Massive roots produced from the fruitful partnership of Jah Life and Junjo Lawes. The rhythm will be familiar to students of the Channel 1/Radics/Scientist axis. Only ever released on a rare UK press 12" via Junjo, this different mix of the tune was slated to be a Jah Life 7" 30+ years ago, and never happened for nobody-remembers-why. Finally out now, killer tune.
As is the case with fellow 'enforcers'-turned-producers, Henry 'Junjo' Lawes and Philip 'Fatis' Burrell, George Phang had been involved in the internecine street battles that had split Kingston into rival politically-aligned zones during the 1970s, when the broader effects of Cold War politics were played out in Jamaica. Following some encouragement from Sly and Robbie, Phang changed focus, putting the politics aside to concentrate on music production, becoming one of the most important producers of the early 1980s in the process. Phang took over the rhythm twins' Power House label around 1982, and with the duo forming the mainstays of his productions, the result was guaranteed audio dynamite, as this killer devotional track by Barrington Levy from 1983 so amply suggests—a beautiful extended slice of late roots, heading towards the emerging dancehall style.
A brand new collaboration between established saxophonist and flautist Sarah Tobias and veteran Jamaican producer, drummer and one-time member of the Cimarons.
`The Reggae Panther’ is a cover version of one of the most distinctive instrumentals and melodies of all time.
Dropping in a jazzy reggae style backed with a raw-to-the-bone stripped-down dub cut, mixed by Dougie Wardrop.
Produced by Dennis Brown and Ranking Joe
Originally released in 1996, this UK 12" features Venus (a somewhat mysterious singer who pops up on various Mad Professor productions) with a low slung, horn laden Lovers nugget + version.
The B.side is home to an essential Heavyweight Steppers track 'Only One God' with Mad Professor and Jah Shaka at the control. TIP!
Originally made back in 2002, this tune has never had a well deserved single release, so here it is remastered and backed with a version previously unreleased on vinyl! U Brown tells a story of his involvement in the soundsystem scene since the late 60’s, so come take a ride on this heavy musical excursion...
Produced by Jah Warrior, mixed by Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds Studio, mastered by Sam John at Precise Mastering.
About this book
The 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, singers, deejays, arrangers and record producers… who made the records and who made the sound of reggae available worldwide.
“Clearly this series is set to become the standard reference work on Jamaican music, such is its dizzying depths of research and the vast amount of oral evidence it has compiled from many years of interviews alongside critical quotes from recognised existing literature.”
Steve Barker
The Wire
"In this third volume the authors skillfully weave interview material into its narrative. Among other histories, it examines the work of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who transcended genre and became author of his own productions and, in the process, influenced the development of the major global artist Bob Marley. It examines the development of dub, the studio process that transformed the music, and in doing so exerted yet another influence on popular music on the world scale. It also examines the work of Lloyd 'King Jammy' James who utilised digital technological innovation to become a champion of sound system and record production and, thus, became the Eighties equivalent of the earlier innovator Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd.
All this, and much more, is told by many of the protagonists who created the phenomenon of reggae as a cultural force that has travelled far beyond the confines of Jamaica.”
Steve Barrow
Co-Author of “Reggae The Rough Guide”
“Noel Hawks’ & Jah Floyd’s third book on the history of the Jamaican recording business is another triumph. As with the first two volumes, they seamlessly weave quotes and recollections from the key players into the narrative, giving the reader a unique, and genuine, insight into the development of Jamaican music and the business of selling it. An essential read for anyone interested in ska or reggae and for all music lovers.”
Chris Lane
Fashion Records
“I can confidently say, without fear of contradiction, that the final part of Noel Hawks’ & Jah Floyd’s trilogy is every bit as meticulously researched and mentally stimulating as the first two volumes. It may be that no history of Jamaican music can ever be totally definitive given how many of reggae’s key singers, players and producers had already left Earth before anyone had the opportunity to get their takes on how it evolved. But, as of now, you will not find a more accomplished telling of the tale than that which is presented across the three volumes of ‘Jamaican Recordings’… an Order of Distinction-worthy accomplishment that should henceforth become an essential component of everyone’s reggae library.”
Tony Rounce
Ace Records Ltd
The Midnight Rock label was home to some of the greatest productions of the era, and like any smart Jamaican producer, label owner Nkrumah Jah Thomas worked his rhythms hard, using them to create scores of records by dozens of artists. Sometimes the tracks that he created were released, but still more languished in the vaults. Caught on multi-track tape, but never released.
That was the fate of a session that he recorded with Sugar Minott. The singer - known in the UK for his monster hit ‘Good Thing Going’ - had made his name in the vocal group The African Brothers, before working as a soloist for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. For the Acid Jazz distributed Roots Records, Thomas has worked hard in creating sharp new mixes for this single - a plea against gun violence as apt today as when it was put down on tape - the first fruits of that work.
A fantastic Radics rhythm with an exceptional vocal and brand-new dub by Jah Thomas and Rory on the flip. Adorned with the classic Midnight Rock label.
2024 Reissue
A UK Dub pairing of gigantic proportions from 1996. The late Jah Shaka round at Mad Professor's and getting the message across with Phasers set to stun. Restrained and musical throughout. A beautiful meeting. TIP!
The 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, singers, deejays, arrangers and record producers… who made the records and who made the sound of reggae available worldwide.
“This volume of what promises to become a crucial series covers in comprehensive fashion Jamaican music’s pivotal phase, when the music absorbed its US influences from soul and moved on from rock steady and progressed to the uniquely Jamaican sound of reggae and rockers.
It was a period in which old and new rhythms became the cornerstone of the music and thus the true
foundation of reggae. This second volume in the trilogy, amply illustrated, contains a wealth of interview testimony from the creators of the music and is both utterly authentic and essential reading.”
Steve Barrow
Co-author of ‘Reggae The Rough Guide’
“Noel Hawks takes another deep dive into the history of Jamaica’s recording studios, the businessmen who owned them and the record producers who worked in them. While the previous volume, ‘The Birth Of Ska’, dealt with Jamaica’s nascent music business and the journey, from its mento and folk roots to rhythm & blues and then ska, ‘Rock Steady To Rockers’ picks up the story as ska is about to transform into the smoother rock steady style and carries us through to reggae and the sonically sophisticated dub of the Seventies.
The book contains a stunning collection of hard facts about the business of making records, as well as personal recollections from many of the leading lights of Jamaica’s music scene, and is a fascinating read for record collectors, reggae fans and anyone who loves music.
Chris Lane
Fashion Records
“The second part of this important trilogy is no less informative and engrossing than the first volume. The author’s blending of his own authoritative narrative and entertaining quotes from people who watched everything that’s chronicled here unfold… artists, producers and early collectors… makes for a seamlessly entertaining read from start to finish.
If you couldn’t be there, or even thereabouts, at the time consider this book your very own literary TARDIS to help you to relive the evolution of Jamaican music at (almost) first hand. I’m very proud to have had even the smallest involvement with this essential read. Roll on Volume Three…”
Tony Rounce
Author & Music Historian
Jamaican roots reggae master, and frequent collaborator with British trip hop group Massive Attack,
teams up with former PiL bassist Jah Wobble for a
brand new set of studio recordings!
•Andy’s voice is one of the most distinguished and
inimitable in reggae and thoroughly shines on such
classics as Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” The Beatles’
“Come Together,” and America’s “A Horse With No
Name” PLUS new versions of Andy’s own classics
“Skylarking” and “Natty Dread A Weh She Want” and
more!
Wobble’s production blends reggae with modern
dub and world music for one of the richest reggae
albums likely to be relased this year!
