'Edward 'Bunny' Lee and the man whose music provides the focus of this 2CD collection, Winston Holness AKA 'Niney'. As the 70s dawned, the ingenuity, innovation and determination of these three talented individuals saw their influence match and often exceed that of long-established major operators. But while the music and careers of both Perry and Lee have been rightly celebrated, the achievements and influence of Niney have been largely overlooked. This collection is the first in a series of sets that aims to set the record straight, presenting the very best of his output during key parts of his music career. Featuring numerous hits, including the ground-breaking 'Blood and Fire', 'Message To The Ungodly', 'Hiding By The Riverside', 'Beardman Feast', 'Rasta Bandwagon' and 'When Jah Speak', the 2CD set presents 20+ tracks that have remained largely unavailable for over half a century.

Review: This double-disc collection offers a fascinating glimpse into Lee Perry's evolution as a producer during a pivotal year in reggae music. 1970 saw Perry at the top of his game, fresh off the success of Return Of Django, and these recordings capture his adventurous spirit and groundbreaking studio techniques. The compilation features a wealth of instrumental works, showcasing the proto-dub experiments of his backing band, The Hippy Boys. With 14 tracks new to CD and many others unavailable since the 1990s, this release is a treasure trove for dedicated Upsetter fans. From the infectious grooves of 'Yakety Yak' to the dubwise explorations of 'Bush Tea' and the soulful sounds of 'Let It Be', this collection is a must-have for any reggae enthusiast.

Review: On its latest deep dive into the Jamaican reggae archives, the Doctor Bird label has returned to the early years of one of the style's most iconic producers, Lee 'Scratch' Perry. The music showcased on this two-disc set was initially released on Perry's own Upsetter imprint in 1969-70 and contains a mix of vocal numbers, instrumental 'versions' and alternate takes from the archive. There's naturally tons of highlights amongst the 50-plus tracks on show, including the organ-rich ska flex of The Upsetters' 'Night Doctor', the soulful rocksteady sweetness of 'Kiddy-O' by the Silvertones, the slow-dance excellence of Busty Brown's 'I Can't See Myself Cry About You', the low-slung shuffle of The Upsetters' 'Bab Thool' and the bona fide anthem that is 'Django Shoots Again' by Val Bennett and the Upsetters.

Review: .This essential album from Doctor Bird highlights the great Phil Pratt's remarkable work during a pivotal era in Jamaican music. Feel Good All Over: The Sunshot Singles 1972-1973 digs into his work during that golden time and turns out both many well-known hits and some rarer gems, a total of 30 of which appear on CD for the first time. This collection captures the energy of a time when Pratt, alongside a new wave of equally bold and ambitious producers, pushed against the established norms of the island's music scene and brought in new influences. The result is a treasure trove of some of the finest and most influential reggae recordings from the pre-roots period including deep-cut gems like Delroy Wilson's aching 'Heart Made Of Stone', the romantic harmonies of The Soul Syndicate and swagger of 'Phil Pratt Thing'.

Review: Doctor Bird's latest deep dive into Jamaica's seemingly bottomless reggae archives takes us back to the turn-of-the-1970s and the short-lived - but undeniably successful - story of singer-turned-producer George Philips AKA Phil Pratt's Sunshot Records imprint. It's the first ever retrospective of the label's output, in part because few copies of the showcased records ever made it out of Jamaica. Reflective of the period when rocksteady was fading and roots reggae was beginning to emerge, the cuts on disc one - fronted by such legendary singers as Ken Boothe, John Holt and Horace Andy -comprise the best of the singles released by the label between 1969 and 1972. Disc two contains more singles, B-sides and rarities, alongside all ten tracks from Pat Kelly's Breezing album.