Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: Lifelong reggae fans, vinyl lovers and frequent Juno readers will be familiar with Crystal D's Reggae Disco mix series. It was a 70s thing where artists served up their own unique reggae versions of Christmas classics and now we get volume 17 of the Christmas Songbook. This one comes on 12" in hand-stamped sleeve and the A-side is an 11+ minute collection of tunes from Derrick Harriott & The Tamlins & Joy White & Reasons & U-Brown with natty chords, sleigh bells and choral reggae vocals. What a mix. In authentic reggae fashion, the flip side is a dub of the whole lot by The Chariot Riders.

Review: Henry 'Junjo' Lawes produced a double-headed twin spin on the iconic Eventide Fire riddim for this one. It is arguably that which helped Barrington's 'Crucifixion' soar to the top of the UK reggae charts in 1980 when it was released. It is one of his most iconic vocal performances, which is saying something given how much music the man has worked on. On the flip side of this new 7", Ranking Joe delivers 'River Jordan' with full force, riding the rhythm with impeccable skill. These jams were recorded with the one and only Roots Radics at Channel One and King Tubby's, so very much capture the essence of reggae at its peak with some of its key players all involved.

Review: Night Owls are back with a fresh take on Lee Moses' 1970s cut Got That Will, transforming the soul classic into a dancehall-inspired banger. Dan Ubick leads the production, bringing in powerhouse vocalist Gina Murrell and the tight rhythm section of Wilder, Colie, and Rivas to infuse the track with new life. As if that wasn't enough, Kingston's Ranking Joe adds his signature toasting, giving the track an extra layer of authenticity and drive. The B-side, Got That Dub, takes things deeper with Roger Rivas on the mix, dialing up the echo and delay to create a spaced-out, dubbed-up version. With steady radio play on BBC Radio 6 and KCRW, this release is already making waves. DJs and collectors will want to act fastithis record is primed for late-night sound system sets and is sure to fly off the shelves.

Review: 'Everyone Has Got to Go' is a powerful 1976 roots stepper by Jamaican-Canadian singer Prince Robinson aka R. Man Prince. Born in Rockfort, Kingston, Robinson auditioned at Studio One in his teens but didn't record until a decade later. After moving to New York and Canada, he returned to Kingston in 1976 to record two iconic roots anthems at Joe Gibbs studio: this one and the rare 'Funny Dream.' Joined by The Soul Foundation and top session musicians like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the track's mix by Ernest Hookim and Barnabas features a haunting dub version.

Review: The renowned Jamaican reggae singer Winston Reedy is someone who has had several solo number-one hits that have made him widely known in the reggae world. He was also the lead singer for top reggae band The Cimarons with whom he saw much more success. He leads this new 45rpm with the super laid back and vibey 'Pirate' and it is paired with a 'Steady Rock' dub by The Inn House Crew, then backed with Jamaican-born, London-based artist, songwriter and producer Barry Issacs and a Germany-based Jamaican in Juliaiasiah whose 'Secret' is a sun-kissed delight.

Review: With a storied history stretching right back to the mid-1990s, Reggae Disco Rockers are one of Japan's longest-serving reggae and rocksteady bands. While they're best-known for their original songs, they've delivered some killer cover versions over the years - including 2021's sun-splashed reggae re-imagining of Frankie Knuckles' classic house track 'The Whistle Song'. This seven-inch features another: the band's immersive, loved-up, super-sweet lover's rock-meets-Balearic reggae take on Neil Young classic 'Harvest Moon', featuring some suitably weary, emotive lead vocals from Marter. Flower Records regulars Slowly provide a dreamy and dubbed out take on the flip, as you'd expect given their output in recent times.

Review: You can't beat a good cover of a classic tune and they don't come much better than this version of Oasis's masterpiece 'Don't Look Back In Anger' by The Regulators. Original Gravity come through with it on 7" in its 'Re-mixed & Re-mastered' form. The lead melodies come from big fat horns, while the lazy drums sway to and fro and bring an all-new kind of energy. Prince Deadly then gets to work on the studio dials to dub it out to perfection on 'Dub Look Back In Anger'. Two doozies.

Review: If you're in the mood for some gently summery reggae-soul to warm you on cold winter nights, we'd heartily recommend this tidy new single from Tarrus Riley, son of legendary Jamaican vocalist Jimmy Riley. 'Love is Stronger Than Pride' is breezy, musically positive and gentle, with Riley delivering a slick and emotive lead vocal over a backing track rich in toe-tapping reggae grooves, subtle organ motifs, twinkling synth sounds and, most surprisingly, some rather lovely Spanish guitar motifs. It comes accompanied by a flipside 'Version' mix that's not all that dubbed-out, but nevertheless does a great job in showcasing the track's sunny and heart-warming instrumentation.

Review: The second ever release from Discos Martos moulds another 45, this time from Rocksteady Romantics, who are committed to the timeless allure of rocksteady. Also keeping true to the label's analogue ethos, the record captures essences of Jamaican soundsystem culture with deep dub grooves and a fresh take on classic soul. The A's powerful dub with Tibstar is readymade for stacked soundsystems, its infectious, picante horn section skimming aplomb bass. On the B-side, the band offers a unique Spanish rendition of 'I'm Your Puppet', with Tito Ramirez's smooth vocals bringing a new dimension to the beloved soul classic.

Review: Horning Sounds is fast approaching 50 releases and is doing so with some classic roots and lover's rock from Ruddy Symbol, who are also behind that landmark 50th. This new reissue is of their classic mid-eighties sounds, namely 'A So The System Work'. It's as laid back and loved up as this stuff comes - the loosely picked guitars, the oh-so-sweet falsetto vocals and the gentle chords all serve to melt your soul. Flip it over for a dub version but the A-side really does take some beating.

Review: Hailing from Las Vegas, Johnny Ruiz and the Escapers offer up two sides of haunting group sounds sure to scratch the itches of doo-wop and soul enthusiasts alike. Adorning the a-side is 'Sorry' a stark, creeping, dirge-like ballad with a sparse rhythm track that swings eerily underneath Johnny's sublime lead and the Escapers plaintive harmonies, creating an hypnotic vibe that will have you dropping the needle over and over again. Continuing with the dark vibes but picking up the pace a couple BPMs, 'The Prettiest Girl' brings a measure of hopefulness to the tune, evoking the earnest, lovelorn memories of youth. A must for fans of Nolan Strong and the Diablos Fortune Records output.

Review: After a recent Pressure Sounds compilation put together the best of Caltone Records - documenting the truest gems of a great Jamaican dub label - the horse's mouth is now heard neighing. Caltone themselves have now reissued Devon Russell & The Tartans' 'Making Love', a long-lost from the late 1960s troubadours. Ne'er released before, it also comes backed exclusively with a bluesy Heptones, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics lamentation, 'Crying Over You'.

Review: 17studio double up as both visual designer and indie label and it's this combination that amounts to the roots-radical sonic spectacle we hear here. 'King Of My Castle' is a regnant lyrical musing, hearing a collaborative work with producer and multi-instrumentalist Bob Vito, and with additional vocals and percussion by the band Riciclette, for an impressive meditation on the nature of power and its perverse enjoyments. First produced in 1998 by Wamdue Project, this fresh reggae cover is best remembered as an era-definer, and this cover and Version extends the monarchy's rule by way of bubbling wahs, boxy fills, and owwing basses; simple, clean, effective instruments of force.

Review: Ras Jammy from Suns of Dub has curated a special release for Trojan Records that celebrates the deep cultural and historical ties between dub music and cannabis, all rooted in Jamaican music and Rastafarianism. This album, which arrives just in time for the stoners' best day of the year, 420, features iconic tracks from pioneering dub dons King Tubby, Scientist, Dennis Bovell and Roots Radics. These are the legends that helped shape the genre and this compilation highlights how they did it and what influence they had on the development of dub music. So, when the day comes, light up a fat one and turn this one up loud.

Review: Three years after the iTunes reggae chart topping first album on Trojan Records, More Fire is a second studio album packed with scorching reggae sounds from Reggae Roast, who have been at the core of the UK's sound system culture for years. This outing brings together some of the best names in the game both old and new from veterans Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke and Horseman to new school voices like Gappy Ranks, Mr Williamz and Soom T. The original artwork by Sophie Bass conveys the vitality of these sounds expertly and each copy is individually hand numbered.

Review: The Roots Man Dub album was originally released in 1978 on Hit, a label from the GG Records crew. It features a ton of superb dubs by Alvin Ranglin, who flipped versions of tunes by The Maytones, Al Brown, The Starlights and many more besides into sonic wonders for mind, body and soul. This compilation pulls them all together again and results in plenty of indisputable sonic fire for when the warmer months come, we laze about in the garden and partake in a toke or two.

Review: Mediation in Dub by The Revolutionaries, reissued as part of Death Is Not The End's 333 series, delves into the archives of NYC-based Flames label. The Revolutionaries, a renowned reggae session band, comprised a rotating lineup of top Jamaican musicians, anchored by the formidable duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Recorded at Channel One studio in Kingston during the mid-1970s, under the guidance of producer Ossie Hibbert, these tracks feature dub versions of Winston Jones's Flames label releases. Jones, known for his work on 'Stop That Train,' established Flames in NYC in the early 1970s, becoming a key player in Brooklyn's reggae scene. Meditation in Dub is a collector's gem, offering essential dub versions of popular rhythms from the era. This reissue, licensed from Jones and mastered with assistance from DKR, provides a valuable snapshot of reggae's roots and early dancehall periods.

Review: Risco Connection were the perfect reggae-disco crossover act, founded by Studio 1 sticksman Joe Isaacs after he moved to Canada in the late 60s. Searching for a sweet spot between the plush orchestration of disco and the upbeat shuffle of rocksteady, he embarked on a series of covers with a strong cast behind him, taking on the likes of Chic's 'Good Times', 'It's My House' and a version of 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now' which became a staple at David Mancuso's mythical Loft parties. This collection gathers together all the singles - vocals, dubs and all - and comes packaged with an interview with Isaacs and liner notes, restored and remastered and sounding better than ever.

Review: Ronnie Lion is one half of Ambient Warrior and this is his debut solo outing. It finds him paying homage to Spanish Town, which is the capital of St Catherine in Jamaica and that is apparent from the off with its lush Spanish guitar notes fluttering over the face of the dubbed-out low ends and shiny digital chords. Lead guitarist Sean Wilkinson pays plenty of the guitar and the rhythm section has Ronnie himself on bass while Horseman is on drums to bring a heavy foundation. Up to the intricate and memorable hooks add the colour and charm and elements of Bossa Nova and Flamenco guitar also help add extra layers to this fine debut.

Review: From Then 'Til Now marks Roots Architects' debut full-length album, a monumental project bringing together over 50 of Jamaica's most iconic session musicians. Spanning from the birth of reggae in the late 1960s to the present day, the album is a celebration of the unsung heroes of reggae music: the rhythm builders or Roots Architects. Conceived by Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme, the album is the culmination of years of dedication to honoring Jamaica's musical legacy. Liengme's journey began in 2013 with "The Inspirators" project, leading to his immersion in Kingston's studio scene and the eventual formation of Roots Architects. Recorded in Kingston studios over February and March 2017, the album features a stellar lineup of veteran musicians aged 60 to 85, including legends like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender, and Dalton Browne. Together, these Roots Architects revive the spirit of reggae, creating nine instrumental tracks that pay homage to their enduring legacy and timeless artistry.

Review: Spanish dub maestro Roberto Sanchez first met Channel One artist and all right reggae legend Linval Thompson 15 years ago. In the time since, the pair have collaborated on numerous projects, though nothing as ambitious as this. It sees Sanchez provide an authentically dusty, deep and rhythm-focused dub translation of Thompson's 1978 album I Love Marijuana - a set that, despite King Tubby handling production duties - had never been fully re-worked in. Largely working with the original master tapes, Sanchez has delivered a dub re-imagining that sounds like a long-lost King Tubby or Lee 'Scratch' Perry production - all weighty low-end 'riddims', effects aplenty and echoing organ, guitars and vocals.