DKR, Digikiller Records / Deeper Knowledge Records is a reggae record label from Brooklyn, New York.
Their goal is simple - legit and high quality repressings of rare and killer tunes.
No bootlegs, no bad new artwork, no terrible noisy or warped pressings. |
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Uprising
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Junior Khadaffy - Rampers Music / Version |
Still Cool / Thomas White - Crab in a Barrel / Ivory Girl |
SSVW (Silk Satin Velvet and Wool) - Natty Burry / Advocates Aggregation - Satan Pickney |
Pablove Black - Cuts and Bruises / Advocates Aggregation - Blood of the Lamb |
Albert Malawi - Children of the Emperor / Advocates Aggregation - Ethiopia Firs |
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DKR-177 Junior Khadaffy - Rampers Music / Version
A mythical tune for all serious digital reggae collectors, finally reissued. The obscure Junior Khadaffy (various spellings!) released only a handful of tunes in the mid-late '80s, but all are fantastic. This one was cut for E&F Studios in the Bronx, ran by the late artist I-Plee. Stereo Fletcher happens to be family to I-Plee, producing several records by the artist for his own labels. But the works went both ways, and Stereo produced this one for release on E&F's in-house label. Slick but killer digital reggae, this one has always reminded us of the production style of Little Kirk's "Weed Them Out", a fantastic arrangement, great vocals and a complex head-nodding rhythm. The original press is extremely rare and the tune is simply too good to remain that way, so here it is, top top top shelf '80s digital, now available for all.
DKR-176 Still Cool / Thomas White - Crab in a Barrel / Ivory Girl
From a slightly later date than the Uprising label singles, here's a killer double sided discomix 10" on the Stereo Uprising label. One side features Thomas White's "Ivory Girl", a haunting vocal over a killer Black Ark rhythm. This was originally released on the Hit Run label, licensed to the label while Stereo was in the UK in the early '80s. On the B-side we have the awesome "Crab in a Barrel" by Still Cool. Still Cool was a fantastic harmony group that Stereo produced many tracks with in the late '70s/early '80s. This tune was only ever released as the B-side of the rare NY 12" issue of Still Cool's "To Be Poor Is a Crime" single, popularized in the UK via heavy play by Jah Shaka, who also released it on single on his own label. This "Stereo Uprising" label design was used by Stereo when he was resident in the Bronx and releasing some 12-inch singles.
DKR-175 SSVW (Silk Satin Velvet and Wool) - Natty Burry / Advocates Aggregation - Satan Pickney
The enigmatic SSVW aka Silk Satin Velvet and Wool, is just a one-off alias for Carl "Stereo" Fletcher himself, despite this tune long having been incorrectly attributed to Little Roy. Stereo wrote and sang this awesome roots tune, a warning to all false rastas behaving like "satan pickney." We love the lyrics to this one, and to top that, the B-side features one of our favorite underrated dub versions of all time, with Sylvan Morris in a vicious mode, getting out of character and mixing much more, to our ears, in the style in King Tubby.
DKR-174 Pablove Black - Cuts and Bruises / Advocates Aggregation - Blood of the Lamb
Pablove Black was the chief multi-instrumentalist and arranger among the 12 Tribes musicians, as well as a mainstay at Studio 1. He cut this wicked instrumental piece for Stereo's Uprising label, with a nice dub version on the B-side, mixed by Sylvan Morris. A long time hard to find tune that we always felt needed a reissue.
DKR-173 Albert Malawi - Children of the Emperor / Advocates Aggregation - Ethiopia Firs
Finally, a reissue program of Carl "Stereo" Fletcher's amazing mid 1970's Uprising label. Stereo was a singer and producer who's handful of roots reggae releases on his Uprising and Stereo Beat labels in the mid-late '70s are some of the best of the era. Affiliated with the 12 Tribes of Israel musicians, Stereo's productions captured some of their best performances. We'll be (re)issuing some of the best released and previously unreleased cuts from this '70s era and beyond, as Stereo has kept producing right thru to the present day.
Thru our previous releases on the Negus Music label (with more yet to come!), you should know how much we like Albert "Ilawi" Malawi. Known as a great drummer and also as selector of the legendary Jah Love sound system, Ilawi is also a fantastic vocalist and here is maybe his best record, one of the best roots records of the 1970's, and a great dub mixed by Sylvan Morris. |
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Junior Khadaffy - Rampers Music |
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DKR-177 |
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Still Cool / Thomas White - Crab in a Barrel / Ivory Girl |
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DKR-176 |
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SSVW (Silk Satin Velvet and Wool) - Natty Burry / Advocates Aggregation - Satan Pickney |
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DKR-175 |
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Pablove Black - Cuts and Bruises / Advocates Aggregation - Blood of the Lamb |
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DKR-174 |
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Albert Malawi - Children of the Emperor / Advocates Aggregation - Ethiopia Firs |
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DKR-173 |
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Jah Life - 2nd Release
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Jah Life - Jah Life in Dub |
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The infamous and legendary "Jah Life in Dub" LP, finally released. Originally slated for release in late '80/early '81, this was to be Jah Life's first dub LP, featuring all exclusive mixes to now-classic Barrington Levy tunes. For one reason or another, the LP was never released. To confuse matters, a couple years later, some of the unused jackets were given to Germain to house an untitled dub LP of his productions. Naturally, we needed to rectify this situation. So here it is, finally released 34 years later! Featuring ten killer dubs to Barrington Levy tunes, ALL MIXED BY SCIENTIST AT KING TUBBY'S. Six out of the ten tracks are previously unreleased mixes, including a dub to the song "Jah Life" which has never been available anywhere before. As an added bonus, the first pressing of this LP will come housed in the original jackets from 1980, which features killer artwork by Oneil Nanco. |
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Jah Life - Jah Life in Dub |
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JL-013 |
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Wackie's - 2nd Release
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Lutan Fyah / Jah Batta - Dem No Like Mi Address / Who is the Almighty |
Joe Axumite - Home to Africa / Troubled Land / Simple Little Woman |
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Lutan Fyah - Dem No Like Mi Address A milestone release, the first contemporary productions to be released by DKR! Bullwackie is still keeping the faith, recording and producing artists from his Bronx homebase studio. When we heard these awesome new roots productions in 2013, they blew us away. Calling to mind the best modern roots produced by Exterminator in the 1990's, we had to give these cuts a release. Recorded, voiced and mixed at Bullwackie's studio on White Plains Road. The A-side is a vocal cut by Lutan Fyah, followed by a deejay cut by Wackie's stable stalwart Jah Batta. The b-side is two different style dubs (one with horns!) from Bullwackie, still a virtuoso behind the mixing board.
Joe Axumite - Home to Africa / Troubled Land / Simple Little Woman
Three awesome Wackie's roots cuts from Joe Axumite, all previously available on compilation LP's, now together on one killer 10" EP.
"Troubled Land" and "Simple Little Woman" were originally released on the "Black World" LP, while "Home to Africa" was originally on "Wackie's Selective Showcase Vol. 1" LP. Joe Axumite supposedly recorded an LP worth of material around this time, but an album never materialized due to some of the tapes being lost. What a shame!
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Lutan Fyah - Dem No Like Mi Address |
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DKR-170 |
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Joe Axumite - Home to Africa / Troubled Land / Simple Little Woman |
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DKR-133 |
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Jah Life
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Scientist - …The Dub Album They Didn’t Want You To Hear! |
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Totally killer previously unreleased dub companion LP to Flick Wilson's "School Days" LP. Jah Life was no slacker when it came to mixing dubs, and sat in with Scientist at King Tubby's for the mixing of many of the classic Junjo/Radics/Scientist albums. But more importantly, they also mixed a ton load of dubs for Jah Life himself, many of which, like this album, remain unreleased...until now! Nine out of ten tracks from the Flick Wilson album are dubbed here, and one track from the Wayne Jarrett "What's Wrong..." album. Classic Scientist 1980 style mixing, nothing else like it, hard stuff. Cover features a fantastic previously unseen photo from Beth Lesser. |
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Scientist - …The Dub Album They Didn’t Want You To Hear! |
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JL027 |
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Aires
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Jah Joe – Dreadlocks Song |
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Deep mystical Wackie's production from Jah Joe (aka Joe Axumite) in chanting deejay mode, one of the best 45's on Aires. |
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Jah Joe – Dreadlocks Song |
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DKR-134 |
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Senrab - 2nd Release
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Jah Tuff – Thriller in Manila |
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Killer double sider from Wackie's, deejay and vocal cuts to a tuff murky rhythm. Jah Tuff deejays about the legendary Ali/Fraser bout, while John Clarke reminisces about an old friend. |
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Jah Tuff – Thriller in Manila |
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DKR-132 |
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Swing Bird
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Fashioneers – Guiding Light |
Mighty Abidjans - Untamed |
Mighty Abidjans – Don’t Change The System |
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To go along with the DKR February 2014 release of Part 1 of 7" reissues from the SWING BIRD label, we've put together a history of the two awesome and related groups who will be reissued, THE FASHIONEERS and their later incarnation, THE MIGHTY ABIDJANS. These groups self-produced all their music on their own SWING BIRD label from approx. 1975 thru 1982. Read on and learn the details of these until now mysterious reggae groups. Following the story is a discography and some great photos of both groups' one-time lead singer and song writer, Mr. Jaiq Sterling. Jaiq has a fantastic history in reggae music dating back to 1968, having been involved in but a couple of those many and too-often speculated-about and unknown groups of the era when pre-release blanks were the order of the day. We as latter-day listeners can often only play detective to try and know the story of these groups, but here's one instance where we've cracked the case. All that is recalled is below, so read on and enjoy!
The Fashioneers and the Mighty Abidjans are two related groups who until now have remained obscure and known mainly only to record collectors. However these groups made a handful of the best roots harmony records of the late 1970's and early 1980's. Much like HYPERLINK "http://dkr.bigcartel.com/category/fox-fire" the Fox Fire label who produced a small but deadly output of music during the same era, the relative commercial non-success of the Fashioneers/Abidjans does not at all correlate to their quality. Over the years, a handful of their tunes have bubbled up from the thousands of singles released at the time, to be recognized by those in the know as tip-top shelf material. These songs were crying out for availability and a light being cast on the details of their story. We tracked down one-time lead vocalist and song writer for both groups, Jaiq Sterling, and subsequently the other surviving members of the group, to get the story and get these rightful classic tunes back on the road.
Both groups began with Leonard Billings, who is unfortunately and sadly no longer with us. Leonard was a tailor by trade, but had begun singing in the late 1960's with the group HYPERLINK "http://www.reggaefever.ch/rkr/trackList?genKind=artist&generic=selectors" The Selectors. By 1975 that group had dissolved, and Leonard recruited Jaiq Sterling and Pixley Brown to form the Fashioneers. Jaiq Sterling too was by then an experienced musician, having also been recording since the 1960's with his previous group The Destroyers/Soulites for both Lloyd 'Matador' Daley and Coxsone Dodd at Studio 1, as well as more recently in 1975 as an interim member of the Black Traps (see photos and the full details of Jaiq's very interesting discography below!). The Fashioneers would be different though, as from the outset it was determined that the new group would be independent, and produce and release all their own music. So the group went to Channel 1 and cut their first tune, "Guiding Light." With Jaiq writing the song and singing lead, backing by the Revolutionaries, and equipped with a hard dub mixed by Ernest Hookim, the single is a masterpiece of militant '70s roots harmony. It was released shortly there after on the revived and updated Swing Bird label, which Leonard had first used back in the early '70s and would from now on serve as the label for all of both groups eventual releases. When "Guiding Light" failed to make a real mark and the group's progress stalled a bit, Jaiq left the group. Afterwards, Leonard sang lead on two more songs under the Fashioneers moniker, again releasing both on 45's. These are the equally great "Give a Helping Hand" (coming soon!), and the softer and less memorable "Give Me Right Now."
By 1980, none of the three singles by the Fashioneers had garnered much attention, and Leonard dissolved the group and was seeking members for a new group, to be dubbed The Mighty Abidjans. In this group Leonard was joined by new members Glenford McLeggan and Kingsley Irons. Glenford played some instruments but had never previously recorded, while Kingsley had been a member of The Shockers in the late 1960's (anyone know about them?). It was this trio that cut the Abidjans' first tune "Whip Them Jah Jah", which in addition to its Jamaican release, was licensed to April Records in America. The New Jersey label is now best known for releasing the classic albums by the Mighty Threes. Shortly after this, Leonard again approached Jaiq about joining his group. Jaiq agreed, and the new four man Mighty Abidjans group returned to Channel One in 1980, this time to cut one of Jaiq's new compositions, "Untamed." To our ears one of the fiercest songs of self-determination ever to come from Jamaica, the boldness of the lyrics had a rhythm to match, a very tough one from the emergent Roots Radics Band, who were now resident at Channel 1. A while later in 1982, the group decided to try their hand at an updated version of The Fashoineers' "Guiding Light." Remixing and revoicing the original 1975 rhythm track, and adding percussion overdubs by Bongo Herman, the tune came out arguably harder and better than before. Both songs were again released on Swing Bird 45's, with "Untamed" catching the attention of the fledgling No. 1 Rock label in the UK, who after hearing the 45, wrote the band a letter asking to release a discomix version for them in the UK. The group agreed, and returned to Channel 1 studio to voice a deejay piece to be added to the vocal cut. Though uncredited on the subsequent twelve inch, the deejay on the record was actually group member Kingsley Irons. It would seem even with the disco release in the UK, "Untamed" also failed to bust the group out further, despite them also having a nearly full page write up with band photo in the Jamaica Star newspaper appearing shortly after the song's release. A scan of this article can be seen below. Differing opinions within the group and slow progress again made Jaiq look elsewhere, and by later in 1982 he had left the group. Sometime shortly after, the remaining members managed one last attempt, cutting and releasing two more 45's, "Oh No Girl", another soft lovers number, and "Don't Change the System", which re-uses the rhythm from "Untamed" but with a much more straight mix. And it seems as though the story ends there, as quietly as they made this handful of now-classics, they were done, the group finished and the members going their separate ways. But we're thankful for the perseverance they showed in the tough JA music business, because it left us with these gems to discover years later, to finally be recognized worldwide as among the high water marks of their moment in Jamaican music.
Jaiq Sterling Discography
The Soul Might > The Destroyers > The Soulites - 1969-1971
Jaiq Sterling, Darvel Weir, Carlton Paterson (later producer of the Black & White label)
The group's first ever recording was for Lloyd 'Matador' Daley in 1969.
The Soul Might aka The Destroyers aka The Scorchers - Dengue Fever (Matador FLD 7759 FRM)
Note: The name 'The Scorchers' is a posthumous mis-crediting by the producer Lloyd 'Matador' Daley, as the Soul Might/Destroyers are NOT the group who did the song 'Ugly Man.' Their original name was the Soul Might which at the time of the recording, the producer asked they change to 'The Destroyers.'
Their next recordings were for Coxsone Dodd/Studio 1, several songs were recorded, beginning in 1969. Arriving at Studio 1 as 'The Destroyers', the group changed their name to 'The Soulites' after realizing their was now another group called 'The Destroyers.' Please note that this 'Soulites' is not the group who recorded 'Rise & Shine' on the Gemini label, that is yet another group. The Soulites also did harmonies for other (solo) artists at Studio 1. Jaiq recalls one such song as "Wednesday's Child" by one Frank Diamond. This artist and song is unknown to me, possibly unreleased, any further info is appreciated. All day rehearsals and sessions at Studio 1 are also recalled, with other artists such as The Cables and The Royals also alternately rehearsing and recording throughout the day.
Recordings:
The Destroyers aka The Soulites - Burning a Pagan aka On That Day (blank - DYNA CS 337-1 LGA) Note: The group gave this song the title 'Burning a Pagan', as evidenced by handwriting on some original copies, but it came to alternately/posthumously be known as 'On That Day.' Please note the song on the other side of this blank, known as "The Good You Do" is NOT by the Soulites.
The Destroyers aka The Soulites - Spirit Down Here Below (Studio 1 blank - DYNA CS 1076-1)
The Soulites - Love Me Tonight (Studio 1 blank - C&N 2-IV / Bamboo UK BAM 27-A)
Note: The tune 'Botheration' on the flip side of the Bamboo UK issue of 'Love Me Tonight' is mis-credited, it is NOT by the Soulites.
According to Jaiq, unreleased songs include: "I Was Lonely |
MIGHTY ABIDJANS IN THE JAMAICA STAR, CIRCA 1981
JAIQ STERLING CIRCA LATE 1970'S
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Fashioneers – Guiding Light |
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DKR-164 |
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Mighty Abidjans - Untamed |
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DKR-166 |
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Mighty Abidjans – Don’t Change The System |
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DKR-168 |
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Dub Irator - 2nd Release
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Mystic Eyes - Reality |
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Mystic Eyes - Reality |
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JL026 |
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Well Charge
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Revolutionaries - Musical Dub Attack |
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Killer and rare late '70s dub LP, which is in fact the dub companion to I Roy's "Musical Shark Attack" LP. If you know Channel 1 albums, then you know that LP is loaded with the hardest late '70s Channel 1 roots rhythms. What most people don't know however, is that I Roy's album was actually voiced over this dub LP, as it was completed and ready before Channel set about making a new I Roy album. This is one fantastic dub LP, now properly issued, direct from master tape, in a newly designed jacket made to match the I Roy album, a companion piece in design and music. Eleven killer slices of Revolutionaries dub from 29 Maxfield Avenue, this is a Musical Dub Attack! |
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Revolutionaries - Musical Dub Attack |
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DKR-169-JJ |
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Things I've Been Through
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Flick Wilson - Last Night |
Flick Wilson (As Dandy Lion) – Vives |
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Flick Wilson is one of our favorite artists, one of the many unsung greats of the fertile early 1980's dancehall period, his awesome falsetto making him stand out amongst his contemporaries. His fantastic album produced by Jah Life & Junjo Lawes was reissued as part of our Jah Life reissue program (still available, HYPERLINK "http://bondexport.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-jah-life-7-10-lp.html" see here!). Overall, Flick didn't do much recording though, and cut only a handful of singles outside of that album. Talking with him after we re-released the album, we solved a mystery, something we had a hunch about for a little while...that Flick Wilson is in fact Dandy Lion, of "Vives" ("Vibes") fame, the awesome tune released in 1984 on the Kulumi label! The story goes like this...as part of his payment for voicing the "School Days" album, Flick received some rhythms on tape from Junjo, to use for some self-productions. Not quite having the funds to pay for recording, mixing and pressing, Flick partnered up with some "area man" who wanted to do some producing themselves (in the role of financiers), those being 'Shadow' Paul Sutherland and Oliver 'Kulumi' Miller. Flick went into the studio and did three tunes using two of the rhythms. These were of course, 'Last Night' (originally released on Sonic Sounds' Gorgon label, with no credits!), "Vibes" (typo'd on all copies as "Vives"!), and "Two Youths Have a Quarrel." The latter two came on the Kulumi label, with "Two Youths..." coming out in 1988, four years after the release of the other two, which were met with very little sales in 1984. But why was he called Dandy Lion when he already had an album and other singles to his name as Flick Wilson? We were eager to know, and that's a story too. Despite the album (which was only released in NYC!) and a couple of JA singles, Flick was still a relatively unknown singer trying for some acclaim in 1984. So he went to audition for Errol "ET" Thompson at Joe Gibbs' studio. ET liked Flick's voice and decided to do some recording with him, as he was voicing some young singers at the time, for some of their new labels, like E.T. and Rocky 1. Flick voiced a handful of songs for ET, two of which were released, "Haul and Pull Mi Selector" on ET, and "Lyrics Doctor" on the Rocky 1 label, named after Joe Gibbs' son Rocky. But ET wouldn't abide the stage name Flick Wilson being on the tunes, as that name had already been used by Ruddy Thomas (an associate and also sometimes engineer at Gibbs' studio) since the mid '70s. So ET gave Flick another stage name, Dandy Lion! And so the tunes were released as such. So when it came time to release the first Kulumi tune, Flick and Oliver gave that one the name Dandy Lion as well, hoping it would get recognized on the strength of his tunes for the big producers ET & Gibbs, which had also just hit the market. Unfortunately, none of these tunes met with much commercial success. But like so many other great tunes that fell thru the cracks, over the years, astute collectors and listeners latched on to them and gave them the credit they deserve. DKR re-presents all 3 tunes on Flick Wilson's new label named Things I've Been Through, these tunes of his past representing his struggle to make it in the tough JA music business. "Last Night" is backed with the same tough dub cut as "Vibes", as unfortunately its original dub, which was only ever available on dubplate, is now lost. A couple final notes, due to a manufacturing error, "Two Youths Have a Quarrel" was not ready for release this month, but trust us, it's a total missile, one of the heaviest tunes of the early '80s, with an extremely wild and raw dubplate-style dub from Scientist on the B-side. All going well, it will be released next month. So hold tight, and for now enjoy these two cuts! Lastly, even if you have bought the previously available bootleg issue of "Vibes", we ask you to consider buying this issue (yes, it's that good of a tune!), fully authorized by Flick Wilson aka Dandy Lion. Thanks! |
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Flick Wilson - Last Night |
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DKR-160 |
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Flick Wilson (As Dandy Lion) – Vives |
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DKR-161 |
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Book Of Psalms
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Prince Far I / Black Oney - Psalm 87 / Festival '75 |
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By special request and popular demand, here's the other two cuts to Black Oney's "Jah Jah Send the Parson (Rasta Move)." Since we reissued that single a couple years ago, it's been one of the most popular tunes in our catalog. By now releasing the other two cuts on the rhythm seemed overdue, so here they are. Prince Far I's cut appeared on his "Psalms For I" LP on the Carib Gems label, while Black Oney's other cut on the rhythm was made specifically for entry in the 1975 Jamaican Festival Song contest, and only ever released on a tiny blank label pressing. Prince Far I recites Psalm 87 over a more spare dub-style mix of the rhythm, while Oney sings on a more straight mix. All three tunes were made in 1975. |
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Prince Far I - Psalm 87 |
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DKR-146 |
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Sir Collins
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Elijah - Selassi Hi/mount Zion |
Invaders - After A Storm (Beyond That Dark Cloud)/this Life I'm Living |
Delroy Wilson - Give Me Your Love/version |
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Part 2 of our Sir Collins reissue program is now here! Five more shots of monumental early roots reggae on three singles, all ultra-rare on original pressings, now on crisp 7-inch vinyl, straight from master tapes. The mysterious Elijah cut this mellow and heartfelt 2-part single for Sir Collins, then apparently disappeared from the recording scene. But the tune made quite a mark in New York, where it was released on the very rare Bronx-based WARICKA label, enough to have been covered a few years later by KC White. The tune is also remembered fondly as a New York sound system favorite in the 1970s by those active back then. It was also released on the Ackee label in the UK, memorable roots reggae for sure.
Back to The Invaders, as you might now know, one of our favorite artists. These two songs were released on a frighteningly rare single in JA on the Invader label, while "After a Storm" was also released as a pre-release blank in the UK. The Invaders sublime and soulful harmonizing wins again, these tunes are as catchy as ever forty plus years later.
Lastly, the mighty Delroy Wilson, one of Jamaica's biggest artists. "Give Me Your Love" was released on a Delroy LP again on the WARICKA label, which was mostly sold as a blank label pre-release with no cover, although copies with labels and/or a silk-screened cover also exist. This is a phenomenal cut on the mournful and heavy 'Artibella' rhythm, with a killer organ sound that we just love. This tune is backed by a dub cut with horns and bongos, lifted from an extremely rare blank-label Sir Collins compilation LP. We've heard tell that the vocal cut also comes on blank label pre-release 7-inch, but haven't seen it. Can anyone confirm? In any case this tune is one of our favorite of its era, essential to any Delroy Wilson selection. Sir Collins is still going strong in 2013 and beyond, so look out for more from the vaults!
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Elijah - Selassi Hi |
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DKR-155 |
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Invaders - After A Storm (Beyond That Dark Cloud) |
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DKR-156 |
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Delroy Wilson - Give Me Your Love |
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DKR-157 |
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Channel 1 - 11th Release
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Barry Brown/Clarence Parks/Revolutionaries - Forward On/So Jah Mean |
Barry Brown/Al Campbell - Praise Him/Jah Army |
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Channel 1's lost and found series continues with two big ten-inches. Our first one features Channel 1's heavy update of the classic 'skylarking' rhythm. Barry Brown's "Forward On" originally appeared only on his classic "Far East" album. The vocal here is followed by an unreleased dub cut. The flip side is an unreleased vocal cut by Clarence Parks. This cut is followed by a different skylarking dub, which we believe to be also unreleased. While it's a bit more lo-fi and not quite as Channel 1 sounding, this was sourced from a collection of tunes originally played as dubplates by the Channel 1 sound system, another piece of Channel history. One bad ten-inch with four killer cuts. Our second ten-inch also features Barry Brown, with another unreleased vocal & dub, called "Praise Him", this time riding the same rhythm as Al Campbell's "Jah Army." The Al Campbell cut of course, is on the flip side, reissued for the first time since its original release on 12-inch on the Jedi label in the early '80s. "Jah Army" is presented as originally issued, in discomix format, vocal running into dub. |
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Barry Brown - Forward On |
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DKR-120-JJ |
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Barry Brown - Praise Him |
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DKR-121-JJ |
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Tesfa
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Icho Candy – Cool Down Sufferer |
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Presenting one of our favorite early '80s roots tunes by one of our favorite artists of the era. "Cool Down Sufferer" is probably Icho Candy's best tune, and it's back now on the Tesfa label, one of the main imprints of artist/producer Tesfa McDonald. Tesfa has now been active as a producer in five decades, so we pulled this gem from his back catalog, a heavy tune with cool synth sounds. It was originally released on the Tesfa label in JA on 7-inch, and on 12-inch in the UK on the Selah label. |
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Icho Candy – Cool Down Sufferer |
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DKR-150 |
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Leggo Sounds - 4th Release
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Big Youth – Political Confusion |
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Big Youth's "Political Confusion" is a killer deejay version to the Jewels' "Love & Livity", which has been available from DKR for a few years now. Long overdue for re-release, a second cut to this heavy '70s roots rhythm is most welcome. |
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Big Youth – Political Confusion |
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BE-024 |
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Blue Mountain
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Natural Vibes - Life Inna Prison No Nice |
Sixy Morris - Me Nuh Response |
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DIGIKILLER returns after a brief hiatus, true to the name. It's been a while since we issued any '80s digital tunes, but here are two of the rarest and best. Natural Vibes tune is a holy grail, plain and simple. In several years of watching the internet and digging records in New York, Canada and Jamaica, we know of only two copies. No small feat in this day and age! But more importantly, this rare beast is a hell of a tune, a wicked sparse and heavy variation on the 'tempo' rhythm, with a stark message of reality to match and killer synth/keyboard sounds. Sixy Morris' tune is a bit more well known, having been released on 7" in JA and on 12" in the UK. A great digital tune which combines elements of the classic late '80s digital sound with a bit of early '90s flavor, it's got a killer rolling bassline, great singing, and of course, the famous "scratching" fx! |
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Natural Vibes - Life Inna Prison No Nice |
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DKR-151 |
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Sixy Morris - Me Nuh Response |
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DKR-152 |
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Bullwackie / Wackie's / Idrins / Senrab
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Joe Morgan - Basement Session (Bullwackie) |
Leroy Sibbles - Now You're Gone (Wackie's) |
Junior Peterkin & The Idrins - Babylon Take I Down (Idrins) |
KC White - Selasi I (Senrab) |
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Part 2 of our reissue series of rare tunes from Lloyd "Bullwackie" Barnes and his legendary Bronx studio. Joe Morgan's "Basement Session" has the trademark Wackie's sound, deep and deeper. Its got great lyrics about the runnings of NYC basement sessions in the 1970's, a wicked dub to match, and a tough rhythm laid by the Reckless Breed band. Released on the "Bullwackie" label using the stock font and layout of one of NYC's long-shuttered pressing plants, according to Mr. Barnes this one was released "right before I got my logo." Next up, Leroy Sibbles of the Heptones. Leroy did a bunch of work with Wackie's over the years, including this rugged single from the end of the '70s, on Wackie's trademark eponymous 'lion' label. A slow and heavy Soul Syndicate rhythm, cut in Jamaica, and mixed and overdubbed with wicked synths at Wackie's studio. On to "Babylon Take I Down" by Junior Peterkin & The Idrins. A one-away label and a one-away artist (as far as we know!), this is one of the baddest and rarest tunes ever laid at Wackie's studio. Produced by Wackie's for release on the artist's own Idrins label, this has, on top of a cracking drum sound and a killer Wackie's mix, one of the all-time baddest organ sounds in reggae, stone classic tune. Lastly, KC White's 'Selasi I', released on the Senrab label. A version to Elijah's tune of the same name from a few years earlier, produced by Sir Collins (itself an adaptation of a religious standard), this is a great mellow roots tune with ringing piano and a spacy dub.
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Joe Morgan - Basement Session |
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DKR-128 |
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Leroy Sibbles - Now You're Gone |
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DKR-129 |
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Junior Peterkin & The Idrins - Babylon Take I Down |
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DKR-130 |
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KC White - Selasi I |
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DKR-131 |
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Sir Collins & Stop Point
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Invaders - You Touch My Soul / Version |
Sir Harry - Power House / Version |
Invaders - Story Of Love / Holy Mountain |
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Proudly announcing our Sir Collins reissue series, featuring some of the deepest and rarest early roots reggae, straight from master tapes. Clancy Collins aka Sir Collins must be now, one of the longest active producers in reggae music, with a history in the music stretching back to the 1950's. His body of work as a producer touches Jamaica, England, and even America, and begins in the ska era, right up to the present day. From a collector's point of view, much of his discography is as elusive and confusing as it is legendary, with many very rare blank-label-only releases and tricky catalog numbers. For this first collaboration with the Collins family, we've chose six of our favorite records from Collins oeuvre, all of which you might loosely describe as 'early roots reggae', and all of which were in desperate need of reissue and rediscovery. From our previous releases by them on the Ujama and Invader imprints (still available, HYPERLINK "http://digikillerrecords.blogspot.com/2013/01/cry-tuff-ujama-invader-7-45-rpm.html" see here!), by now you must know we love The Invaders. Though little is recalled about this harmony group from Trenchtown & Greenwich Farm, their small output during the 1970's was deadly enough, cutting records for Studio One (mostly as harmonizers), Prince Jazzbo, GG's, Lloyd 'Printer' Campbell, and most notably, Sir Collins. "You Touch My Sou" is something of legend among collectors and Studio 1 fiends alike. Sir Collins had the distinction of being among a handful of outside producers to have rented Coxsone Dodd's Studio 1, and produced his own music there. "You Touch My Soul" is one such record, unmistakably by its sound, cut at Brentford Road. A deep, uptempo rhythm underpins the Invaders beautiful vocals, while a majestic trombone comes in and out of the mix. The flipside of the record features a straight instrumental version of the rhythm, as originally only released on the very rare NY issue of the tune on the Waricka label (the UK issue on Sir Collins' own Music Wheel label was on a 4-track EP including other vocal cuts by other artists, and no version). The next tune, "Power House" by Sir Harry, another rare beast from the vaults. This track is alternately know by several names, usually based on the cryptic words spoken by Sir Harry in the intro, and bears no real official title, the original release being only on a blank label. The title "Power House" comes from Charlie Morgan's excellent Studio 1 discography, and we've used it here as a nod to his invaluable work. But on to the music, Sir Harry's tune is not so much his own, as the old time chatter only interjects a few odd phrases here and there. Really the tune is a phenomenal instrumental workout on the same rhythm as "You Touch My Soul", with organ and bongo drum overdubs propelling the awesome rhythm forward, while the Invaders' vocals are heard ever so faintly in the background, bleeding thru from the other track on the 2-track master. Rounding out the trio for part 1 is another Invaders 45, "Story of Love" backed with its deejay version, "Holy Mountain." Another tune only released on a blank label originally, and thus the identity of the artists has long been speculated, but the mastertape revealed the mysterious Invaders again! "Story of Love" is an excellent early '70s tune, with great harmonies and organ, the flipside "Holy Mountain" being a deejay version on the same rhythm, with the vocalist chatting thanks and praises in Amharic, roots indeed. Part 2 of Sir Collins reissues, with 3 more killer 45's is soon to come...stay tuned! |
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Invaders - You Touch My Soul |
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DKR-153 |
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Sir Harry - Power House |
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DKR-154 |
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Invaders - Story Of Love |
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DKR-158 |
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Stop Point
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Big Joe - Weed Specialist / Version |
Tony Brevett - Just Been Feeling Bad / Version |
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Winston Edwards' STOP POINT label was just one imprint used by the producer in the early-mid '70s, as he moved between London and Kingston, releasing music on both fronts. In the UK his productions primarily came on the FAY MUSIC and DIP imprints. The two tunes we've plucked from his catalog for reissue use a familiar and favorite rhythm. Whether it's another lick or simply another mix of the 'Heaven & Earth/Conquering Lion' rhythm (again, HYPERLINK "http://digikillerrecords.blogspot.com/2013/01/cry-tuff-ujama-invader-7-45-rpm.html" see here!), we can't say, and none involved can recall, but it's great stuff either way and we needed to get these back out there to complete the version excursion. Big Joe's toast to the herbman, "Weed Specialist", bears one of our favorite intros to a record ever. Originally released on DIP 7" in the UK, and a blank label pre-release in JA, it was never released with its own dub version, unfortunately. Our man Tony Brevett (also of legendary group The Melodians) recalls Big Joe voicing the tune at King Tubby's! And it's Tony who sings the other cut, "Just Been Feeling Bad", a confessional tune about realizing he's done his woman wrong. This one was released in the UK on Fay Music 7" and on the elusive Miami Records imprint in JA. It features a prominent organ overdub likely done in the UK, but the rhythm and voicing are pure Kingston, JA. Each tune is backed with a straight instrumental version of the Brevett cut, as sadly Tony's tune also never had a proper dub issued.
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Big Joe - Weed Specialist |
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DKR-148 |
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Tony Brevett - Just Been Feeling Bad |
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DKR-149 |
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Tasha - 4rd Release
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Midnight Riders/gladiators Band - Cross The Border/border Dub *previously Unreleased* |
Michael Palmer/steve Knight - Dem A Lick Shot/dub // See Dem A Come/dub *b-side Features Two Previously Unreleased Mixes* |
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Our long awaited fourth round of releases from the Tasha label features maybe their biggest and baddest rhythm! Michael Palmer's "Dem a Lick Shot" was cut in April 1984, and is the ORIGINAL cut of the tune later re-done for the Powerhouse label. One of the baddest rhythms of the much-revered-by-us mid '80s period of the Channel 1 sound, it's monstrously slow and heavy, laid by a then current iteration of the Gladiators Band, which featured Barnabas on drums. This tune is also recalled by some to be the first voiced & released tune by Michael Palmer, aka "Palmer Dog" as he was originally and locally known at the time. "Dem a Lick Shot" was originally released on 7-inch in JA on the Tasha label, and on 12-inch in Canada on the W&B label, in slightly different mixes. It's reissued here equipped with dub, the mix being the same as issued on the 12-inch, with nuff 'lick shot' effects! This is backed with the second cut of the rhythm, by Steve Knight, "See Dem a Come." While this tune was issued on Steve's fantastic "Orphan Child" LP a few years after being voiced, it was originally intended to be released as a 10-inch single in NYC on Channel 1's Hitbound label. However, that release never happened, and so finally released now are the vocal and dub mixes as intended for that release. The vocal mix is different to that of the LP! Our other release is the absolute monster tune "Cross the Border" by Midnight Riders. This tune caught the attention of some astute dubplate fiends when an old dubplate of the tune was sold on eBay a few years back. A majestic roots tune on this killer rhythm, it's mind boggling that this one never made it to release at the time, but here it is now in all its glory, vocal & dub, the pinnacle of the Channel 1 sound. |
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Midnight Riders - Cross The Border |
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DKR-144 |
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Michael Palmer - Dem A Lick Shot |
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DKR-145 |
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Negus Music
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Albert Malawi - Give Me Loving |
Albert Malawi - Around The Country |
Albert Malawi - Jah Bible |
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Serious tunes, three previously unreleased shots from legendary singer, drummer and selector Albert Malawi aka Ilawi. His presence in the history of roots reggae looms wide, as member of the Twelve Tribes band, session drummer on many classic recordings, and selector for the Jahlove sound system. Albert didn't do too many songs as a vocalist, but those he did are long among favorites of ours and roots reggae fans worldwide. So it was a pleasure to find these great unreleased recordings, produced by our friend and long time Bronx sound man Alvin "Negus" Thompson, some of which are known from play on dubplate by Jahlove sound. The rhythms for 'Give Me Loving' and 'Around the Country' were laid at Channel 1 in the early '80s by Ilawi and friends, while the digital rhythm for 'Jah Bible' was done in the latter part of the decade, made between Connecticut and the Bronx. |
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Albert Malawi - Give Me Loving |
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DKR-138 |
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Albert Malawi - Around The Country |
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DKR-139 |
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Albert Malawi - Jah Bible |
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DKR-140 |
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City Line / Rawse
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Joe Axumite - No Equal Rights In Babylon (City Line) |
Wayne Jarrett/jerry Johnson - Come Let's Go/zion Rock (Dub) (City Line) |
Don 'Jah' Carlos/soul Syndicate - Black Harmony/black Love Dub (Rawse) |
Jah I Maz/baba Leslie - Freedom Is A Must/freedom Dub (City Line) |
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A long time in the making, part one of a new series of reissues produced by the great Lloyd "Bullwackie" Barnes. So many Wackie's productions are long among our personal favorites, and some helped introduce us to the wonderful world of Jamaican music. We'll be issuing many now hard to find singles as well as some previously LP-only tracks and other surprises! Our first selection of singles all appear, of course, on their original labels. Joe Axumite's tune is one we've long wanted to present, awesome tune backed by an incredible dub featuring what sounds like infinite echo. Wayne Jarrett rose to notoriety with Wackie's, and this single is one of his all-time best, backed by a great horns version by Wackie's stalwart horns man Jerry Johnson. Next, a NYC/JA collaboration with Wackie's producing an early tune by Don Carlos, originally credited as 'Jah Carlos', over a tough Soul Syndicate rhythm. This one is on the Rawse label. Lastly for this batch, Jah I Maz's great "Freedom Is a Must", fantastic roots with the trademark deep and murky Wackie's sound. The flip side is a great dub by another long time Wackie's horns man, Baba Leslie. We hope that this new singles series, along with the great foundation set by Basic Channel's amazing and standard-setting series of Wackie's reissues, will help shine an even brighter light on the wealth of fantastic music produced by Wackie's in the past several decades. Further, we are both proud and happy to announce that our Wackie's series will be released in full cooperation with our friends at Basic Channel, who will be handling the digital distribution. All releases in our Wackie's series will be available as high quality digital downloads via Basic Channel and the HARD WAX online record shop. |
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Joe Axumite - No Equal Rights In Babylon |
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DKR-124 |
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Wayne Jarrett - Come Let's Go |
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DKR-125 |
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Don 'Jah' Carlos - Black Harmony |
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DKR-126 |
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Jah I Maz - Freedom Is A Must |
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DKR-127 |
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Cry Tuff / Ujama / Invader
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Jennifer Lara - Music By The Score |
Deadly Headley & Asher - Drums Of The Arab |
Naggo Morris - Bootlegger |
Invaders - Conquering Lion |
Invaders - Heaven & Earth |
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Deep late '70s roots from Prince Far I's CRY TUFF label. Two killer tunes only ever released on JA 45, reissued for the first time. As lovers of female fronted roots tunes we had to get this killer Jennifer Lara tune out there, a rugged lick of the 'rockfort rock' riddim. Next is a monster instrumental/dub single, Deadly Headley and Asher's killer lick of the 'drum song' riddim, wicked horns, keyboard and melodica at the forefront. RIP Prince Far I, your legacy of music lives on.
A great reggae mystery, now solved! The infamous "Conquering Lion" dubplate as played by Coxsone sound, revealed! Like most who hear it, we became entranced with this infamous and awesome tune after hearing a recording of its famous broadcast on David Rodigan's Capitol Radio show, by Coxsone sound selector Festus. He announced the tune as being sung by Lloyd Ruddock, "King Tubby's from Jamaica's brother." That man of course, is better known as Scunna, the original force behind the Jayes, who had a string of massive hits in late '70s for Channel 1, like 'Queen Majesty' and 'Truly.' As Scunna is also now a Brooklyn native, we checked him to find out more about the tune. But what we found out was simple...he didn't sing it! So the mystery endured, for the moment. Until a couple years later, when a friend of ours came across a fantastic (and fantastically rare!) blank pre-release single from Jamaica, and it helped crack the case. The single was an awesome and previously unknown (to almost all, it seems!) vocal on the same riddim as 'Conquering Lion', and the voice was unmistakable, one of our favorite artists...Naggo Morris! Immediately after hearing this tune, we were eager to find out more, and like many mysteries of Jamaican music, the matrix number on the blank label 45 helped tell the tale. The matrix bore the name of another friend of ours, none other than legendary deejay and producer Prince Jazzbo! Naturally, we immediately checked Jazzbo about it, and the mystery was revealed! Jazzbo confirmed that he indeed produced the Naggo Morris tune, at the same time as the more well known "Clean Hands" 45 which appeared on his Brisco label. But this tune, called "Bootlegger", was only ever pressed in a miniscule quantity as a blank label pre-release, managing to elude most collectors of JA music for nearly 40 years! And we found out that Jazzbo did indeed produce two other cuts on the same rhythm, by The Invaders, a harmony group from Greenwich Farm and Trenchtown! One cut, "Conquering Lion" was given by Jazzbo to the then-young Coxsone sound system in London, for play and promotion on the sound. Over the years and through the Capitol Radio broadcast, the tune became legendary. The other cut, "Heaven & Earth" was released in Jamaica for the Invaders on their own new Invader label. With all this information at hand, the next move was clear. We did what it is that we do, and here now you have all three tunes on crisp 45s! Another interesting footnote to these tunes which perplexed collectors over the years, is that the dub side of the Naggo Morris 45, which is a melodica cut to the rhythm, is known to some via a mis-press from the time of it's original release. The B-side stamper for the Naggo Morris tune was accidentally used as the B-side to Sir Harry & Jah Woosh's "Way Down West" 45 on the Sir Harry label. The label states "Difendon Version" by Sir Harry All Stars, but due to a mistake at the pressing plant, the record plays the dub to "Bootlegger". This dub is also featured as the b-side to 'Conquering Lion', as we unfortunately could not locate a unique dub for this tune, though we think one surely existed so many years ago. Prince Jazzbo would also like to acknowledge the late great King Tubby, without whom these tunes would not be possible. All three were voiced and mixed by the King himself, making these yet another piece of Tubby's indelible legacy. Lastly, two further cuts on a slightly different take of this rhythm, by Big Joe and Tony Brevett, will be released a short while later this year, to complete the version excursion.
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Jennifer Lara - Music By The Score |
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DKR-122 |
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Deadly Headley & Asher - Drums Of The Arab |
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DKR-123 |
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Naggo Morris - Bootlegger |
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DKR-135 |
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Invaders - Conquering Lion |
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DKR-136 |
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Invaders - Heaven & Earth |
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DKR-137 |
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Fox Fire - 2nd Release
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Clive Matthews - Big Brown Eyes |
Trevor Byfield - Jah Guide |
Clive Matthews - My Girl Has Gone |
Clive Matthews - Am Going Home |
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Part two of the FOX FIRE series is here, with more killer 1970's roots from Clive Matthews and Trevor Byfield. 'Big Brown Eyes' is a great one from the late '70s with tough horns, in fact the crew liked this tune so much that they re-cut it in the early '80s in a more rub-a-dub style! 'Jah Guide' is classic roots, originally released only on a UK 12-inch on the Ethnic Fight label. 'My Girl Has Gone' is Clive Matthews' first recording, originally released in the mid '70s on the Percival label, and recorded at Dynamic Sound with the Now Generation Band. Last but not least, 'Am Going Home', is the third and final cut on the legendary rhythm also employed for Clive's 'Apology' and Trevor's 'Tell Me That You Love Me', both of which were released (and still available!) in our first and previous set of FOX FIRE tunes. 'Am Going Home' is just as killer as those two, and has its own unique dub side, different to either of the others, called 'Hop Ki Do Skank'! |
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Clive Matthews - Big Brown Eyes |
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DKR-107 |
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Trevor Byfield - Jah Guide |
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DKR-108 |
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Clive Matthews - My Girl Has Gone |
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DKR-109 |
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Clive Matthews - Am Going Home |
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DKR-110 |
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Jah Dynasty - 2nd Release
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Keithus I - Red Hot |
Keithus I - Jah Children Cool |
Keithus I - Prophecy |
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The long awaited second batch reissues from Milton "Keithus I" Samuels and his Jah Dynasty imprint are available now! "Red Hot" is an utter masterpiece of raw, rough and ready roots from 1975, and Keithus' first tune. Utilizing a killer rhythm provided by the Barrett Bros. of the Wailers band, and one of the deadliest organ lines from Tyrone "Organ D" Downie! The dub is mixed in a live sound system style with Family Man at the controls. Purely killer tune which desperately needed to be available. "Jah Children Cool" is from a year later, with Keithus showing a more mature voice and singing style, but none the less killer and militant. Lastly, his last released tune, "Prophecy", long desired, this one was only ever released on 7-inch in Canada via King Culture. A majestic tune with triumphant horns, finest caliber roots reggae.
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Keithus I - Red Hot |
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DKR-074 |
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Keithus I - Jah Children Cool |
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DKR-078 |
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Keithus I - Prophecy |
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DKR-079 |
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Channel 1 - 10th Release
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Al Campbell - Down In A Babylon |
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DKR-116-JJ |
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Ernest Wilson - I know Myself |
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DKR-117-JJ |
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Wailing Souls - Very Well/Version |
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DKR-118-JJ |
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Channel 1 - 9th Release
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Oneil Dyer/Unknown - Apartment / Hey Natty Dread |
Horace Ferguson - Reality / Youthman |
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The Channel 1 Lost & Found series of previously unreleased music continues with two more killer ten inches. Oneil Dyer's "Apartment" was only ever issued on a small press blank label Hitbound 10" in New York, unnoticed by all but the most hyper astute collectors. Heavy tune, with a killer dub, serious 1982 Scientist/Radics style. The B-side of this record features an unknown killer roots tune from around the same time, dubplate material which unfortunately on tape carried no markings as to who the singer is. We absolutely love good female-voiced roots and this is no exception, purely wicked tune. If anyone knows who sings this tune, let us know, as no one including some of those folks involved in making the tune could place it! One thing that is clear however is the voice of Sugar Minott on harmony. Unfortunately no dub version was found for this tune.
Next up, two heavy shots from Horace Ferguson. Before hitting with "Sensi Addict" for Prince Jazzbo, Horace Ferguson voiced some tunes for Channel 1, like "Fever" and "Walk Out On Me", both of which were issued on 12"s on CH1's JEDI imprint. However, there was more on tape, and how these two bombs didn't end up on release, we don't know, but here they are now. Strictly early 1980's reality style, again in a heavy style that bears the hallmarks of the Roots Radics/Scientist combination. Both tunes with dubs.
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Oneil Dyer - Apartment |
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DKR-114-JJ |
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Thorace Ferguson - Realitye |
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DKR-115-JJ |
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LTD
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Everton Dacres - Jah Jah Ah Come |
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This tune needs little introduction, monster roots from 1977. Everton Dacres, cousin to Barrington Levy and member of the Mighty Multitudes group along with Barrington, cut only a few tunes as a solo artist and this is one of them. Produced by Lloyd 'Charmers' Tyrell, issued on his LTD label. |
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Everton Dacres - Jah Jah Ah Come |
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DKR-119 |
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Royco Inc.
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I-ROY - SET THE CAPTIVES FREE/BUBBLING JUG VERSION |
I-ROY - FIRE IN A WIRE/WARLORD OF ZENDA VERSION |
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Throughout the 1970's, I-Roy recorded for tons of producers, and eventually began bartering with many of them for cuts of rhythms to voice himself on, as his own productions. Through his popularity in the UK, I-Roy got a deal with Virgin Records to release many of these new self-productions. Tucked away on these albums are this pair of wicked tunes, prime for release on singles, and here they are. 'Set the Captives Free' was originally released on the 'World on Fire' LP, a very tough rhythm. The voice of Freddie McKay is heard singing behind I-Roy, and despite our best efforts, we were still unable to find out more about this mystery vocal! On the flip of this single is the killer horns dub to this rhythm, called 'Bubbling Jug', which was released on I-Roy's 'Cancer' dub LP. Apparently this dub and the Freddie McKay vocal were run on dubplate by Jah Shaka back in the day. The second single is 'Fire in a Wire', originally released on I-Roy's 'The General' vocal & dub double-album, and as a 12-inch single. Here we have the album cuts, vocal and it's dub, entitled 'Warlord of Zenda' (presumably named after the novel/film 'The Prisoner of Zenda'). These tunes are re-presented on the Royco Inc. label, I-Roy's own original label used in the early 1970's. |
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I-ROY - SET THE CAPTIVES FREE |
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DKR-101 |
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I-ROY - FIRE IN A WIRE |
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DKR-111 |
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Taurus
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Junior Murvin - Make It And Set It |
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Self-produced by Junior Murvin at King Tubby's in 1987, and released via Tubby's then-active Taurus imprint. Fans of digital reggae are well aware of the brilliant and unique digital riddims being cut at Tubby's in the late '80s by the likes of Asher, Peego, Fatman, Benbow, and others. But besides the immortal 'Tempo' riddim and its variations, there are monsters like 'Babylon', 'Inna De Ghetto', 'Grammy', and many more. And then there is this one, perhaps more singular and deadly than almost all of them, yet only lesser-known by virtue of its rarity. Junior Murvin's beautiful falsetto floats on top of a monstrous and mind-boggling one-away riddim that could only have come from Dromilly Avenue. |
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Junior Murvin - Make It And Set It |
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DKR-052 |
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Channel 1 - 8th Release
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Channel 1 - Satta Dub |
Channel 1 - Full Charge Revival Dub Roots Now |
Frankie Paul - Worries In The Dance |
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Two legendary Channel 1 dub albums, unavailable for 30+ years. Originally released only in JA, in silkscreened jackets featuring the iconic Well Charge star logo. Each LP features a selection of evergreen Channel 1 rhythms recorded, mixed and dubbed to perfection at 29 Maxfield Avenue. These are crystal clear reissues cut straight from the original master tapes, and come again in hand-silkscreened jackets, each in two different colors, exactly as the originals.
"Worries in the Dance", in our estimation the best rhythm of the early '80s and perhaps the entire decade, nothing short of a masterpiece. This rhythm and this tune really represent the refinement and zenith of heaviness in reggae as achieved by Channel 1, also in our opinion still unequaled then or now. This is a reissue of the rare JA 45 pressing of this tune, which features vocal & dub mixes different to any of the more common LP cuts. As if the rhythm wasn't enough, this is one of FP's best vocal outings, and the lyrics provide a brilliant and vivid snapshot of the climate in the area of 29 Maxfield Avenue at the time. |
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Channel 1 - Satta Dub |
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DKR-97 |
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Channel 1 - Full Charge Revival Dub Roots Now |
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DKR-98 |
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Frankie Paul - Worries In The Dance |
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DKR-106 |
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Fox Fire
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Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush |
Trevor Byfield - Tell Me That You Love Me |
Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity |
Clive Matthews - Apology |
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This batch of releases is what Deeper Knowledge Records is really all about - showcasing and making available fantastic music that has been rarefied, but with no correlation to its quality. That is to say, music that we feel is every bit as great as well known, much-loved and canonized classics, but just never reached the ears of as many folks, only due to its unavailability. And the music made by the close-knit foursome of Trevor Byfield and Clive Matthews as artists, and Norman "Fox Fire" Vassell and the late Clinton "Percival" Williams as producers, is just that. Starting in the late '70s and into the early '80s, this foursome cut some of the best and heaviest roots reggae tunes of the era. We will be issuing eight great singles from these folks, and here is the first batch of four. Trevor Byfield's "Tell Me That You Love Me" is one of the most dread love songs that we've heard, and the flip is one of the most truly psychedelic, heavy and unique Tubby's dubs ever mixed. In fact, the crew liked this rhythm for this song so much that they cut three tunes on it! Clive Matthew's "Apology" is on the same rhythm, but instead of pleading for a woman's love as Trevor did on his take, Clive is telling her she's written off! The killer vocal is backed with a different and again wicked dub mix. Have no fear, the third cut on this rhythm, another vocal by Clive called "Am Going Home", is coming in our next batch, later this year. Next up is Clive Matthew's "Live Not For Vanity", a serious warning given thru a heavy tune. Lastly for this batch, Trevor Byfield's "Burning Bush", a classic ode to herb smoking. Originally issued on the Mistic, Percival and Fox Fire imprints respectively, these four tunes are now re-presented using the Fox Fire design originally used on "Burning Bush", which is one of our favorite label designs of all time! We would also like to let everyone know that Clive, Trevor and Norman are still making great tunes thru their new imprint, One Sleeve Music! If anyone is interested in working with these gentlemen, please contact us and we will put you in touch!
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Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush |
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DKR-102 |
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Trevor Byfield - Tell Me That You Love Me |
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DKR-103 |
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Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity |
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DKR-104 |
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Clive Matthews - Apology |
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DKR-105 |
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Narrows Records
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Enforcer - Pension/Africa Way *Both sides previously unreleased & with dubs
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Enforcer / Little Roy - Bad Boy / Leaving Rome *Each side with a different dub, Little Roy vocal previously unreleased |
Uplifters - Gallas Trap |
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The man called Enforcer is to Digikiller Records, one of the greatest under-recorded voices in reggae. His two his smoky-voiced militant roots anthems cut for Channel One, "Pay Them" and "Ride on Marcus", are indelible classics and two of our all-time favorite tunes. Next to these, we love the wicked "Bad Boy", produced & released by Narrows Records owner Barry Bailey in the early '80s. Well lucky for us, Barry had similar feelings about Enforcer's talents, and "Bad Boy" was actually just one of an LP's worth of tunes he produced by the man! But unfortunately, only one other tune from these sessions (the love song "Her Eyes") had ever been released. So we went straight to the master tapes and found two more fantastic roots tunes from the man, and so here is the new 10-inch release featuring "Africa Way" and "Pension", both out now for the very first time, and with dubs. But we couldn't leave "Bad Boy" out, no way. And so our other Narrows 10-inch release features "Bad Boy", along with the two different dubs of the rhythm (one with horns!) as released on the original Narrows US and Regal UK singles respectively. And add to those, an awesome unreleased vocal cut on the 'Bad Boy' rhythm by Little Roy! Two serious 10-inches, 8 tracks in all, 5 previously unreleased, finally on the road. But while we're at it, we have to round it out with another gem from the Narrows catalog, the haunting "Gallas Trap" by Uplifters. A rare one released only on 12" in Brooklyn from Narrows' former Linden Blvd HQ, it's more killer early 80s sound laid down at Channel 1, back out now on a 7-inch.
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Enforcer - Pension |
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DKR-094 |
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Enforcer - Bad Boys |
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DKR-095 |
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Uplifters - Gallas Trap |
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DKR-096 |
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Channel 1 - 7th Release
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Patrick Andy – Join Me / Self Control (Bside: previously unreleased) |
I-Roy – Sky Juice & Festival Dumpling /Version |
I-Roy/Revolutionaries - Semi-Classical Natty Dread/Drastic |
Clarence Parks - Mt. Zion / Been So Long (Aside: previously unreleased |
Tony Tuff/Revolutionaries - Separation/Come Along / Proverbs (previously unreleased) |
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The Channel 1 Lost & Found series returns for it's fourth installment and it's the biggest and baddest one yet.
By now you know we love Patrick Andy, and here's two more heaters culled from his body of recording with Channel 1. "Join Me" was actually released, but only a very rare 10-inch in New York, and remains unknown to most, heavy tune, with dub. The flip side "Self Control" is previously unreleased, Patrick riding CH1's cut of 'revolution' aka 'c' to great effect, again with dub of course.
Second, Clarence Parks comes in heavy with two awesome tunes, both previously unreleased, again, both sides with dubs. You may recognize the rhythm for "Been So Long" from Half Pint's "Freedom Fighter" and a handful of other tunes, yet another killer Radics riddim employed by several producers working at CH1 at the time. The flip side "Mt. Zion" is a one-away riddim as far as we know, but we wish it wasn't! Heavy stuff, but that's not all...more unreleased Clarence Parks still to come!
Next, a huge double-sider from Tony Tuff. Both of these tunes were cut for Channel's still-unreleased Tony Tuff album, but were making the rounds on dubplate and became favored by sounds. The massive "Separation" was played by Jah Shaka, and this original cut is, in our opinion, far superior to the second version Tony cut shortly after for his self-produced album on the CSA label. "Come Along" is an awesome tune on Channel's cut of 'truth & rights' which became an anthem for Jah Love soundsystem. Again, both sides with dubs!
Rewinding back to the '70s now, with two total killer tunes from our man the late I-Roy, the original Channel 1 deejay and our favorite of the decade. His "Musical Shark Attack" LP for Channel 1 is our favorite deejay album ever, brilliant toasting over some of the all-time hardest Maxfield Avenue rhythms. A few months ago we brought out one of the cuts on this album on single for the first time, the militant "Tribute to Marcus Garvey", and it's vocal counterpart by Leroy Smart, "Oh Marcus." Both are backed with the rhythm's previously unreleased dub version, and both still available! So in continuing that, he's two more I-Roy cuts, again, both from the 'Musical Shark Attack' LP and both on single for the first time. All Channel diehards should know these tunes, as they are the deejay cuts to our man Enforcer's all time classic roots tunes, "Pay Them" and "Ride on Marcus." I-Roy's "Semi Classical Natty Dread" is a cut to\ "Ride on Marcus", and is backed by the Revolutionaries' dub "Drastic", previously only released on the hard to find UK-only"Revolutionaries\' Sounds Vol. 2" dub LP on the Ballistic label. While this dub features snatches of the Enforcer\'s vocal, take note that it is unique, a different mix to the one featured on the b-side of the Enforcer 45! Last but definitely not least, "Sky Juice & Festival Dumpling" is the deejay cut to "Pay Them", and is of course, well heavy. This one is backed with a previously unreleased dub of the rhythm, different again from the "Pay Them" single dub side. Some straight talk from I-Roy on these tunes, we find him giving sound advice when he says, "now be careful what you\'re saying, because your mouth is gonna get you into something, your ass ain\'t gonna able to take you out of!" Gwaan Mr. Reid! RIP I-Roy.
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Patrick Andy - Join Me |
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DKR-087-JJ |
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I-Roy - Sky Juice & Festival Dumpling |
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DKR-090-JJ |
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I-Roy - Semi-Classical Natty Dread |
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DKR-091-JJ |
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Clarence Parks - Mt. Zion |
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DKR-092-JJ |
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Tony Tuff - Separation |
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DKR-093-JJ |
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Man Kind - 2nd Release
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Mankind - Them A Hustler |
Mankind - Some Girls Wicked & Wild |
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More '80s digital heat from Sydney 'Mankind' Francis! Re-presenting two of Mankind's best early digital tunes, both of which slightly pre-date his classic double-sider 'These Three Girls/Country Life' (still available from DKR!). "Them a Hustler" is on a killer one-away digital riddim, which utilises the sleng teng bassline, yet stands alone. "Some Girls Wicked & Wild" is a duet with an unfortunately nameless female singer, definitely one of the best combi tunes we've heard, again using a great one-off digital riddim. Both of these now very-rare tunes were originally released only on 7-inch in JA, in tiny pressings, dubiously and inexplicably with bogus artist credits. No matter though, they are back now for all to enjoy, further proof of just how amazingly fertile the '80s digital era was, and how many great tunes from it are still being brought to light!
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Mankind - Them A Hustler |
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DKR-053 |
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Mankind - Some Girls Wicked & Wild |
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DKR-054 |
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Rythem Track - 2nd Release
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Anthony Selassie - Variety |
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Next tune from Callo Collins' Rythem Track label is a late '80s monster from our man Anthony Selassie. Around this time Selassie was a young artist hanging with the Youth Promotion crew as well as Callo's Rythem Track crew. This rugged live-digital (played"Variety" was until recently very obscure, being released only in NY, on a 12" on the Genesis Music label, operated by a former Bronx record shop. Look out for more Anthony Selassie tunes from DKR in the future, and be sure to check out his other Rythem Track tune "Busy Body", which we released a while ago, still available from DKR.
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Anthony Selassie - Variety |
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DKR-068 |
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Tasha - 3rd Release
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Midnight Riders - Youthman Invasion |
Midnight Riders - Raise Again |
Steve Knight - Steve Knight - Orphan Child *First Time On Single With Dub! |
Steve Knight - Woman A Problem |
Midnight Riders - Me A No Gunman |
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Round three of Tasha releases! Midnight Riders, our favorite group of the 80's, did most of their recording for the Tasha and Channel 1 labels. Here are two more killer cuts from the Riders. "Youthman Invasion" was originally released on 7-inch in Jamaica via Sonic Sounds' Thunderbolt label, and licensed for a compilation on Japan's Tachyon label. Awesome tune on one of our top rhythms of the '80s! Next, "Raise Again" originally came out in 1987 on Tasha's one-away Under Pressure label. Another fantastic mid '80s rhythm from the Gifted Roots Band, this one infuses digital vibes with the live Channel 1 sound. Then the next cut on 'Raise Again' rhythm, Steve Knight's "Orphan Child", originally featured only on his rare LP of the same name, it's here on a single for the first time. Steve Knight's "Woman a Problem", is a great tune voiced on the much-loved lick of the billie jean riddim cut at Channel 1 in the mid '80s, and traded amongst nuff producers at the time. This tune originally came on 7" via Sonic Sounds' Thunderbolt label, and again on Steve Knight's "Orphan Child" LP. Lastly, Midnight Riders "Me a No Gunman" was one of two tunes Riders cut for Errol "ET" Thompson in the early 80's. One was never released and is seemingly lost to the sands of time, but the other, this one, was only ever released on a 12" in Canada. It's being re-presented here on the Tasha label alongside much of the Riders other material from the same era, a heavy heavy tune with wailing sirens.
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Midnight Riders - Youthman Invasion |
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DKR-041 |
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Midnight Riders - Raise Again |
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DKR-042 |
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Steve Knight - Orphan Child |
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DKR-043 |
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Steve Knight - Woman A Problem |
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DKR-044 |
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Midnight Riders - Me A No Gunman |
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DKR-045 |
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Channel 1 - 5th Release
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Little John - Fase News |
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DKR-084-JJ |
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Leroy Smart / Super Chick - Love Me Tonight |
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DKR-085-JJ |
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Courtney Peddlar - Jah Love |
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DKR-086-JJ |
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Jah Dynasty
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KeithUus I - Dreadlocks I / Dread A Dub It / Dreadlocks In The Ark |
KeithUus I - Save The Children |
KeithUus I - Living In Illusion |
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Milton "Keithus I" Samuels is simply put, one of the best yet least-known artists of the 1970s. In the latter half of the decade he self-produced six singles for his own JAH DYNASTY label, and every one is classic. Working at studios like the Black Ark, Channel 1 and Harry J, and mainly with his long-time spars, the Wailers' rhythm section of the Barrett brothers, the result was fantastic roots reggae, which has remained unfortunately unavailable...until now. Here's the first installment of our full Keithus I reissue program. "Dreadlocks I" was done at the Black Ark, and this 10-inch reissue includes the vocal & dub from the original 45, plus a second, wild Lee Perry mixed dub of an aborted do-over of the tune (for which the vocal version is sadly lost). "Save the Children" is prime '70s roots, killer horns, militant riddim, wailing vocals. This release features the awesome female harmony singers, dubbed the 'Voices of the Trinity.' "Living in Illusion" is the most mellow of these three tunes, but no less powerful for it, with Keithus' heartfelt vocals and a great arrangement yet again.
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KeithUus I - Dreadlocks I |
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DKR-075 |
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KeithUus I - Save The Children |
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DKR-076 |
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KeithUus I - Living In Illusion |
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DKR-077 |
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Alphonso Bailey Productions
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Devon Russell - Rat And Bat |
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DKR-069 |
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Devon Russell - Famine Time |
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DKR-070 |
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Milton Henry - Follow Fashionl |
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DKR-071 |
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Leroy Smart - Oh Marcus |
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DKR-072 |
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Forces - That’s Not Right |
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DKR-073 |
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Channel 1 - 4th Release
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Clarence Parks - Things A Come Up To Bump / Dub |
John Holt - Love & Understanding / Revolutionaries - Peace |
Don Angelo - General / Dub |
Leroy Smart – Oh Marcus / Dub |
I-Roy – Tribute To Marcus Garvey / Dub |
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Another barrage of shots from the Channel 1 archives, including another entry into our 'Lost & Found' series. First, Clarence Parks, one of our favorite singers of the 80s, had a relatively small but killer output, and we rate all of his tunes highly. So when we learned that he cut a handful of tunes for Channel 1, none of which were ever released, we couldn't wait to hear them. To our surprise, one of them was familiar, the infamous "Things a Come Up to Bump"! The rhythm for this tune is probably familiar to many. It's among a handful of riddims cut at Channel in the early 1980's and shared amongst a group of producers who were very active at the studio during this time. Despite being shelved by Channel, the tune found its way out there on vinyl (a somewhat frequent "mystery" of the 1980s reggae business), and has since cemented its place as one of the baddest cuts on a bad rhythm! So here's our first shot from Clarence at Maxfield Avenue, with a few more to come.
Next, and in the 'Lost & Found' series, a massive tune with John Holt in a rootsman style on Channel's monstrous lick of the 'mr. bassie' rhythm. This one exemplifies the sound of Channel 1 studio, featuring the hardest musicians ever, dubwise or otherwise. Never before released, as played on dubplate in the 1970's. Straight from the dub room at 29 Maxfield Avenue to your living room, crystal clear master tape issue. The dub side by the Revolutionaries was released on the classic 'Reaction in Dub' LP.
Third up is Don Angelo, who cut a bunch of tunes for Channel 1 in the early/mid 1980's, but only a few were released. This one, "General", saw release only in the UK thru a licensing deal at the time, and it's a wicked uptempo track in the same vein as some of our recently-issued Tasha productions from the same time, approx. 1984.
Lastly, a pair of tunes on one of the hardest and most militant of 1970's Channel 1 rhythms. Both Leroy Smart's "Oh Marcus" and the deejay version, I-Roy's "Tribute To Marcus Garvey" were only ever available as LP cuts, released here now for the first time ever as singles, and backed by a tough version of the Revolutionaries' rhythm track.
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Clarence Parks - Things A Come Up To Bump |
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DKR-064-JJ |
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John Holt - Love & Understanding |
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DKR-081-JJ |
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Don Angelo - General |
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DKR-080-JJ |
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Leroy Smart – Oh Marcus |
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DKR-082-JJ |
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I-Roy – Tribute To Marcus Garvey |
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DKR-083-JJ |
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Record Smith / DJ’s Choice / Dub Irator
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Black Oney - Jah Jah Send The Parson |
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DKR-056 |
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Prince Junior Girl For All Seasons |
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DKR-057 |
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Ghetto Connection - Strugglers Time |
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DKR-058 |
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Zion Yant
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Kush Dan I – Jah Law Of Love |
Reggae George - Girl You're Too Young |
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Legendary and rare roots reggae tunes from 1982. Michael "Kush Dan I" Gardine produced himself doing the awesome "Jah Law of Love" at Tuff Gong to great effect, featuring fantastic instrumentation. Originally released only in tiny quantity on 45 in JA, it's back now, and featuring the same brilliant label art, faithfully reproduced in Jamaica from the original films! Around the same time, Kush also produced some tunes with Reggae George, most notably the well known "Three Wicked Men." But there is also this tune, "Girl You're Too Young", a killer slice of heavy lovers. Only ever dubiously released in Canada on a now very rare 12-inch, it's also back again, shedding some light on the under-appreciated artist and producer both.
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Kush Dan I – Jah Law Of Love |
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DKR-065 |
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Reggae George - Girl You're Too Young |
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DKR-066 |
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New Name Muzik
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Wild Eyes – Wickedness |
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DKR-067 |
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Andrew Bees – Life In The Ghetto |
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BE-004 |
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Andrew Bees – Struggle & Strive |
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BE-005 |
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Harmodio
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Don Hickey - Dancehall Rock 7 |
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DKR-046 |
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Don Hickey - Let Us Co-Operate 7 |
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DKR-047 |
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Don Hickey - Try A Thing 7 |
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DKR-048 |
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Channel 1 - 3nd Release
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Patrick Andy - Don't Worry Yourself/Version B/W Leave The Door/Version |
Barry Brown - No No No/Version (Previously Unreleased, Master Tape Issue) |
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Round three of Channel One releases. First up is another legendary early 80s dubplate tune, Barry Brown's "No No No". The wicked rhythm employed here is now well known via Dandy Lion's "Vibes", but "No No No" is one in a next set of tune Barry cut for the Hookims in the early 80s, in the wake of his massive hit tune "Far East" and the subsequent album of the same name. Some of these tunes ended up being Barry's side of the showdown LP with Little John, but the remainder were never released on vinyl, relegated to the dub room, and forgotten by all but the most astute sound tape listeners. Released here on crisp and loud dubplate-style ten-inch, straight from master tape. And what about those other Barry Brown tunes you ask? Soon come! But right now, and next, a killer double sided 12-inch from Patrick Andy. Patrick did his best work for Channel 1, who put out a bunch of singles and two great showdown LP's featuring the youth. If you've been following our releases thus far, you should be familiar with the pair of killer Channel riddims on this release. "Don't Worry Yourself" aka "Worry & Fret" is the other cut on the fantastic rhythm used for the recently reissued Midnight Riders' "Posse Form a Line", and the flip side "Leave the Door" is the megaton-heavy riddim used on Angela Prince's "Joker Lover", which we just issued a couple months ago. Both tunes with dubs, top shelf Channel 1 selections. Don't worry yourself, you're safe! |
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Patrick Andy – Don't Worry Yourself |
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DKR-051-JJ |
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Barry Brown - No No No |
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DKR-063-JJ |
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Tasha - 2nd Release
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Wayne Smith - Dancing Machine/Version B/W Gilly Buchanan - Me No Mix/Version |
Patrick Andy - Ain’t No Me/Version B/W Wayne Smith - Rain From The Sky/Version |
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Round two of Tasha releases, two huge 12-inches showcasing two huge riddims! "Dancing Machine" by Wayne Smith and Gilly Buchanan's "Me No Mix", both on the same riddim, are now paired together. One of the best uptempo riddims of the era, if you listen closely you'll notice it's a re-working of the same riddim used for Midnight Riders' tune "Youthman Invasion" (coming soon!). The other 12-inch features "Rain from the Sky" by Wayne Smith, and "Ain't No Me" by Patrick Andy. Killer synths on top of a rock solid riddim, again by the Gifted Roots Band. All together, four vocals, three dubs, two riddims, all killer. |
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Wayne Smith - Dancing Machine |
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DKR-049 |
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Patrick Andy - Ain’t No Me |
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DKR-050 |
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Dub Irator - 2nd Release
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Scion Success - Profile / Jah Life - Dub In The Area |
Scion Success - Cant Wrong / Jah Life - Dub In The Area |
Sammy Levi - Automatic / Jah Life - Dub In The Area |
Tony Tuff - Dance In The Area / Music In The Area Dub |
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Legendary dubplate cuts to the 'chanting' riddim, as played on the Jah Life & Volcano sound systems in the early 1980's! Many of the toughest riddims of the early '80s came from the producing partnership of Hyman 'Jah Life' Wright and Henry 'Junjo' Lawes. Among them was this one, which saw two released cuts with John Holt's "Chanting" and Tony Tuff's "Dance in the Area." But, soundsytem and dubplate followers also know that this rhythm had more unreleased cuts which played regularly as dubplates on Junjo's Volcano and Jah Life's sounds at the time. In recent years we've seen these tunes unfortunately pirated, unscrupulously and anonymously sold on dubplate, recut from shoddy old plates who knows how many generations removed from originals. It seemed clear that the time had come for these cuts to see the light. So we present the three unreleased cuts on the riddim, straight form master tapes, and now identified. Two of them come from one of our favorite singers, a pair of wicked outings from a young Scion Success! "Profile", about modelling in the dancehall, and "Can't Wrong", a song of pure encouragement. Next, another upcoming NY artist of the day, Sammy Levi with "Automatic", a warning about the perils of carrying a gun. Each of these three cuts is backed with Jah Life's own dub version, showcasing a part of each vocal, in his trademark "Superstar Mix" fashion. Lastly we re-present the Tony Tuff cut, which has escaped the attention of many, due to it's relative unavailability. Originally released on his "Come Fe Mash It" LP on Volcano in Jamaica, and on a rare 10-inch single on the EIS label in NY. This one comes backed with its own unique dub cut, as previously released on the EIS 10". All four cuts released on Jah Life's Dub Irator label. |
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Scion Success - Profile |
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DKR-059 |
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Scion Success - Cant Wrong |
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DKR-060 |
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Sammy Levi - Automatic |
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DKR-061 |
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Tony Tuff - Dance In The Area |
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DKR-062 |
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Channel 1 - 2nd Release
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McWoner - Nuh Fire It / Higher Region |
Barry Brown - Over Me / Angela Prince - Joker Love |
Horace Andy - Why Oh Why / Satisfy Me (Previously Unreleased) |
Unknown Artist - Rocks & Mountains / Dub (Previously Unreleased) |
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Round two of Channel One releases! Continuing in our campaign to re-release the jewels of the Channel 1 catalog which have not been back out since their original release, we bring you our first batch of 10-inches, the dubplate-style vinyl format introduced to reggae by Channel 1 in the early 1980's. After introducing the 12-inch discomix to JA in the late 1970's, Channel was innovating again in the early 1980's, bringing out a barrage of 10-inches from their new NY base, featuring many awesome tracks. Among those was this double-sider from the man called McWoner (or Mac Warner). He didn't seem to do too much recording, but what made it on to vinyl is mostly fantastic, and at the top are these tunes, "Nuh Fire It" and "Higher Region" (both followed by dubs). Next is a pairing of two of our favorites - Barry Brown's "Over Me" and Angela Prince's "Joker Lover." The Barry Brown cut is again, like our last batch of releases on the Flabba label, one of his finest tunes of the era. The Angela Prince is an often-overlooked tune, with mournful lovers lyrics on top of one of Channel's all-time heaviest riddims. Again, both tunes are followed by dubs. Now, regarding our second pair of 10-inches, DKR has left no stone unturned in the search for the forgotten by many, revered by some, and seldom or never heard tunes of the past, which for one reason or another, were never released, sold only on dubplate, or never played again after being committed to tape. And in turning over so many stones, we've managed to find some gold, and have dug up some things previously thought lost. So begins the Channel 1 "Lost & Found" series, unreleased material from 29 Maxfield Avenue, straight from master tapes. We're kicking off this series with two monster releases. First, from the man called Horace Andy. After producing some tunes with Horace in the 1970's, Channel One went back to work with Horace in the early 1980's, releasing a fantastic showdown LP featuring Horace and Patrick Andy, via Sonic Sounds' Thunderbolt label. But in addition to those tunes, another grip of equally great tunes were also made which didn't end up on the album, and here's two of the best. "Why Oh Why" made the rounds on dubplate at the time, the riddim is heavy like lead, and you might recognize it from other released cuts. "Satisfy Me" has Horace riding the same riddim as Barry Brown's "Over Me", to equally great effect. Both tracks are followed by dubs. Lastly, a tune that needs little introduction, the mighty "Rocks and Mountains", produced by Sly & Robbie at 29 Maxfield Avenue. While never officially released, this tune was made famous thru play on UK sound systems. And while the vocalists of this tune have long been rumored to be the Mighty Travellers, who self-produced some tunes and cut an LP for Jammy's, no one has been able to definitively confirm this. This recording has been sourced straight from a mastertape containing dubplate mixes of other released and more well known Sly & Robbie productions from the early 1980's, but which bore no notation of "Rocks and Mountains" presence at all. So decades later, the mystery endures, but the music finally comes into the light and speaks for itself. One thing is certain though, the mighty sound of Channel 1 still rules in 2011! |
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McWoner - Nuh Fire It |
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DKR-037-JJ |
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Barry Brown - Over Me |
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DKR-038-JJ |
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Horace Andy - Why Oh Why |
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DKR-039-JJ |
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Unknown Artist - Rocks & Mountains |
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DKR-040-JJ |
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Flabba Sounds
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Barry Brown - Physical Fitness |
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DKR-034 |
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Barry Brown - Them Ha Fi Get A Beatin |
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DKR-035 |
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Barry Brown - War Monger |
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DKR-036 |
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Rythem Track
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Tony Roach - Big Bout Yah / Dub |
Tony Roach - Entertainer / Dub |
Anthony Selassie - Busy Body / Dub |
Garnett Silk - Every Knee Shall Bow / Dub |
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Over two years in the making, Digikiller Records present four masterpieces of digital reggae! Callo Collins' RYTHEM TRACK label was started in 1985, during the birth of the digital sound. And even as such early digital productions, the first batch of Rythem Track releases from that very year stand as some of the freshest and best productions of the entire 1980's digital era. The Rythem Track crew of 1985 was itself similarly fresh, a small group of talented young artists. There was deejay Little Bimbo, who would become the late great singer Garnett Silk, another future star named Tony Rebel, and a pair of terrific but historically under-recorded singers, Anthony Selassie and Tony Roach. Callo and Rythem Track continued producing quality dancehall music well into the 1990's, with more big tunes and big artists along the way. As evidence of Rythem Track's brilliance, here Digikiller Records presents four of the best Rythem Track selections, three from 1985, and one from 1997. Tony Roach's "Big Bout Yah" has been one of Digikiller favorite tunes for years, the riddim a killer variation on 'tempo'. Next, Tony Roach's "Enterainer" and Anthony Selassie's "Busy Body", both voiced on one of the best-ever digital cuts of the 'green bay' riddim. Lastly, Garnett Silk's "Every Knee Shall Bow." Over ten years from his start, Garnett was back working right where he began, with Rythem Track. Originally released posthumously in 1997 on Callo's offshoot 2-Hyped label, this is one of Silk's best ever, a high-water mark for both him and the producer, a shining example of the indelible legacies of both.
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Tony Roach - Big Bout Yah |
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DKR-030 |
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Tony Roach - Entertainer |
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DKR-031 |
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Anthony Selassie - Busy Body |
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DKR-032 |
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Garnett Silk - Every Knee Shall Bow |
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DKR-033 |
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Dub Irator
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Scion Success - Jah Is My Hero // Jug Head - Joyce Gone / Dub |
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Hyman "Jah Life" Wright's DUB IRATOR label returns with two of the most hard to find and killer tunes from his catalog. Scion Success"Jah Is My Hero" was originally released in 1991 on a Jah Life 12" in New York, and is one of the ruffest digital roots tunes we've heard. On the flip side, from the mid 1980's, is "Joyce Gone" by Jug Head. Originally released during the mid 80's in NY on a Dub Irator 12", this is one of the heaviest songs of lost love, a slow and bottom heavy rhythm with great synths, followed by a hard dub cut. Please note, the Scion Success tune is vocal only, as on the original release. |
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Scion Success - Jah Is My Hero |
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DKR-027 |
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Leggo Sounds - 2nd Release
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Dave Robinson - Have To Go Thru / Vex Version |
Jewels - Love & Livity / Dub |
Jewels - Slave Trade / Dub |
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From 1979, two of our all-time favorite roots harmony tunes, both from The Jewels. "Slave Trade" and "Love and Livity" were both originally released on Jamaican seven-inch, on Leggo's Cash & Carry label, and distributed from his former Orange St. record shop of the same name. Both tunes stand near the top of the heap for hard roots harmony, no small feat. Next, on 12" we have Dave Robinson's massive tune on Leggo's awesome lick of the tempo riddim. In 1985, as the original tempo riddim was booming up the scene, Leggo was moving back and forth between his Orange Street, Kingston homebase and the Bronx, NYC. In this time he released a few tunes only in NYC, and only on 12" disco, where the format was already long-favored. Among them was this, a wicked lick of the ruling tempo riddim, huge bass and fantastic instrumentation, again arranged by Leggo's cohort Flabba Holt, and voiced by veteran rootsman Dave Robinson. A big booming vocal and the deep dub, titled "Vex."
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Dave Robinson - Have To Go Thru |
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DKR-010 |
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Jewels - Love & Livity |
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DKR-028 |
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Jewels - Slave Trade |
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DKR-029 |
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Tasha
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Michael Palmer - Different Strokes / Gifted Roots Band - Strokes Dub |
Midnight Riders - Wanted / Gifted Roots Band - Strokes Dub |
Steve Knight - Love Me Entertainment / Gifted Roots Band - Strokes Dub |
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Deeper Knowledge presents the start of an ongoing reissue series of tunes from mid '80s producer George 'Tasha' Nicholson! The mid '80s sound of Channel 1 studio has long been their favorite sound in reggae music, being some of the awesomely heavy reggae ever made. Chief among those forwarding this sound, right alongside the Hookims, was George Nicholson. George worked exclusively at Channel 1 in this era, releasing tunes in Jamaica on his Tasha & Under Pressure imprints. Through licensing, much of George's music was also released on various labels in the US, Canada and the UK. With many years passed, Tasha's catalog of killer music has been relegated to the realm of collectors only, with most of the original releases becoming very hard to find. Deeper Knowledge truly feel his productions are some of the absolute best music and original riddims of the 1980's, so it's time these tunes came back on the street. Deeper Knowledge has partnered with George to bring these tunes back to the spotlight on his original Tasha imprint. In addition to many of the tunes you may already know, we also have a killer selection of NEVER BEFORE RELEASED material from some of our all-time favorite artists, straight from master tapes! It is our pleasure and honor to help have these tunes be heard again, and for the first time.
We begin with three cuts on one of Tasha's best original riddims, played by the Gifted Roots Band, all cuts from 1984. Michael Palmer's "Different Strokes" originally appeared on Tasha 7" in JA, as well on an obscure compilation LP in NYC. Steve Knight's "Love Me Entertainment" originally appeared only on his very rare "Orphan Child" LP, again issued only in NYC. Finally, Midnight Riders' massive tune "Wanted", is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, out now for the first time. All three tunes are backed with a killer dub version. "Wanted, for singing dangerous reggae music!" |
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Michael Palmer - Different Strokes |
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DKR-024 |
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Midnight Riders - Wanted |
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DKR-025 |
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Steve Knight - Love Me Entertainment |
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DKR-026 |
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14 Karat US - 2nd Release
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Dizzy Flemming - Resurrection / Mikey Jarrett - Starvation; Dub |
Thriller - Too Much Racket; Dub / Wayne Jarrett - Nice And Easy; Dub |
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More boomshots from the vaults of Mikey 'Karat' Jarrett! Straight from the master tapes, we bring you FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED tunes and one famously heavy instrumental! Best known as the riddim to Scion Success' tune "Young Africans", this killer riddim was built and voiced at Channel 1 in the early 1980's, while Mikey was on a visit to Kingston. Upon returning to NYC, "Young Africans" was released on 12" disco, but the other three cuts and a second dub version remained unreleased until now, over 25 years later! The reality tune "Too Much Racket" by a young Thriller, a heavy slice of lovers in the form of "Nice and Easy" by Wayne Jarrett, and "Starvation" by Mikey Jarrett, a deejay plea to help the troubled Africans. Each cut is followed by a wicked dub version. In addition to these, there is the infamous "Resurrection" by the late great horns man Dizzy Flemming! This killer roots instrumental was produced by Mikey Jarrett and his friend Lloydie Prince in the early '80s, and saw only limited release in NYC as a 12" on the one-away MAN DINGO label, but became known as a sound system favorite in the UK. |
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Dizzy Flemming - Resurrection |
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DKR-022 |
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Thriller - Too Much Racket; Dub |
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DKR-023 |
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Channel 1
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Midnight Riders - Posse Forn A Line / Dub |
Stephaine Samuels - Africa We Want To Go / Dub |
Carlton Livingston - Tale Of Two Cities / Dub |
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CHANNEL 1 - no introduction needed. With reverence, we present the first batch in a series of mainly never-before-reissued selections from the Channel 1 catalog, to be distributed by DKR. Round one: Stephanie Samuels 'Africa We Want to Go', beautiful one-away deep roots with birdsong, truly mystical tune. Carlton Livingston 'Tale of Two Cities', not only his first released tune, but one of his best. A tough riddim by the Revolutionaries, with wicked horns. Midnight Riders 'Posse Form a Line', a special request to the Channel 1 crew of the day. This is one of the best tunes from the Riders, who are one our all-time personal favorite artists, so this one is a special joy for us to bring out. A simply amazing late era Channel 1 riddim, proving that Channel ruled from beginning to end. |
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Midnight Riders - Posse Forn A Line |
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DKR-019-JJ |
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Stephaine Samuels - Africa We Want To Go |
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DKR-020-JJ |
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Carlton Livingston - Tale Of Two Cities |
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DKR-021-JJ |
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Chopper Productions
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Don Hickey - Cooporate |
Courtney Melody - No Darkness |
Lionel Ganja Barrett - Rasta Cowboy |
Bobby Melody - Original Melody / Black Roots Band - Original Melody Dub |
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From Barbican, Kingston 8, the Chopper crew are back on road! From the mid 1980's straight thru until the early 90's, Choppers were steady releasing tunes both in Jamaica and NYC, and from young upcoming artists and veterans alike. Let's start with four of the most killer tunes from the Chopper catalog! From the mid '80s, two cuts on Choppers' own wicked lick of Channel One's 'fight fight' riddim. Chopper's lick was laid and mixed at Channel 1 with the Black Roots Band aka Gifted Roots Band. The first tune is from Lionel 'Ganja' Barrett, himself a member of the Chopper crew, and one of the first artists released on the label. 'Rasta Cowboy' is his signature tune, an ode to a self-reliant cowboy-like life. Next, 'Original Melody' from Bobby Melody, letting you know none a them a ruff like the original! We were saddened by Bobby's recent passing, but let this tune serve as a reminder of what a great singer he was. Each of these two tunes is backed with its own unique and wicked dub, each a different mix. Forward now to the late '80s digital style, Don Hickey’s 'Cooperate' is one of his best tunes, on a pure killer digital riddim. Last but not least is 'No Darkness', Courtney Melody's cut on the 'cooperate' riddim. This tune is released for the first time here on 7', previously released only on a hard to find LP, this is one of his great unheralded tunes. |
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DKR-015 |
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DKR-016 |
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DKR-017 |
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DKR-018 |
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Mankind
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Mankind - These Three Girls / Country Life |
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Double-sided late '80s digital monster, from longtime collaborators Sydney 'Mankind' Francis and Dennis 'Jah D' Fearon! Jah D is one of the unsung heroes of reggae music - uncredited session player and arranger on countless classic sides, including many from Studio One, much of Joe Gibbs' classic roots material, Junior Dan's tunes, as well as piano tuner extraordinaire at just about every legendary studio in Jamaica. Jah D continues to arrange and produce music regularly at his Grant's Pen studio, along with his son, on their own Builder's Music label. Sydney 'Mankind' Francis began as the singer in Jah D's former band Food Clothes & Shelter, while voicing tunes for early '80s labels such as Music Ambassador. By the time of the full-on digital explosion of the late '80s, Mankind was honing his skills as a solo artist, voicing tunes for big labels of the day, such as the wicked 'Hot Number' for Stereo One. It was around this same time that Mankind and Jah D entered Aquarius studio, to work on making some tunes intended for Mankind's debut album, and to be voiced over some wicked new digital riddims freshly built by Jah D on the new digital keyboards and drum-machines which had fast become the standard bearers in dancehall production. Two tunes from this session were given to an upstart UK producer for issue on his new label, and there you have 'These Three Girls' and 'Country Life', originally issued on 12' via the Jah Man label, only in UK. Over twenty-years later, these tunes have been rightfully recognized by astute listeners as classics of their era - the riddims sharp and crisp, the vocals a sweet match, the dubs...heavy! Digikiller humbly re-presents this great music of Jah D and Mankind, these two tunes are one in the world!
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DKR-014 |
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Thebes Records
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Ark of the Covenant / Covenant Rock |
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From the deepest wellspring of New York City roots, the Bronx, returns one of the most seldom heard and mystical pieces of roots music ever made. The Aksumites were a roots harmony trio unlike any other, and the 'Ark of the Covenant' is their masterpiece. Group leader and song writer Andrew McCalla came to New York City from Trenchtown in the first half of the 1970's, and quickly took up work as a solo artist and song writer for Bullwackie's and Munchie Jackson, releasing solo tunes on now-legendary labels like Aires. But at the turn of the 1970's into the 1980's, the Aksumites group got to work self-releasing some discomix 12-inches , including this one, a just-shy-of eight minutes long vocal side of singing and chanting, backed by a rhythm heavy enough to match their message. The flip side is the same heavier-than-lead approach, with the rhythm being mixed for vocal delivery in fine deejay style by Nigger Charlie (despite some labels saying 'Dub', the flip has in-fact always been the deejay version!). The incomparable rhythm track was laid in New York by the New Breed Band, now well known for their work on many releases from the Wackie's camp. The rhythm was then taken to Channel One in Kingston, for voicing, overdubbing and mixing. The group released the disco just once, but with two different labels - the THEBES SOUNDS label was designated for Jamaican distribution, while the AKSUM RECORDS label would be for distribution in NY. Over the years this record has quietly attained the reputation it rightfully deserves, among the select few lucky enough to hear it. But it need be quiet no longer, and so Deeper Knowledge Records joyfully presents it again...behold the Ark of the Covenant!
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DKR-013 |
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Leggo Sounds
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Cane Juice - Joker Bad Boy |
Hax - Duppy |
Mystic - Youths Get Tricked |
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Digikiller proudly presents the first round of releases in a multi-part program of reissues from producer Trevor 'Leggo' Douglas. As a long-time Orange Street producer, record store owner and then studio owner, Leggo has built a solid catalog of both wicked roots and dancehall, from the 1970's all the way thru the 1990's. But collectors may found many of them inexplicably hard to find. Now Digikiller brings back some of Leggo productions and make them heard by all who will listen!
From 1986, 'Joker Bad Boy' by Cane Juice, and 'Duppy' by The Hax. Two tunes which blew us away from first listen with their amazingly advanced digital riddims, played live and arranged by Leggo's longtime spar Flabba Holt of the Roots Radics. Cane Juice, long one of Digikiller’s favorite singers, sends a message about all false bad boys, with his infamous lyric 'nuff bwoy a love up di gun but dem fraid a di bullet'. Next, The Hax, another unsung DKR favorite singer who did most of his recording for Leggo, sings 'Duppy', delivering a warning with a killer Waterhouse-style vocal....'nuh go dung deh!' Lastly, forward to 1995, with 'Youths Get Tricked' by Mystic. A pinnacle of 1990's digital roots, wailing against the corruption of the upper class |
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DKR-009 |
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DKR-011 |
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DKR-012 |
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Conscious Music US
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King Kong - He Was A Friend; Version / Tey Not I; Version |
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One of the baddest double-sided late 80s digital twelve-inches from one of our favorite singers, now back on road! King Kong self-produced and released this disco in the UK, with 'He Was a Friend' also coming out on seven-inch in JA on the Jah All Mighty label. 'He Was a Friend' is an awesome far-east tinged riddim, the lyrics a memorial tribute to the late great Tenor Saw, a spar and friend of King Kong. 'Try Not I' is a pure sound killing tune, over a spare but heavy and menacing riddim.
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DKR-006 |
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Junior Militant US
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Phillip Myers - Ghetto Struggle |
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DKR present the official reissue of one of the greatest digital tunes of the 1980's. Philip Myers released only a handful of tunes in the second half of the 1980's, and among them was this now very rare 45 from 1985. The lone release on Daniel Senior's Junior Militant label, based out of Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11, this tough digital cut features lyrics about babylon coming to mash up your dance. Arranged by Noel Davey (legend has it, before the release of sleng teng!), this tune perfectly captures the digital dancehall sound just being born, and proves yet again that so many killer tunes were bubbling under but never made it into the spotlight. Thankfully, this huge tune is now back on the street, rescued from rarity and obscurity, and ready to receive its due! |
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DKR-004 |
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Yah Congo Records US
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Freddie McKay - Take My Hand Oh Jah / Naggo Morris - You Want To Get I Out |
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DKR proudly present the first ever reissue of these two all-time top deep roots tunes, originally issued on two different 12's by East Orange, NJ's own YAH CONGO label. Now paired together by DKR for one monstrous double-sider. dub heads take note: neither tune was originally issued with a full version side; both tunes are vocal into dub, originally released with other tunes on the b-side. |
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DKR-003 |
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