Rare instrumental and dub gems, produced by Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett
Rare instrumental and dub gems, produced by Bob Marley’s bassist and musical arranger, Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, between 1972-82, featuring members of the Wailers band and other stalwart musicians.

The premier exponent of soul inspired reggae presents a perceptive set of early seventies recordings
Black, proud and saying it loud, Derrick Harriott, interprets the music of the American black consciousness movement in Kingston, Jamaica for this sophisticated collection

“Let Africa be our guiding star, OUR STAR OF DESTINY.” Marcus Mosiah Garvey

In 1967 Ras Michael began to play occasional recording sessions for Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd with Jackie Mittoo and Soul Vendors at Studio One. Instead of getting paid for his work Ras Michael requested studio time for recordings for his own Zion Disc productions as the Sons of Negus Churchical Host. Seven inch releases at Zion Disc in 1967 and 1968, included ‘A Psalm Of Praises To The Most High’, ‘Come Down’, ‘King’s Highway’ to name a few, and all were unequivocal in form and content. The records did not trouble charts and none were released outside of Kingston…

Guitar genius Ernest Ranglin takes time out from his jazz roots and showcases his fluid skills on a selection of sweet, sensational 1969 style crossover hits… a pivotal year for the international success of Jamaican music.

Bunny Wailer, respectfully called “The Blackheart Man”, produced Johnny Scar’s one-off recording ‘United Africa’. The mystic singer wrote this heavy roots song and sang with his unique chant like a voice of the roots reggae icon, Burning Spear. And the song appeared as 12”on the Solomonic Production imprint in 1986.

At the same time that Neville ‘Bunny Wailer’ Livingston recorded his debut solo long playing masterpiece, ‘Blackheart Man’, he was also creating a series of singles for his own Solomonic label. These records were every bit as good, at times even better, but they have never been released outside of Jamaica. Until now…

At the same time that Neville ‘Bunny Wailer’ Livingston recorded his debut solo long playing masterpiece, ‘Blackheart Man’, he was also creating a series of singles for his own Solomonic label. These records were every bit as good, at times even better, but they have never been released outside of Jamaica. Until now…

One of the rarest, and greatest, horn instrumental dub albums of the seventies featuring the soaring saxophone of Tommy McCook in combination with Glen Brown, ‘The Rhythm Master’, is finally given a legitimate release.

Featuring the soaring saxophone of Tommy McCook in combination with Glen Brown, ‘The Rhythm Master’, is finally given a legitimate release.

Superlative 70’s dub masterpiece from the Blackheart Man Bunny Wailer

Subtle interpretations of cuts from Bunny’s ‘Blackheart Man’ album together with contemporaneous Solomonic disco mixes with unsung dub masters Sylvan Morris and Karl Pitterson at the control tower

Recorded in 1973 accompanied by the Wailers, this truly rare masterpiece was fronted by Don Hutson, an executive of the severe Rastafarian organization, Twelve Tribes of Israel. Produced by former Jamaican National Football Team player, Allan ‘Skill’ Cole, it was released by Tuff Gong in 1973 and known as an extremely rare shot that collectors have been searching for all over the place. This beautifully sparkling classic spiritual reggae piece is undoubtedly one of the top 10s released in 1973. If you love reggae, we presume that you won’t be able to avoid this masterpiece.

Dub like it used to be from the High Note and Gay Feet labels

A selection of rocking rhythms from The Revolutionaries masterminded by

The true genius Keith Hudson introduced highly mutational sounds and sound effects at the time and this Pablo organ cut of “Peter & Judas” is no exception. Slightly different cut to the one included in “Flesh of My Skin Blood of My Blood” known as the monumental and arguably the first reggae concept album that is rated as important as “Blackboard Jungle Dub” in dub music. This cut is the fat original take mixed prior to the LP.

An unimpeachable classic considered to be the pinnacle of Rastafarian inspired music. Master drummer Count Ossie’s band, including the incomparable tenor saxophonist Cedric ‘I’m’ Brooks, recreate a Rasta grounation, or gathering, playing and chanting a sublime supplication, including Bible readings, in praise of Emperor Haile Selassie I

A selection of magical rocksteady music from one of the masters of the genre…One of the forerunners in Jamaican music from its very beginning, Derrick Harriott, along with a stellar cast, showcases the some superb rocksteady.

1976 rare dub album consists of robust Techniques rhythms dismantled and reconstructed by King Tubby to its perfection
Long-expected reissue of one of the most sought after dub albums.

Missing masterpieces of the original Jamaican Ska. Recorded at the Federal Studio between 1964 to 1965 and released on Ken Khouri's Kentone label.

Rare and seriously sought after instrumental album of Gay Feet rocksteady hits from 1968.

Eleven elegant instrumental tracks, and one female vocal, showcasing the tenor sax artistry of master musician Roland Alphonso, ably assisted by Aubrey Adams on organ and the inestimable Lynn Taitt on guitar, interpreting a selection of Mrs Pottinger’s most memorable hits of the era.

Ska, Jump Up and Soul! The authentic early sixties sound of the Caribbean

A shimmering showcase of the wonderful work of Jamaica’s first and foremost female record producer, Mrs Sonia Pottinger, featuring the inimitable talents of Oswald ‘Baba’ Brooks and his Recording Band with their 1966 debut album.

Every song done by Keith & Tex had absolutely trusted in those qualities, and these laid back and relaxing tunes are no exception. On A-side features a mid-tempo Rocksteady and the flip side is their cover version of Temptations’ 1968 hit.

Killer roots from Marvin Brooks of The Techniques singing devotedly on a tight millitant horn beat. Not to mention a heavy deep dubwise.

12"single from the previously released album 'Rockers: Graduation In Zion 1978-1979 (DSR-LP-001)'. Kiddus I originally recorded 'Fire Burn' in 1973 but the master tape went missing. The song was re-recorded at Tuff Gong in 1978 for his debut album 'Jah Power, Jah Glory' but it remained unreleased. Surprisingly, the track has the same bassline to Bunny Wailer's 'Amagideon' and it is said Bunny adopted it from the 'Fire Burn', which were originally recorded in 1973. The most dreadful song amongst his unreleased material and 9 minutes of jazzy performance is just a miracle. The B-side contains a version to the A-side.

Clean reissue of Soul Syndicate's early 80's classic "Kings Highway" w/ version. When there were flooded with dancehall vibes Chinna and co always kept it true to their roots. Timeless pieces.

1976 Twelve Tribes' roots - one of the top tunes from Orthodox camp backed with the version.

The most sought after Gay Feet rock steady rarity. Johnny & The Attractions draws a clear line between them and rock steady artists back then – diggin’ deep into the sounds. Seems obvious that they were already doing the style later known as roots reggae.

Way ahead of its time, deep reggae funk by Keith Hudson with a hint of dub.

Out of all those China lead Soul Syndicate vocals this one has to be the tightest although here the rare flute instrumental is the business. At the time Keith Hudson had the original JA funk sounds going on in his rhythms.

VinGordon’s rooty horn on top of a Hudson rhythm. Big Youth riding confidently making it a killer deejay and instrumental

Foundation ska from the cradle of Jamaican music…
Federal Recording Studios nurtured the talents of innumerable Jamaican artists in the early sixties… this set showcases seriously sought after rarities and previously un-released tracks from Don Drummond, The Maytals , Lynn Taitt and many more

Digital masterpiece from King Tubby’s re-constructed recording studio. Two of the biggest stars from the dawn of the digital era meet in a head to head clash at the King’s state of the art Firehouse headquarters.

One of the many spiritual and cultural classic lyrics that Bunny Wailer has written, and this is an exclusive single take. The lyrics - written soon after he was arrested due to the possession of Marijuana, can be heard as “Fight Against Conviction” on one of the most important roots reggae album to date, Blackheart Man, although this recording is an early take released in 1974 by the Wailers.

The debut song from Carlton Manning - elder brother of Lynford and Donald of The Abyssinians and later known for his Carlton and The Shoes releases for Studio One. On the flip side it’s a previously unreleased tune from The Soul Lads - later re-recorded and released on Treasure Isle with another cut which could be why this never saw the light of day.

The Wailers Band meets Horace Andy and Winston Jarrett.
Also known as "Earth Must Be Hell", this is an immense roots classic including lovers anthem "Unity Strength & Love", True Born African", "Let The Music Play" and more.

1982 unconventional reality dancehall anthology riding upon heavy Roots Radics rhythms.

Founder of Jamaica’s first recording studio, Ken Khouri produced early ska classics
14 first-rate ska pieces including previously unreleased materials from undoubtedly the industry leading Federal Records that consisted the virtuoso Ernest Ranglin and co.

First ever re-issue of 1965 Jamaican Latin-Calypso-Jazz album by the piano genius Cecil Lloyd, who led a 20-piece hotel band from the age of seventeen. In 1959, the maestro was asked to record an album for 20th Century Fox and he later released three albums on Studio One. Featuring a solid rhythm section with conga and percussion, A Night in Jamaica was produced by Ken Khouri for Federal's Kentone label. This enduring masterpiece still echoes across the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Smooth, sophisticated sounds from the highly respected Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin.

Capture the late eighties zeitgeist with Courtney Melody’s genre defining release. A highly anticipated re-issue of this showcase style album where Courtney Melody’s plaintive singjay style vocals are counteracted and complemented by a selection of King Tubby’s deadly digital dubs.

Another classic killer ska from the short-lived Soul Brothers. As of the original on the other side comes a sweet female lovers vocal from a night before the Rocksteady era. Succeeding the authentic ska from the legendary Skatalites then evolving it to the sound of Rocksteady, a fluid session band of Studio One, the Soul Brothers bring another classic instrumental ska tune. Like you can almost smell the perfume of Rocksteady era at its best, here comes a cool and cute lovers tune from Kingston on the other side. When the Soul Brothers were active after the Skatalites, they have certainly lost the thrill of solo performances, though this might have been the Skatalites were just too great.. Recorded from the master tape itself, this take contains slightly different solo compare to the original single.

The killer Rocksteady-Ska like a vital bridge between both of them, backed with a Mittoo’s nice vocal tune. Throned from the Skatalites to the Soul Vendors, this is the last form of the Studio One Ska and it’s very much like the Soul Vendor’s party piece. Along with the B-side, Jackie Mittoo had directed both and his marvelous creativity can be seen allover. Each of them recorded from the original master-tape.

Prophetic, thought provoking and deeply disturbing Bunny pulls no punches on this release… nearly thirty five years later very little has changed. The chilling version echoes and expands the theme.

Derrick Harriott’s original cut to sound system foundation rhythm ‘Solomon’. Derrick sings comically about Solomon, who was given wisdom amongst of all mankind from God in the Old Testament: “Solomon was the wisest man but he didn't know the secrets of a woman” The hit rhythm has been versioned many times over last four decades. On side B, there is a nice & cool horn instrumental entitled ‘The Emperor’ by Bobby Ellis, its title might imply Derrick Harriott productions had a good taste in music at that time.

A minor chord killer instrumental - the corpus of all the Family Man sounds. It is also a monumental piece of the Wailers Band. Like Eastern Memphis, this is one of the most talked about Family Man masterpiece. It clearly shows Family Man’s musical versatility not only as a bassist, but as a master musician. Although funnily enough it was the time when Jamaica was largely dominated by Deejays and Dancehall, the world famous Wailers Band never betrayed their fans by tightly keeping their “Wailers Sound”. It is a pleasure to listen to the strong belief and confidence in their music.

Prolific and long standing label Techniques had numerous hits over the years. However “The Copa Come” is a hidden classic by Michael Prophet and possibly the most dangerous tune released after 1985. Great crossover contains both roots and dancehall goodness.

An experimental and minimalistic early dub instrumental joined by the Soul Syndicate drummer, Max Edwards. Music without commercialism – this minimalistic and repetitive dub instrumental shows the unique musical structure by one of the most future-oriented arrangers, the great Familyman.

Recorded on the very same day as People Music (DSR-LT7-01-A), here comes Junior Murvin cut crying for his brothers in the homeland. On flip side a Delroy Smart vocal on the same rhythm.

Although this Tubby’s version has never been released, “Nothing Don’t Come Easy” ended up being a big hit at Jammys and still been praised today. It’s the mid 80’s interpretation of 70’s roots reggae atmosphere. Hats off to the King!

Versions, dubwise, horn riffs and what not – all of those creative elements made this great tune and it was only Keith Hudson who had an ability to make it all possible. Even if you’re no an ordinary reggae listener you should try this. Apart from Hudson, at this time in Jamaica there was a number of eccentric producers like Lee Perry, Pablo, Niney and co who used their studio like an instrument to create their own sounds.

On Keith & Tex' classic tune 'Tonight,' Augustus Pablo's melodica echoes along the entire track mysteriously, while the fascinating female vocalist Fay quotes breathy lines from the popular German soft porn film Bedroom Mazurka. The flip side features Scotty's DJ version to 'Tonight.'