Reggae & Dancehall 147 Items

Interstellar digital dancehall with stunning synth, superb vocal by Robert Ffrench in extended mix & ad style by obscure DJ Shortie Ranks. Recorded at Creative Sound Studio (Kingston, JA) in 1985. "On “I Am Wondering” – a lovers of sorts – Ffrench is Dennis Brown in the high notes, and Gregory Isaacs in the song`s playboy sentiments. A guitar gently wah-wahs, while the synths do a giddy glissando. Midway through this discomix the bass becomes boss – throwing everything else – chopped piano chords and all – into echo. Then it`s rewind for the DJ cut – a brag and boast toast from Shortie Ranks – recounting his triumphs at legendary Kingston reggae venue, Skateland”. (Ban Ban Ton Ton - April, 21 of 2020) Robert French grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He recorded his first singles in 1979, at the age of 17. He achieved success in 1984 with his performances at the Festival Song Contest and the Reggae Sunsplash festival. He had a combination hit with deejay Clement Irie with "Bun & Cheese", and his first two albums were released in 1985. He had another hit in 1989 with "Modern Girl", a collaboration with Courtney Melody. In the mid-1990s he relocated to New York City, where he teamed up with rapper Heavy D, with whom he had a hit with "More Love", with an album following on Ras Records, featuring collaboration with several artists including Lady G and General Degree. He has since returned to Jamaica, where he runs the Ffrench record label and distribution company. He released the album Yesterday and today in 2001, collecting many of his earlier singles. After a period of inactivity as a recording artist, he returned in 2009 with the single "I Do". As a producer he has worked with artists such as Dennis Brown, Buju Banton (he produced Buju's first single "Ruler" on Stamina riddim), Beres Hammond, George Nooks, Luciano, Jah Cure, Yami Bolo and Sizzla to name a few. Robert French was the cosin of the late great Pat Kelly. As a french label, big fan from Ffrench productions, i'm very proud and happy to start a collaboration with Robert Ffrench, the most french jamaican. Stay tuned for many many more.

Bleepy delay experiments 'longside the glorious mr. echo upon melodica!

The originators of Jamaican ska release their latest album on vinyl with JUMP UP RECORDS. Two of the tracks feature original 60's era drummer LLOYD KNIBB plus it also captures alto sax player LESTER STERLING and vocalist DOREEN SHAFFER. Includes three bonus dubs from the session.

Check out this classic Roots material by V. Vinstrick and The Vibrators from around 1968!

Check out this classic Roots material by Harry & Radcliffe from around 1969!

Check out this classic Roots material byThe Kingstonians from around 1968!

Check out this classic Roots material by The Ethiopians and Dave Baker from around 1968!

Check out this classic Roots material by Jackie Bernard and The Upsetters from around 1978!

• Top Drawer 90's selection from the Boombastic Crew aka Nick Raphael (Manasseh. Riz Records, Roots Garden) and Gil Gang (Tuff Scout, Riz Records) with a tune that does what it says in the tin. Sound murderation!

• A hardcore instrumental sound system bullet which has hints of King Jammy, Jah Tubbys and Unity Sounds.

• This originally came on the back of a Riz 12” back in the early 1990's which is now a costly record to secure.

Check out this classic Roots material from around 1967!

Originally released in 1987, this album is considered by many to be the birth of modern "third wave" ska in the USA. Remastered audio with "new" artwork that includes illustrations by legendary comic book artist BOB FINGERMAN.

Nice repress of these classic tunes.

Finally these great recordings from around 1968 and 1969 are available again on vinyl.

These tracks are nice and original 1969 roots recordings from the Upsetter archive.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing Count Ossie & The Rasta Family’s long lost reggae album ‘Man From Higher Heights’ (originally released in 1983), digitally remastered and with full original artwork.
This release follows on from the earlier release of Count Ossie and The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari ‘Tales of Mozambique’ (1975), also by Soul Jazz Records.
Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, somewhere between the last Mystic Revelation album and the 1983 official release of ‘Man From Higher Heights’, it remains unclear whether this album is a mixture of original recordings overlayed with additional players, or Ossie’s post-Mystic Revelation players remaining true to the spirit of Count Ossie (who had died in a car crash in 1976). Either way, it is a fascinating and successful blend of heavyweight Rastafarian roots rhythms and drumming alongside deep jazz improvisation and tripped out psychedelic fuzz guitar.
Count Ossie is the central character in the development of Rastafarian roots music, an almost mythical and iconic figure. His importance in bringing Rastafarian music to a populist audience is matched only by Bob Marley’s promotion of the faith internationally in the 1970s.
Count Ossie’s drummers made the first ever song to integrate Rastafarian traditional music into popular music - The Folkes Brothers’ song ‘Oh Carolina’, recorded for producer Prince Buster in 1959. In 1966 his drummers greeted the arrival of Haile Selassie at Kingston airport.
His Rastafarian compound in the hills of Wareika, Kingston, hosted jam sessions between his drummers and Jamaica’s finest musicians, Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Johnny Moore and others.
Count Ossie and the Group’s Man From Higher Heights remains one of the most elusive of his highly progressive Rastafarian inspired recordings, the final release in Count Ossie’s career.

colored vinyl edition

The Quasi Dub Development (QDD) has been founded as a collective four years ago by Luca Fadda and F.S. Blumm. After “Limousine To The Guillotine” (2011) comes now their new album. The QDD love Dub, obviously, but they play it by hand with their many instruments and effects, instead of working in the studio along the classic post production methods of the genre. Their friendly, handmade „Quasi Dub“ is at the same time experimental and accessible. This sound has convinced nobody else than of the pioneers of the Dub genre, Lee Perry, to make an appearance in “Let's Communicate”.

Uluru is back with a Reggae Hip-Hop future classic. Following the teaching of masters like J-Star, Dj Maars and L'Entourloop, Dj Dibba makes is own solo debut on vinyl with 2 heavy weight dancefloor killers, meticulously assembled in Rome, Italy. Fusing rocksteady with hip hop, spicing it up with dub influences and modern drum beats, this 7” will definitely give a shake to the reggae hip-hop scene.

Pull up guaranteed!

Pressed on high quality black and yellow/orange vinyl (48 gr.) Edition of 500, cut it loud and fat, highly recommended for big sound systems.

The Colombian band Frente Cumbiero from Bogota has been successfully mixing traditional cumbia rhythms with more contemporary music trends for a number of years, creating an unusual end product. At the Javeriana Universidad of Bogota, in 2010, there was a productive meeting between the four-piece band and some local musicians with Mad Professor. After three work-intensive days, the recordings were in the can. Out on a limited sold out double Lp, and a sold out 7” inches box set, we're so honored to repress 2 songs from this masterpiece on a single 45 vinyl. Made with Love and cut it loud for your ear pleasure.

Jay-Z's 'Black Album' acapellas mashed up with classic Studio One riddims striaght out of 70s Kingston.