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Delroy Wilson - Give Me Your Love / Version
Sir Collins / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1977
N/A
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.
Junior Murvin (Junior Soul) - Rescue The Children / Rescue The Children Version
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1974
N/A
Recorded in 1974, this is Junior Murvin's first Roots tune ever. Having always been sought after by collectors, this song is possibly the ultimate classic. This is a completely different take from the one Junior Murvin recorded for Lee Perry in 1977 for the “Police and Thieves” LP distributed by Island. Undoubtedly this is one of Murvin’s best tunes, which should be in every collector’s record box.
Elijah - Selassi Hi / Mount Zion
Sir Collins / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1971
N/A
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 (we also reissued his cut, still available, see here!) 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.
Invaders - You Touch My Soul / Version
Sir Collins / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 197-
¥1680 (US$10.80)
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 Soul" 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).
Jewels - Love & Livity / Dub
Leggo Sounds / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
N/A
"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.
Carlton Livingston - Tale Of Two Cities / Revolutionaries - Dub
Channel One / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1977
N/A
Carlton Livingston's 'Tale of Two Cities', not only his first released tune, but one of his best. A tough riddim by the Revolutionaries, with wicked horns.
Don Carlos, Soul Syndicate - Black Harmony / Black Love
Rawse / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1976
¥1680 (US$10.80)
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. An 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.
Johnny Osbourne, Barry Brown, Hugh Mundell, Lacksley Castell, Noel Phillips - Rootsman Vibrations At King Jammys (4CD)
Greensleeves UK 197-
¥3880 (US$24.94)
Kiddus I - Jah Power, Jah Glory / Jah Power Version
Shepherd / Dub Store Records JPN 1979
¥1980 (US$12.73)
Sir Harry - Power House / Version
Sir Collins / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 197-
N/A
"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.
Keithus I - Jah Children Cool / Dub
Jah Dynasty / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1975
¥1180 (US$7.58)
Keithus showing a more mature voice and singing style, but none the less killer and militant.
Lacksley Castell - Collie Tree (Coloured Vinyl) / Dub
Fire House / Negus Roots UK 1979
¥1480 (US$9.51)
Everton Dacres - Jah Jah Ah Come / Jah Jah Dub
LTD / Deeper Knowledge / Digikiller US 1977
N/A
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.
Devon Russell - Rat And Bat / Version
Globe International / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1974
¥1400 ¥1080 (US$6.94)
"Rat and Bat" is on Yabby You's "Conquering Lion" riddim, and featuring a funny spoken intro between Devon & Bailey.
Keithus I - Living In Ilusion / Ilusions Dub
Jah Dynasty / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 197-
¥1100 (US$7.07)
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.
Stephaine Samuels - Africa We Want To Go / Dub
Channel One / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1978
N/A
Stephanie Samuels 'Africa We Want to Go', beautiful one-away deep roots with birdsong, truly mystical tune.
Milton Henry - Follow Fashion / Dub
Globe International / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1970
¥1180 (US$7.58)
"Famine Time" and "Follow Fashion" are both on the Upsetters' immortal "Fever" rhythm, and each tune has its own unique dub.
Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity / Version
Fox Fire / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 197-
¥1380 ¥1280 (US$8.23)
Clive Matthew's "Live Not For Vanity", a serious warning given thru a heavy tune. 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!
Clive Matthews - My Girl Has Gone / Now Generation - Version
Fox Fire / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
N/A
'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.
Earl Sixteen - Malcolm X / Winston Mcanuff - Armaggedon Time
Wild Flower / Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1976/ 1977
N/A
Featuring Earl Sixteen, who later recorded an album at Studio One, the last title of our Derrick Harriott re-issue series is one of the most rare Roots tunes from Harriott’s production. The A-side proves that Roots Reggae was at its pick at the time, and the B-Side, with its militant beat by Winston McAnuff, who renamed himself to Electric Dread, make this record an all-time Roots favorite.
Hopeton Junior - Whip Down The Wicked Man / Stepping Stone - Wicked Version
Hot Stuff UK 1976
¥1380 ¥1280 (US$8.23)
Jewels - Slave Trade / Dub
Leggo Sounds / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
N/A
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.
Peter Broggs - Vampire (Vank Out) / Version
Quarter Mile / Digikiller US / Depper Knowledge US 1975
N/A
Trevor Byfield - Jah Guide / Father Version
Fox Fire / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
N/A
'Jah Guide' is classic roots, originally released only on a UK 12-inch on the Ethnic Fight label.
Clive Matthews - Am Going Home / Hop Ki Do Skank Version
Fox Fire / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1978
N/A
'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'!
Jennifer Lara - Music By The Score / Dub
Cry Tuff / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
N/A
Deep late '70s roots from Prince Far I's CRY TUFF label. 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.
Ujama / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1979
¥1180 (US$7.58)
"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!
Midnight Riders - Posse Forn A Line / Revolutionaries - Dub
Channel One / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1978
N/A
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.
Forces - That's Not Right / Dub
Afrajam / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1974
N/A
Forces tune is a classic one-away, awesome heavy roots vibes from the turn of the '70s into the '80s.
Trevor Byfield - Tell Me That You Love Me / Version
Fox Fire / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 197-
N/A
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!