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Ernie Smith - Tell Me Why / Lyn Taitt, Jets - Mr Dooby
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967/ 1968
¥1380 (US$8.87)
Etana - I Rise (Label Reverse) / Richest Girl
VP US / Dub Store Records JPN 2014
¥1100 ¥800 (US$5.14)
Leroy Brown - Time So Hard / Time So Hard Version
Prince Jammys Dub / Dub Store Records JPN 1987
¥1480 (US$9.52)
Protoje, Sara Lugo - Really Like You / Ras Demo - Watch The Things
Silly Walks / Buyreggae EU 2015
N/A
Chronixx - Play Some Roots / Rc - Can't Bridge My Defense
Silly Walks / Buyreggae EU 2015
¥1880 (US$12.09)
Asuka Ando - Jiri Jiri (Dry & Steady Mix) (ジャケットなし) / (Cumulonimbus Dub)
Gardenia Garden JPN 2015
N/A
After selling out the first 7” cut from her latest album within a couple of days, Japanese lovers rock singer Asuka Ando comes back with another single, “Jiri Jiri” including a dub from Jagabe (Reggaelation independence). One of the most talked about singers in Japanese circuit at the moment.
Byron Lee, Dragonaires - Frankenstein / Musical Pressure
Soul / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.02)
Tomorrow's Children - Bang Bang Rock Steady / Rain (Rock Steady)
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
Tomorrow's Children were probably favored by uptown youths rather than downtown Rudies because of their funky, hard hitting sounds and lyrics. With those elements, they successfully created own killer style, which can be undoubtedly heard with ‘Bang Bang Rock Steady'. The group also versioned the Beatles' 'Rain' in fine Rocksteady style. The original record was released in 1967.
Black Uhuru, Chronixx - I Love King Selassie / Dub
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 2014
¥2080 (US$13.38)
Sampling one of the greatest classics Black Uhuru left for Jammy’s, the remarkable roots revival tune is finally out on vinyl. Dominating the recent rasta revival movement, Cronixx sings freely bringing new life to the rhythm with his strong message. Representing the excellent side of reggae music of taking lessons from the past.
Tommy115 All Stars - Rock Steady (Picture Sleeve) / Tommy115 All Stars, Dennis Bovell - Rock Steady Dub
115 Records JN 2015
N/A
I first met Tommy 115 in Japan 2014 during my Japan tour. I was very impressed with her love for Reggae Music .I could tell how much she loves great Reggae music. I'm not surprised that her new single titled "Rocksteady" sounding so great that I could tell that Tommy had learned the Art of good Reggae Music. Her choice of "Rocksteady" title is just the right name. The Recording is very good and the song has a Happy feeling, it puts you in a mood for Spring and Summer, it's a Holiday spirit. Nice song to have on your playlist. The Dub by Dennis Bovell makes you meditate on peace & love! [Jerry Harris (New York's legendary reggae label, Wackies' Music Director, guitarist/singer/producer)]
Derrick Harriott - Loser / Derrick Harriott, Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Now We Know
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
‘The Loser’is gloriously considered as one of the most significant songs as well as rhythm tracks in the history of Reggae music. Also entitled as‘The Winner’, the song is easily adapted to sound system dubplates. Talking about the genre of Rocksteady, this song cannot be ignored.‘Now We Know’on the flip side is to be released on 7 inch single for the first time ever.
Prince Junior - Hard Sound Fe Dead / Hard Sound Fe Dead Dub
Prince Jammys Dub / Dub Store Records JPN 1987
N/A
Previously unreleased material from Prince Junior – known for his killer digital hit “Crucial Boy” produced by Jammy. Taking in the essence of the aboriginal roots flavor along with Jammy’s rugged bassline, it makes up the melancholic digital roots music. Prince Junior approaches this sound killer forcibly and directly, yet sings up softly to showcase his low-keyed performance skills.
Justin Hinds, Dominoes - Carry Go Bring Come / King Sporty - For Our Desire
Treasure Isle / Buyreggae EU 1970
N/A
Derrick Harriott - Reach Out I'll Be There / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Illya Kuryakin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
Derrick Harriott versions a Motown hit ‘Reach Out I Will Be There’. His killer version is a dancehall shaker and many might has been searching for this rare vinyl records as an essential for DJ selection. The Four Tops originally released the song in the mid 60’s. The mid-tempo organ instrumental ‘Illya Kuryakin’ feartures Ike Bennet’s powerful organ solo on the filpside.
Scotty - Draw Your Brakes / Worry
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1971
N/A
The main DJ of Harriott's production, Scotty, skillfully handles Keith & Tex' Rocksteady classic 'Stop That Train'. This is one of the most popular piece of music in Harriott's production. The flip side is available for the first time on vinyl that features Scotty's DJ cut to Derrick Harriott's moving ‘Do I Worry' track.
DJ Short-Arrow - Mutant Rockers White: Bass Of Kamui 03 (CD-R)
MDS Records JPN 2015
¥1080 ¥980 (US$6.30)
Lloydie, Mellotones - Lover Come Back / Hippy Boys - Death Rides A Horse
Big Sax Records / Reggae Fever EU 1969
N/A
Wailers - Rock Sweet Rock / Jerk In Time
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.02)
The Wailers have recorded a number of tunes for Studio One, however this release still gets talked a lot as its specialty. Recorded just before they left Studio One, this double A-sided single includes two of the best tunes that lead by Bunny Wailer himself. It’s even possible to hear in this excellent music that the time has come to ripen for the band to see the vision of starting up their own Wail ‘N’ Soul ’M’ label. Both sides are identical to its original release.
Roland Alphonso - Ska Culation / Jack Sparrow - Ice Water
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.02)
The Skatalites’ killer shot interpretation of the world’s famous electric guitar inst, and the fully carnival-mode Ska played by a luxurious bunch of musicians. Originally played by the American electric guitar band, this is the proof of how Jamaicans won’t miss no trends. Guaranteed killer up-tempo Ska! Identical to the originals on flip by Jack Sparrow later known as Leonard Dillon of the Ethiopians, this praiseworthy piece features the Wailers on the backing vocal.
Eric Monty Morris - Blackman Ska / A Spot In My Heart For You
Kentone / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
N/A
Previously unreleased vocal materials from master tapes! Eric Monty Morris sings sufferers' protest song, "Blackman work so hard, but white man gets the money, the rich shall be richer, the poor shall be poorer, something must be done soon"… At the time, most of the artists including Eric Monty Morris mainly focused on singing about love but not about conscious themes so the recording was very exceptional. B-side features previously unreleased vocal material as well. It seems that both songs were recorded for the album "Jamaican Skarama (reissued by Dub Store Records: LP/CD503)" but did not end up on the album unfortunately.
Nitty Gritty - Turn Them Back / Turn Them Back Dub
Prince Jammys Dub / Dub Store Records JPN 1986
¥1980 (US$12.73)
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.
Renegades - Mr. Hops / Oswald Sewell - Oh My Love
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.87)
The Renegades consisted of Winston 'Pipe' Matthews, Lloyd 'Bread' McDonald and George 'Buddy' Haye and later became a group called the Wailing Souls. Definitely, ‘Mr. Hops’ is the most powerful Rocksteady vocal song among the whole Merritone catalogue. Originally released in 1966 and one of the rarest records you could never find. This record also features previously unreleased Ska vocal recording 'Oh My Love' from the original master tape.
Hopeton Lewis - This Music Got Soul / Rocksteady
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
'This Music Got Soul' is one of the earliest works by Mr. Rocksteady aka Hopeton Lewis. Interestingly, some would even say 'This Music Got Soul' is his debut single. When the song was released in 1966, it seems that the musical term "Rocksteady" did not exist but this classic clearly proves a new wave of Rocksteady was coming very near. The artist also sings 'Rock Steady' to highly praise the new genre. Reissued from the original master tape.
Chosen Few - People Make The World Go Round / Derrick Harriott - Brown Baby
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1972/ 1973
N/A
One of the best cover versions of a Philadelphia Soul classic, "People Makes The World Go Round" is performed by Chosen Few, who were idolizing The Stylistics so much. The flip side “Brown Baby" is another Funky Reggae vocal sang by the producer Derrick Harriott himself
Derrick Harriott - Let Me Down Easy / Crystal Generation - Hell Below
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1972
N/A
A classic Reggae Soul tune by Derrick Harriott is now reissued in an extended version which is connected to a tender dub afterword. The B-side features a unique and mysterious Funky Reggae instrumental by Crystal Generation, the special unit by Crystalites and Now Generation, which gave a taste of the new wave of Reggae that would arrive later in the decade.
Derrick Harriott - Look Over Your Shoulders / Dancing The Reggae
Wild Flower / Dub Store Records JPN 1975/ 1976
N/A
It was the Dreadlocks bandwagon in the mid 70’s, but Harriott, who started his career in the music business in the early 50’s, persisted his Afro hairstyle and his signature style of music, Reggae Soul and Lover’s Rock. At that time, music fans only approved serious Roots works but his music choices proved that his production was equally true and great Reggae music. Moreover his music brought to listeners a certain comfort, compared to the heavy weight Roots music that was mainly produced during this period.
Chronixx - Here Comes Trouble / Version
Overstand Entertainment / Buyreggae EU 2013
¥1880 (US$12.09)
Phyllis Dillon - Rock Steady / Tommy McCook - Soul Rock
Treasure Isle UK 1968/ 1970
¥1680 (US$10.80)
Barrier Free, Arsenal Japan - 決着: Settlement Sound Clash 2015 (2CD)
Sting Muzik JPN 2015
¥3240 ¥2880 (US$18.52)
Captain-C 20XX, King Life Star - Face Off Sound Clash (2CD + 特典CD)
Sting Muzik JPN 2015
¥2500 ¥2180 (US$14.02)
Love Experience - Are You Together For The New Day? / 87th Off Broadway - Moving Woman
¥2180 (US$14.02)
Roy Richards - Summertime / Sound Dimension - Soulful Strut
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1969
¥2180 (US$14.02)
A harmonica instrumental version of the all time favorite, Summertime and instrumental cover version of the Soul classic. Both are great interpretations of instrumental covers that are ranked definitely as two of the greatest Rocksteady tunes. Taken straight from its master tape, Summertime is a masterpiece that condensed the splendor of the blinded harmonica maestro and famed vocalist, Roy Richards. Originally released in 1968 by Young Holt Unlimited and scored a big hit, this great cover of the Soul classic, which sounds easily fitting the pattern of Sir Coxsone’s taste who was the huge fan of US hits, was played loosely and effortlessly by then newly formed Sound Dimension.
Soul Vendors - Last Waltz / Hamlins - Sentimental Reason
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.02)
The Soul Vendors’ horn inst cover of a mellow Latin tune, backed with the authentic Studio One Rocksteady masterpiece. This gorgeous horn inst Rocksteady features a superb arrangement from King Cannon a.k.a. Carl ‘Cannonball’ Bryan and Roland Alphonso. Like the originals on the other side here comes the one that Island was certainly familiar with back then, the Nat King Cole’s excellent vocal cover from the Hamlins.
Jennifer Lara - Woman Of The Ghetto / Jackie Mittoo, Sound Dimension - Side Walk Doctor Version
Dub Store Records JPN / Studio One 2004
¥2180 (US$14.02)
Three Tops - Do It Right / Three Tops, Phyllis Dillon - Do It Right (Soul Take)
Treasure Isle / Buyreggae EU 1968
¥1430 (US$9.20)
Preacher - Black Moses / Chosen Few - Shaft
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1971
N/A
Enos Maleod's narration made Isaac Hayes' Soul/Funk masterpiece a particularly mystical one. Academy-Winning "Theme From Shaft" was the symbolic song of the Black Power movement, and it has been transformed to one of the best Funky Reggae tunes of all time thanks to absolutely amazing arrangements from Derrick Harriott.
Derrick Harriott - Some Guys Have All The Luck / Kim Harriott - Just Want To Be Your Joy
Crystal / Wild Flower / Dub Store Records JPN 1974/ 1975
¥2180 (US$14.02)
It is an obvious fact that Dreadlocks culture was the trend of the time when this tune was released, but how could we ever imagine Derrick Harriott wearing Dreadlocks? He was wearing Afro instead and showed how he could easily cover Persuaders’ Soul hit. The flip side features another cover of a US Soul track that was transformed to a sweet Lover’s Rock by Harriott’s relative, young Kim Harriott. Apparently Harriott’s surroundings at this time were all wearing Afro even if it was the Dreadlocks era.
Kenneth Wilison - Chapter Of Life / Drum Beat All Stars - Good Life
Drum Beat Records / Reggae Fever EU 1971
¥1380 ¥1080 (US$6.94)
Admiral Tibet - Victim Of Babylon / Version
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 1991
N/A
It is impossible not to mention Admiral Tibet when talking about Jammy’s golden digital era in the 80’s. With hits like “Running From Reality” and “Reality Time”, this is indeed another killer piece he recorded for Jammy. Working in combination with a jaunty rhythm with rough and tough bassline, the vocal instantly becomes prominent with its unforgettable chorus bringing even more drive to the music. When listening to the version on the flip, there is a great appreciation for utter simplicity in how Jammy builds his rhythms.
Tarrus Riley, Zagga - Free Up / Zagga - Remember The Days
Chimney Records / Buyreggae EU 2015
A: Happy Hour B: Chill Spot
N/A
Tarrus Riley - Dream Woman / Vybz Kartel - Mi Nuh Trust People
Chimney Records / Buyreggae EU 2015
A: Chill Spot B: Happy Hour
N/A
Jah 9 - Reverence / Iba Mahr - Great Is H.I.M
Overstand Entertainment / Buyreggae EU 2013
¥1880 (US$12.09)
Beenie Man - Badmind People / Chill Spot (Version)
Chimney Records / Buyreggae EU 2015
A: Happy Hour B: Chill Spot
N/A
Christopher Martin - Chill Spot / Happy Hour (Version)
Chimney Records / Buyreggae EU 2015
A: Chill Spot B: Happy Hour
N/A
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number / Pressure Drop (Off Center)
Beverleys UK 1969
¥2180 (US$14.02)
Mungos Hi Fi, YT - Serious Time / Mungos Hi Fi, Shanti D - Sensi International
Scotch Bonnet UK 2014
N/A
Pablove Black - Cuts And Bruises / Advocates Aggregation - Blood Of The Lamb
Uprising / Deeper Knowledge US 1977
N/A
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.