Black Sounds of Freedom : Black Uhuru

This one of the great Black Uhuru albums released in the prime of the groups late seventies / early eighties domination of the roots vocal trio scene.  The original album was released in 1981 by Greensleeves, but I've got the Artists Only CD release featuring the cover art found at the left.  With 10 tracks on the original release, it serves as a great base for numerous dub/extended tracks found on other CD releases (Greensleeves 2006).  Built from the studios of Harry J's and King Tubby's in Kingston, JA : Prince Jammy serves as producer with Sylvan Morris as engineer and they do a great job of keeping the rhythms tight.  My favorite tracks on this one are : #1 (I Love King Selassie), #2 (Satan Army Band), and #9 (Willow Tree).  This album is truly a solid listen all the way through and when paired other Black Uhuru original such as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" it makes for a nice double spin in your disc player.

Bubble Up (Showcase Vol.1) : Wayne Jarrett

Another great Wackies production (also known as Showcase Vol. 1)with heavy roots beats and the soft spoken voice of Wayne Jarrett.  The original track list from  this 1982 release shows only six songs, but each one is either an extended mix or an instrumental.  A great overall album, but still with it's stand out tracks: #1 (Brimstone & Fire), #2 (Every Tounge Shall Tell), and #6 (Holy Mount Zion).  Keep in mind this is one of the original Lloyd "Bullwackie" Barnes productions out of his Wackies label in New York City.  A great talent for the time and place and an important step in the North American extension of the roots reggae movement of the seventies and in to the eighties.  These rythms are tight, the Wackies label could almost will things to come together in top notch style for each vocalist and different situation, with excellent results.  Everything dialed in straight.  Wayne Jarrett is a great roots vocalist, look for his works to be spread out over several Wackies, Greensleeves, and King Tubby compilations.

Africa Must Be Free By 1983 + Dub : Hugh Mundell

This was Hugh Mundell's breakout album, originally released in 1978 by Message, along with the dub tracks on the same album later on CD by Ras and Greensleeves.  There are 17 tracks total on this one, the first half is original vocals and the second half is all of the dub tracks.  This is also one of the most well known Augustus Pablo produced albums.  Pablo brought in great reggae talents to do the engineering : Errol Thompson, Sylvan Morris, & Phillip Smart.  Tracks #1 (Let's All Unite) & #6 (Run Revolution A Come) are the highlights.  Hugh Mundell was a hot commodity on the international reggae market from the get go.  Mundell released two more outstanding albums in his short and sweet career.  My favorite of the two is Jah Fire and a great compilation disc opportunity is The Blessed Youth from 2003.  The "Africa Must Be Free" album was wildly popular at the time of its release and interest from the reggae public has never really slowed down.  This is known as a reggae standard and benchmark milestone in the roots tradition history.

Unconquered People : Israel Vibration

This disc provides a great look at one of Reggae's sweetest vocal trios in their prime.  Original recorded material from about 1978-1980 and released on LP by Talent Music in 1978 and Greensleeves in 1980, then on CD in 1990 also by Greensleeves and again in 1996 on RAS.  Israel Vibration is a killer vocal trio with it's three legendary members: Skelly, Apple, and Wiss. Their albums from the seventies to early eighties are the heaviest, from the last great roots movement coming out of the '70's.  The backing musicians on this one include Augustus Pablo and the Barrett's (Aston "Familyman" and Carlton).  10 tracks total on this one.  Recorded at Tuff Gong - Kinsgton with mixing engineer Errol Brown.  These three tracks are a good example of what this album offers: #2 (Friday Evening), #5 (Top Contol), #10 (Practice What Jah Teach) this last track has a killer guitar riff and a great conscious message.  There's a little horns, piano/keyboard in almost all the tracks.  It's a well engineered and produced set.

MUNDELL Greensleeves Reggae Classics : Hugh Mundell

This is a Great Hugh Mundell disc originally released on LP by Greensleeves back in 1982 and released on CD in 2004.  Top to bottom, this set is all wonderfully unique roots from the the tragically short career of Mundell.  There are twelve tracks total on the CD ; the last four are considered bonus tracks that were added on to the original LP set.  This album has got the production works of Junjo Lawes and Scientist at the boards and features some great musicians like Flabba on bass.  These tracks were recorded at Channel One and then mixed over at Tubby's.  If you collect this disc and pair it with the albums "Blessed Youth" and "Jah Fire" (a Black Arrow label release with Prince Jammy mixing and production).  Really all the tracks on this disc are nice, but my favorites are #2 (Rasta Have the Handle) and #10 (Can't Pop No Style).  Their is a great live version of Can't Pop No Style out there.  It's extremely deep roots and extremely hard to find.

Weakheart Fadeaway : Ranking Joe

Greensleeves and Ranking Joe released this 10 track set back in 1978, yet Joe's roots dj messages stay relevant in today's world. This seems like a short album when you look at the length and number of tracks, but each one is an excellent example of 70's roots dj at it's finest. My favorites on this one are #3 (Dread Earthquake), #4 (Natty Dread is a Trademan), and #6 (Weakheart Fadeaway) which is Joe version of Junior Byles "Fade Away" famous from the Rockers Soundtrack : Various Artists. This has got to be one of Ranking Joe's top 3 albums and with talent like Ansel Collins, Sly, and Robbie - I consider it a classic for sure. The studio engineering was done at Channel One by Ernest Hoo Kim, Maxie, and Barnabas - produced by Joseph Hoo Kim. I think the most recent release of this disc is a Greensleeves "Reggae Classics" CD from 2004. You should be able to pick it up for about $6-$8 on the used CD market.

Big Showdown : Scientist vs. Prince Jammy

If you like solid roots dub this is going to be a great album for your collection. Let's begin with a "ringside" introduction by Jah Thomas - Big Showdown at King Tubby's is a Greensleeves production with Junjo Lawes and is presented showdown style with alternating dub tracks, starting track #1 with Scientist and proceeding from there. All tracks were laid at Channel One by the Roots Radics band - a ton of original reggae talent including Flabba Holt, Chinna Smith and many other notable musicians. The dubbed-out set list includes many tracks from Barrington Levy ( Bounty Hunter 2-Disc ) and is solid from start to finish - No favorites here, it's all good. The cover art puts our champions is a fun comical atmosphere, but this is some serious business once you get in to it.

Who Say Jah No Dread : Jacob Miller

This disc shows us some great tracks from Jacob Miller alternating with the instrumental/dub track featuring Augustus Pablo and King Tubby. This is a great disc to have in your catalog because it serves a dual purpose. Not only do you get 6 Jacob Miller classics, but you get the complementary dub sides to these gems. This is a Jamaican production through and through. All material came from Dynamic, Randy's, and King Tubby's. Many of the usual suspects are present in the line-up: Bobby Ellis, Sly & Robbie, Chinna, and others. These classic mid-seventies sounds were compiled and released by Greensleeves in 1992, the sound quality is excellent and the set list is solid. My favorites on this one are: #3 (False Rasta), #4 (Hungry Town Scank), #7 (Who Say Jah No Dread), and #8 (Jah Dread). Even is you have some of this material on other discs - these tracks are set up nicely and it's a pleasure when listened to straight through.

Greensleeves 12" Rulers : Jah Thomas

This is my favorite disc of three "Greensleeves Rulers" that I have found. The other offerings are from Gussie Clarke and Junjo Lawes. This Jah Thomas showcase features 11 tracks by various artists such as: Triston Palmer, Toyan, Little John, Michael Palmer, Billy Boyo, and the DJ skills of Jah Thomas himself. My copy of this CD is from 2008, but the material was originally recorded back in 1981-1984. A great time for reggae - the transition from deep roots of the 70's, in to the hard conscious dj scene the early 80's. My favorite tracks on this one are: #3 (Joker Smoker - Triston Palmer), #4 (Loafter Smoker - Papa Bruce), and #11(Scandal - Billy Boyo). The standout track to my is #1 (Entertainment) with an extended DJ version featuring Jah Thomas and Toyan. The booklet for this disc completes this nice package. It's about 10 pages equally split between information on Jah Thomas and studio/dancehall photos. Some interview question with Jah Thomas round out the booklet nicely. Overall this is a great disc and I highly recommend adding it to your permanent reggae collection.

Englishman : Barrington Levy

This is simply one of best albums in my collection. A very rootsy & classic album from Barrington Levy in his younger years. I think it's from 1979-1980 off of the Greensleeves label. This one is solid from start to finish, but a couple tracks stand out for shure: #6 (Look Youthman), #8 (Blackheartman), and #9 (Money Makes Friends). Of course the last four tracks are killer extended mixes of (Sister Carol) and (Englishman), but you have to make shure you get the recent re-issued disc. Mr. Levy displays some outstanding vocal range and these great fluctuating notes that fit into the music as naturally as another instrument. Englishman is a Junjo Lawes production with classics studio musicians like Flabba, Santa, and Chinna. When you see the talent that layed these tracks you'll put it in your top ten as well. The question is how close to the top it will be.