V.A. - Reggae Masterpiece Vol 1

V.A. - Reggae Masterpiece Vol 1

Joe Gibbs LP 1978 mixed by Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson

Another one of those obscure, non-descript compilation albums
that turn out to be filled to the brim with classics and
hard-to-find single tracks!

Jimmy London fell out of favor with the audience
rather early, and judging from the noise on the tape used for
"Am I That Easy To Forget", this could be the oldest one here.
The style would perhaps indicate 1973 or 74. Just a guess.
Jacob Miller's "I Am A Natty" was a 1975 single - check this
original mastering against the one later appearing on
"Joe Gibbs Revive 45s" where it had been freshened up inna
CD style. This one is darker, dreader and heavier, record
noise and all.

Beverley Bailey's romantic version of Satta Massagana may well
have been released in 1976, after Johnny Clarke's enormous
revitalisation of that riddim. The sound's typical Gibbs 76-7.
Sylford Walker's "Burn Babylon", a 1975 single, has since
appeared elsewhere, but still sounds heavy coming from original
JA vinyl.
Cornell Campbell was as much of a bandwagon jumper as anybody
else, here is his second (or first?) cut of the John Holt hit
"Up Park Camp" from 1977. Cornell, true to his fashion, made
some small changes and called it "No Man's Land". The other
cut of his was on the Gregory Isaacs "Slave Master" riddim.
That was a slow suggestive take, this is in fast and furious
rockers style.

Talking of slaves, the obscure Horace Andy track "Slave Driver"
must surely be one of his best! I guess it should be dated
circa 1975, judging from the drummer's style of playing.
The dates for the rest of the tracks is anyone's guess. I think
Lloyd Park's "For The Love Of You" may be from 1978 and
definitely has that sophisticated soul style that became popular late
in the 70s, compare with The Tamlins or Delroy Wilson's circa
1979 cuts for Gussie.

Joe Gibbs surely shared credit with Coxsone Dodd for being the
poorest manufacturer of vinyl records. This means the heaviest
possible vinyl restoration has been undertaken, with pre-sets
sweeping the vinyl four times with different settings and making
some eq adjustments along the way. Due to the incredible rumble
on the record, the bass line has been rebuilt to match the
original after the rumble removal. You'll get an idea of the
vinyl surface by looking at the image of the Side B label...

Jacob Miller - I Am A Natty
Beverley Bailey - I Was In Love
Horace Andy - Slave Driver
Lloyd Parks - Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Sylford Walker - Burn Babylon

Cornell Campbell - No Man's Land
Scotty - We're Gonna Fight
Jimmy London - Am I That Easy To Forget
Lloyd Parks - For The Love Of You
Lone Ranger - It Won't Be Long

Enos McLeod & Friends - Telaviv

Orbit LP 1981

if you like to read, I don't.

Enos McLeod - World In His Hand
Enos McLeod - Tel Aviv
Gregory Isaacs - Last Month
Enos McLeod - Jericho
The Uprising - Long Time
Enos McLeod - Made Up My Mind
Bobby Melody - You're Mine

Dennis Walks - Pretty Dress
Enos McLeod & Shorty The President - Jestering
Lloyd Clarke - Young Love
Gregory Isaacs - Write Myself A Letter
Bobby Melody - Channa Channa
Enos McLeod - Wicked A Wonder
Enos McLeod - Lonely Tear Drops

V.A. - Sufferers Heights 12" Collection

Complete collection of the UK based Sufferers Heights label 1979-80.

Locksley Castell - What A Great Day (It Will be)

Prince Jammy - Slaughterhouse Five

Sugar Minott & Captain Sinbad - Hard Time Pressure

Barnabas, Sugar & The Youth Promotion Band - Dub On The Pressure

Ranking Joe & The Youth Promotion - Youthman Promotion

Earl Zero - Please Officer

Augustus Pablo - Pablo In Moonlight City

Horace Andy & King Tubby's - Pure Ranking

The Return Of Jammy's HiFi

Trevor Ranking - Whip Them Jah Jah

Rod Taylor, Mikey Dread & King Tubby - Behold Him / Parrot Jungle

Rod Taylor, Mikey Dread & King Tubby - His Imperial Majesty

Earl Sixteen & Mikey Dread - African Tribesman

Mikey Dread - Butter 'Gainst Sun / Yoruba Dub

V.A. - Dubble Attack

Dubble Attack - The Original Pantomime Dee-Jay Collection 1972-1974

Shanachie CD 1990

Glen Brown, The Godson, the producer of these tracks had lots of talent, but a lack of money. If he had been a rich man he would probably have been even more influential to roots reggae music.

To me he is one of the unsung heroes of reggae. Where other producers got the credits, he was the true originator, the initiator, the artist producer with a vision, the man with style, grace, and passion. Enough admiration from me. Read on a real review from Rick Anderson, allmusic.com:

If you needed to be convinced of Glen Brown's importance during the early part of reggae's mid-1970s golden era, check out the roster of deejays who lined up to chat over his rhythms: U Roy, Prince Jazzbo, Big Youth, I Roy — this collection of singles is like a who's-who of first-generation reggae toasters. The rhythms will be familiar to those who already own Boat to Progress and Check the Winner, which feature the same tracks in vocal and instrumental settings, respectively. "Boat to Progress" is rendered here as "Mr. Want All" by the inimitable Prince Jazzbo, who also gets the privilege of riding the "Dirty Harry" rhythm; I Roy takes the latter rhythm even further with his excellent "Rasta on a Sunday." Dean Beckford does an equally fine job toasting over King Tubby's stop-and-start mix of "Father's Call," while Big Youth shows his stuff on "Opportunity Rock," "Spider to the Fly," and the title track. Highly recommended.

U Roy - No. 1 In The World
Big Youth - Opporunity Rock
Prince Jazzbo - Meaning Of One
I Roy - Rasta On A Sunday
Dean Beckford - Father's Call
The Godsons - This A Yeat Fe Rebels
Big Youth - Spider To The Fly
I Roy - Brother Toby Is A Movie From London
Prince Jazzbo - Mr. Harry Skank
Big Youth - Dubble Attack
Prince Hammer - Whole Lot Of Sugar
I Roy - Festive Season
Prince Jazzbo - Mr. Want It All
Lloyd Young - Butter Bread

V.A. - Rub A Dubble Reggae Vol 1 & 2

The Natural Ites - Picture On The Wall
Don Carlos & Gold - Declaration Of Rights
Pad Anthony - Carrot & Onion
Michael Prophet - Rich Man Poor Man
Charlie Chaplin & Don Carlos - Unity Is Strength
U Brown - Jam It Tonight
Sly & Robbie - African Culture
Keith Douglas - Angel
Junior Brown - My Devotion
Carol Brown & I Won't Hurt Your Feelings
The Natural Ites - Love And Understanding
Don Carlos - Get Up
Errol Dunkley - How Could I Let You Get Away
Michael Prophet - Never Fall In Love

Natural Ites - Lion Inna Jungle
Al Campbell - Bad Boy
U Brown - Tu Shung Peng
Don Carlos - Plantation
Don Carlos - Nice Time (Late Night Blues)
Yellowman & Peter Metro - The Girl Is Mine
Joseph Cotton - Me No Inna It
Tipper Lee & Rapper Robert - Dibi Dibi Sound
Peter Metro & Sister Charmaine - Dibi Dibi Girl
Keith Douglas - You Move Me
Undivided Roots - True Love
Earl Sixteen - Peek A Boo
Sugar Minott - I've Gotta Feeling
Errol Dunkley - Betcha By Golly Wow

I give the first prize for best track to Declaration Of Rights by Don Carlos. Let the ultimate stoned out mix from Peter Chemist lift you up, something real nice to be stuck with on the deserted island. Second prize goes to Don Carlos too! for Unity Is Strength together with Charlie Chaplin introducing to us the world's greatest singer! The Ken Bob - In Danger track (VA Roots Of David lp Tamoki Wambesi) pon de same riddim is also terrible. And third prize for you Don Carlos - Late Night Blues. Hail Don Carlos! Thanks to all singers, players an dubbers who made this album possible.

Both albums presented here inna one 2CD issue CSA 1988, recorded 1982-1987.

The 2CD issue of these two dubble LP's used to be available at the local warehouse for a penny and is packed with gems from the hard to find CSA label. CSA, like Burning Sounds too, was considered a B-label for often omitting any info about the album except for a tracklist, which was in case of the Burning Sounds also often wrongly printed on the cover. But that had it's charm and made the music a bit more mystical. "It's Jamaican music, that's all we know."

Now reggae vinyl lovers know the pros of the beautiful format that is called 12". The sound can be so warm and direct cause there is 12" of wax to press like 6 minutes music on. (My needle loves a deep groove.) You won't hear that warm sound on these mp3's presented here, or less.

But it's great to hear these tracks in their extended versions anyway. The pictures above from these albums are from the two 2LP's and it says 19 classic rockers! each. Another dissapointment: I got the 2CD having 28 tracks (2 x 14), extracting from both dubble LP's, (but having no artwork or camera I put up those LP pictures instead - artwork of the 2CD WANTED please anyone) so have to do with that for now. Hmmm, forget about it, just....