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Tarrus Riley, Zagga - Free Up / Zagga - Remember The Days
Chimney Records / Buyreggae EU 2015
A: Happy Hour B: Chill Spot
N/A
Leslie Butler - We've Only Just Begun
N/A
Because of his superior talent and intense personality, one of the most ingenious pianists Leslie Butler had a lack of releases, however he was given an exceptional chance by the Federal Records to record this one of the most peculiar albums in the history of Jamaican music. This beautifully finished Jamaican Jazz Funk/Rare Groove album is mostly constructed with the traditional covers that all Jamaicans will know although with the wonderful arrangement, and very Jamaican, ensemble stripping aesthetics give the album a whole new character that can’t be heard elsewhere.This masterpiece should make it to the shelves of not only reggae fans but soul and jazz fans as well. Leslie always committed on making a serious piece of music - never liked to make either of Jamaican popular music or business-like commercial music. He had a strong belief of not letting others to control his talent. Therefore there were often conflicts between him and producers or he was not even given a chance to record anything at all. It’s a really sad story, but this unfortunate musician’s lifestyle can be heard on the recordings such as “Guitar In Ernest – Ernest Ranglin (DSR-LP / CD-501)” and “Reggae Rhapsody – Leslie Butler (DSR-FEDS12-001).” Perhaps with this album in addition, it might be all enough.
Nitty Gritty - Turn Them Back / Turn Them Back Dub
Prince Jammys Dub / Dub Store Records JPN 1986
¥1980 (US$12.80)
You might have seen Jammy playing this devastating sound killer in sessions lately, although before that this Nitty Gritty on Jammy’s ‘Tempo’ has only been heard on dubplates. No one knows why it never came out – is it because it was a counteraction to Tubby? Or tune that was the lethal weapon of Jammy? There is nothing we can do but imagine those pictures when listening to the intense energy and impact of this tune.
Ultra Vybe JPN 2015
N/A
An anticipated full album from refined Japanese lovers rock singer, Asuka Ando. After gaining followers with her 7” and EP. Releases, Asuka finally puts out the full length including the single “See You In My Dreams”, and Fil Callender cover “Baby My Love” backed by the supreme Japanese musicians with the likes of Takumi Kaneko (Jazzy Sport), Koji Oishi (Little Tempo) and more.
Skatalites - Ball & Fire / Paulette (Tonnets) - Every Time (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1965/ 1961
N/A
Fu Steps - Rise Up; Rise Dub; Instrumental / Benjammin - In This Time; In This Dub
Mystical Rising EU 2015
¥2300 (US$14.87)
Clive Wilson, Skatalites - One Ska, One Ounce Of Weed, One Beer / Federal Singers - Love Is All I Have
Federal / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
N/A
Based on the Rhythm and Blues classic, this is a super rare uptempo Ska cover and for all Ska Man and the DJ’s!
Originally sung by Amos Milburn, in the 50’s this had been a sound system classic in Jamaica. There is nowhere else in the world but Jamaica could produce such a cover version and utterly convincing Drummond’s solo works nicely as a spice of this tune. Originally released on a blank label although it’s a super rare one to find - a proud copy to own and must have for all Ska Man. On the flip is a great vocal Ska yet the singer’s detail is completely unknown. *Recommended to pair this title with the instrumental version by Don Drummond on this very same series(DSR-FW7-04)
Hopeton Lewis - Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat
N/A
A fundamental album released in 1966 that determined the way Rocksteady was going to journey. In 1966, Rude Boys were at the peak of the fame with their notorious behaviors, while Ska gradually started to slow down its tempo. This album paved the way for a newborn music, Rocksteady, with rather slower and tighter rhythm approach. This album should be considered as one of the ten most important albums in Reggae history. The descent from Ska, which had its derivation from Jazz or Rhythm and Blues, to Rocksteady, with its various potential elements which would be passed to the next decade of Reggae, has been allegedly created in this album with Trinidadian guitarist Lynn Taitt and his band The Jets as the backing band. Entitled “Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat!”, most of the tunes featured in this album were written for praising dancehall as if he’d have known this genre was going to rule the dance floors. Among the tunes in this album, “This Music Got Soul” was the coolest of all and called out the dawn of the Rocksteady era. This tune had a huge influence on the future developments of Reggae music.
Bunny Wailer - Rise & Shine / Solomonic Dub
Solomonic / Dub Store Records JPN 1981
N/A
Bunny continued to release records throughout the seventies that were never less than excellent and, as the new decade got underway, he came forward with one of his best ever releases: the militant clarion call 'Rise And Shine'. Stretched over two momentous sides of a UK twelve inch release, the record was a huge hit, but has been unavailable ever since. Bunny returned to the song on his superb 'Liberation' album at the close of the decade but the original cut has remained one of the most in-demand records on the 'revival' circuit.
Mungo's Hi Fi, Charlie P - You See Me Star
Scotch Bonnet UK 2015
¥2580 ¥1980 (US$12.80)
Charlie P is a ragamuffin rudeboy youth with a natural talent of music. Since he grew up surrounded by UK-Jamaican culture, reggae was in his blood. Charlie met Mungo’s Hi Fi while he was drawn to soundsystem culture in 2010. Since then they have done countless recording sessions and continuous touring around every corner of the globe. This album is the culmination of this ongoing relationship and brings together the best tracks across the styles that he loves, from roots reggae and dancehall to modern bass music.
Hippy Boys - Seven Heaven / Bobby Aitken, Carib Beats - Scaramouchie
Gay Feet / Onlyroots EU 1967
N/A
Capital Letters - Jah Music (Rootikal Re Mixdown) / (Rootikal Dubwise)
Sugar Shack UK 2015
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Sugar Minott; Jackie Mittoo - Give Me Jah Jah; Version (press Noise, Skip) / King Stitt - Live Jah Jah
Studio One 1978
¥1580 ¥1480 (US$9.57)
