Owner Fe De Yard : Ethiopians

This is a selection that's been in my permanent catalog for over ten years now. Another quality release from the Heartbeat label (1994) and a great compilation of classic roots with great sound quality. The Ethiopians are some of the old school reggae masters who made that transition from the sixties to seventies a legendary time in reggae culture. Clement Dodd and Leonard Dillon recorded these 15 tracks at Studio One and Randy's mostly in the mid-sixties and the seventies. My favorites on this one are: #1 (Owner Fe De Yard), #3 (One Heart), #4 (Bad to Worse), #5 (So You Look Pon It), and #10 (Fire Fire). The Ethiopians have a very gentle vocal delivery that softens these roots tracks. Like most Heartbeat discs, this has a decent booklet that comes with it. It discusses the early influences of church music and the first meetings with Bob, Bunny, and Peter. Also tracks notes on each song and an interview with Leonard Dillon round out the booklet and make this a quality representation of the prime Ethiopians tracks and a glimpse in to their background.

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.

I Love Marijuana : Linval Thompson

The name says it all. Linval Thompson is fully motivated by his raw emotion on the subject of the title track of this album. Linval is the producer and main vocal feature on this 1978 Trojan release. My copy is a CD released in 1997 also off the Trojan label. There are 11 tracks on this one and they're all relatively short from about 2 minutes to about 4 ; most of it was recorded at Channel One - Kingston. My favorites on this one are : #1 ( I Love Marijuana ), #4 ( Not Follow Fashion ) a Ken Boothe cover, and #11 ( Jamaican Colly ) an I Love Marijuana Version. This is classic seventies roots from one on the last great producers of the era. He's stacked his musical line-up with extraordinary talent including : Sly, Robbie, Horsemouth, Familyman, Chinna, and many others. This one might not be essential to your collection, but the album art is totally a great example of the original style of album cover art fro the late seventies. Other great Linval Thompson tracks can be found on Ride On Dreadlocks ( Ride On Dreadlocks : Linval Thompson ) and other compilations.

Live In Chicago 1984 With Sly & Robbie : Black Uhuru

This disc is off of the Taxi label and released in 1984. Original Black Uhuru with Micheal Rose and backed by Sly & Robbie on tour. This disc has 11 tracks total, including: #1 Shine Eye Gal, #2 Plastic Smile, #9 General Penitentiary, and #10 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Great sound quality for the live recording. Don't confuse this with "Black Uhuru - Live '84" witch has 13 tracks off of the Tabou 1 label and released in 2000. It also starts with Shine Eye Gal and Plastic Smile. Taxi has another Sly & Robbie backed live tour recording - a 2 disc 1986 tour with Yellowman, Ini Kamoze, and others. The Ini Kamoze portion includes a lot of material off his famous self titled debut album ( Ini Kamoze : Ini Kamoze ) . These discs give us the opportunity to hear these legendary musicians performing on tour in the prime time of their careers. It's classic material and it sounds great in concert.

Ital Dub : Augustus Pablo

This is a great album to really showcase Pablo and his melodica as the featured instrument. Original work from 1974-1975 and engineered by King Tubby. What you really get is 12 really dubbed out Augustus Pablo tracks. I have a CD copy from 1999 released by Culture Press. My favorite tracks on this one are : #2 (Road Block), #9 (Mr. Big), and #11 ( House Raid). Road Block is a version of the classic Bob Marley track and Mr. Big is a Natty Dread version, both are outstanding interpretations. House Raid is a Burial version and you really feal it through the haunting melodica of Pablo. When I'm looking at Augustus Pablo albums against each other, I like this one quite a bit. It's solid roots dubbed by the master Tubby and the sound quality is clean. Some of my other favorite Pablo albums are Authentic Golden Melodies : Augustus Pablo & This is Augustus Pablo - Rebel, Rock, Reggae : Augustus Pablo . Check them out for a more complete Pablo experience.

Police & Thieves : Junior Murvin

Most of us know about this classic already, but I would like to do a quick review anyway. My copy of this CD is from 1991 off of the Island label. This is the older copy with 10 tracks. Island has since released a remastered disc in 2003 with 15 tracks total. My favorites on this one are #2 (Police & Thieves) and #3 (Solomon). I haven't had a chance to hear the five extra remastered tracks, but if the quality is the same as the original Lee Perry production, then it should be stand up work. The material on the 10 tack disc was originally released back in 1977 ; produced by Lee Perry and backed by the legendary Upsetters. The title track can be found all over the reggae scene, appearing on numerous compilations - it appears on the Rockers Soundtrack (reviewed 1/17/09) for instance. Police & Thieves has left a long legacy of different versions and rare verses by Junior Murvin and other artists as well and should be noted as a tremendous contribution to all reggae music.

Curly Locks : Junior Byles

This is basically a greatest hits album for Junior Byles with 20 or 22 tracks, depending on which copy of the disc you have. Originally released back in 1997 on the Heartbeat label. It's filled with extended mixes and alternate takes showcasing other stars such as Dennis Alcapone. There are actually 3 curly locks versions right in the middle of the album. A lot of Lee Perry production with the Upsetters. Most of the tracks on this one are classics but my favorites are: #4 (Lick the Pipe Peter) and #15 (Got the Tip). The material was recorded from 1970 - 1976 with the Upsetters. Lick the Pipe Peter is a "Fever" version featuring Errol Thompson and Jah-T that left a solid impression. Got the Tip is about a horse racing tip and a man down on his luck. #18 (Cutting Razor) is also a notable track - it's a "Stepping Razor" version backed by the Versatiles. All and all this is a very good disc and could find a home in your collection quite easily.

Wackies Tribesman Assault Dub

Another set of Wackies classic dub sound. 10 tracks on this one, but every track is a winner. Maybe eight of the tracks have a severe smokey vibe to them and the other two a little more up-beat and bouncy. Drum, bass, and guitar are mostly featured, but that's all we need sometimes. My favorites on this one are #3 (Tribal Rock) and #4 (Dread Feeling). Really, the whole album is nice to listen to straight through. Nothing too aggressive on the album, which makes it really nice to chill to, but still very satisfying. The CD was released in 2003 and the original LP album was released back in 1977. Like most Wackies dub material, this one belongs in your collection. If you like this disc then you should check out the Wackies Sampler series, Creation Dub, and the Wayne Jarrett/Horace Andy Showcase.

Too Much Iron in the Fire : Blackbeard & Friends

This 2 disc set is a compilation that represents the work of Roy "Blackbeard" Sinclair. Each disc has 20 tracks, but most of what you will hear are 3 maybe 4 versions in a row of the same rhythm. It seems Blackbeard borrowed many of these familiar beats we're used to, but that seems to be a more common practice with the increasing number of dj's, engineers, and producers on the reggae scene. There are a ton of artists that have contributed to this release including : Barry Brown, Johnny Clarke, Horace Andy, Trinity, Jacob Miller, Wayne Jarrett, and Ronnie Davis. So, when listening to this set straight through, you'll hear a couple of versions by some of the masters listed above - and then maybe a dub version by the Blackbeard All-Stars. My favorites on disc 1 are: #2 (Pass up the Chalice - Barry Brown), #7 (False Rasta - Jacob Miller), and #14 (Cayamanas Park Dub). This last one is a Blackbeard dub track of Black Uhuru/Ranking Joe's "Rent Man". My favorites on disc 2 are: #8 (Eyes on Africa - the Mighty Diamonds) and #11 (Mount Zion - Wayne Jarrett). This is a Trojan release from 2004 and the material was originally recorded 1974-1984.

Talking Revolution : Peter Tosh

This is a 2005 2 disc release from Pressure Sounds. Disc 1 has 8 tracks of live concert material from the One Love Peace Concert. Disc 2 is an acoustic set of 11 songs recorded at US radio stations while touring North America. Most people will tell you Disc 2 is far superior but I feal it the other way around. Tracks #2 (Four Hundred Years) and #3 (Stepping Razor) on the Live CD are my personal favorites for this 2 disc release. If Tosh is one of your favorites then no doubt you'll dig this high quality booklet and rare set lists. Really, most of the Peter Tosh I listen to are on the "Legalize It" and "Equal Rights" albums. A few of my favorite singles are "Wanted Dread and Alive" and "Reggae Mylitis". The deep and powerful messages of his earlier work with the Wailers is another great taste of his brilliance and wisdom. The album "Burnin" or the single "You can't Blame the Youth" are two good examples. "Talking Revolution" is a good deal to find used for about $12 or less on CD. For me Peter Tosh usually isn't something I have in regular rotation, but instead it's music I find myself craving for the specific messages and the energy it gives out.

Columbia Colly : Jah Lion

This is a Lee Perry production originally released on LP in 1976 and later released by both Island and Mango on CD. It was recorded at the Perry's Black Ark in Kingston, JA. This is an interesting album because Jah Lion is also known as Jah Lloyd (Pat Francis). Most of his work was done under the name Jah Lloyd including one of my favorite albums "A Double Helping of Jah Lloyd and King Tubby". All of Jah Lion/Lloyd's work is solid roots dub and dj material weather it's with Perry or Tubby. There's eleven tracks total on this disc and my favorites are #1 (Wisdom), #5 (Columbia Colly), and #7 (Bad Luck Natty). There's also a Satta Version and Police and Thieves Version (Soldier and Police War) that round out this disc nicely. His smokey voice textures and chilled mellow delivery make Jah Lion and Columbia Colly a great disc to have on while just relaxing in the afternoon. There's a lot of classic rhythms are on this album and Jah Lion matches his vocals to each with great success.

Larry Marshall in Dub / World in Dub

I've been shopping for some new reggae recently and went straight to my favorite on-line store, Ernie B's. They have the best selection of reggae I've ever seen. The layout and navigation of the website is super easy to use. They have sound samples on selected albums and offer many details including: brief reviews, contributing artists, recording locations, and more. My last purchase included Larry Marshall/King Tubby's I Admire You in Dub and Ranking Joe - World in Dub. I found them both in the "Blowout" list of sale items for about a dollar fifty each. That's right, they're that cheap !!! These are good albums too. I Admire You in Dub is 14 tracks of totally solid roots dub Tubby style. My favorites are #12(You Lie Version) and #13(Heavy Heavy Load) which is an extended version. This CD is a release off of the Motion label. I like most of Ranking Joe's material so I figured I would try World of Dub and I was pleasantly surprised by the 12 fresh dub tracks composed with the Twilight Circus Sound System. This disc has a more modern sound, at times similar to Some of Jah Shaka and Mad Professor's work at Ariwa. My favorites on this one are #1 (World in Dub) and #6 (Seek Ya Dub). These two discs are just a peek of what's at Ernie B's so check it out some time.