Linval Thompson

I've posted this one before, but it is one of my favorite roots long players and it is worth grabbing.

Linval Thompson is pretty slept on considering how much great music he has made.

Via:
P-A-TODAREGGAE

Eek A Mouse

Besides being a total a-hole Eek A Mouse makes good music or more importantly made good music. His impact on modern deejay style can not be denied regardless of how looney dude is off stage.

Also how is it I can't talk to one of my friend's about Eek A Mouse without getting some sketchy story that involves one of the following: cocaine, Oceanside, shady apartment complex, underage girls?

Track Listing:

Sensee Party
Looking Sexy
Modelling Queen
You Na Love Reggae Music
Always On My Mind
Do You Remember
Skidip
Na Make Mi Girl Go Away
Fat And Slim
Where Is My Baby

This actually might be his best long player. It's all rub a dub and doesn't actually have any digital tunes at all.

Production by Linval Thompson, Channel One Studios, Radics.


Skip Dip Skip Dip Skip Dip Eh

Dread At The Controls

Big big big compilation here.

I copped this on vinyl way back when from my buddy Kofi. I just came across it on another blog and forgot how good it was. A lot of the tunes are riddims that Mikey chatted over on his "World War 3" LP so if you have that you already know how this one is gonna sound.

All tunes were produced by the late Mikey Dread and recorded with Roots Radics.

Track List:

The Ovations - Shy Girl
The Ovations - Forever Love
Michael Israel - Real Long Time
Mikey Dread - Hot Cross Bun
Hopeton Lindo - Black History
Rod Taylor - His Imperial Majesty
Sugar Minott - In This Time
Sunshine - Taking The World
Earl Sixteen - Mr Dj
D.A.T.C. Stable - Freezing

Dread At The Controls.....

Triston Palmer

I wasn't sure if I had posted this album up or not. I've had it for a while and it's pretty rough.

The Roots Radics provide the backing, Jah Thomas on the controls, and the original Mr. Palmer pon the mic.

Track List:

Miserable Woman
Give Me A Chance
Sandra
The Girl I Love
Time So Hard
Run Around Woman


Click here for tunes

Billy Boyo

Back to some niceness.

I don't much about Billy Boyo. I know he was one of the 80's child deejays and that's about it.

I'm pretty wary of any "best of" compilation, but this one rams. You can thank Junjo and Radics for that.

"One Spliff A Day" is the big chune on here.

Run it:

Billy Boyo "The Very Best Of"

Aces International

Just copped this today. This one is really only for real dancehall nerds though.

Recorded live in 1982 and 1983 this album catches most of Volcano and Junjo artists live in the dance. This is the stuff you always hope to find when you go looking for records. It sounds like you're right there with all the echos from the zinc walls and drunk Jamaican people shouting over the artists.

I think Eek A Mouse actually takes the cake on this one, but Little John is in close second with a lot of forwards erupting from the crowd during his tunes.

The tracks are just labeled by artist:

Eek A Mouse
Buro Banton
Yellowman And Fathead
Little John
Toyan
Yellowman
Eek A Mouse
Toyan
Ringo
Beenie Man

Listening to Beenie Man from way back when is always worthwhile too. Dude was like 5 when he got on his start. Crazy.

Get it:

VA- Live at Aces International

Ranking Joe

Back to some jamdown business.

Ranking Joe is always good pon the mic. Radics, Junjo, Channel One. Nuff said.

Track List:

Step It Down Shepherd's Bush
Lift Up Your Frock
Rub Sister Rub It
Christine
Spread Propaganda
River Jordan
Hooligan
Sex Maniac
Dreadlocks Time
Love It Like A Light Post


Get it:

Ranking Joe "Saturday Night Jamdown Style"

Don Carlos

One of my favorite roots singers.

Junjo produced, Scientist mixed and Radics. Nuff said.

"Street Life" is a super slept on tune if I may say.

Track List:

Hog & Goat
I Like It
Dice Cup
Roots Man Party
Hey Mr Babylon
Street Life
English Women
400 Years
I'm Not Crazy
At The Bus Stop

Download:

Don Carlos "Day To Day Living" (Full Album)

Israel Vibration

The best polio stricken roots group of all time.

If you ever get a chance to see them live I would highly recommend you do so. This is their first album and has the usual suspects on the session side: Sly and Robbie, Dean Frasier, and Roots Radics.


Download:

Israel Vibration "Same Song"

Michigan & Smiley

This one is worth grabbing just for "Wonder".

Michigan and Smiley were to my knowledge at the forefront of the "call and response" style that would become pretty popular in the early 80's, but has sort of become and extinct style.

Give it a listen.

Track List:

Step By Step
Afrikan Must Be Free
Take It Easy
Jah Ruled Over I
Wonder
Too Much Confusion
Twiggly Higgly
Sensemilla
Get Educated

On the back side: Scientist, Roots Radics, and Channel One....nuff said

Download:

Michigan and Smiley "Step By Step"

Jah Thomas

Jah Thomas runs tings. Stop Yuh Loafin' Bwoy!!!!!!

On the sleeve you have the usual suspects with Roots Radics, Channel One Studio, and Tubby's.

Don't be an idiot bwoy and pass on this one. Download it now.

Track Listing:

1. Dance Hall Connection
2. Cool People
3. Nigger Skank
4. Let Him In
5. Friday Night Jamboree
6. Living In Jamaica
7. Joker Smoker
8. Jealous
9. Gal A Laugh
10. Remember Me

Download:
Jah Thomas "Dancehall Connection"

Barrington Levy "Shaolin Temple"

I think I posted up "Moonlight Lover" waaaayy back when which pretty much covers most of these tracks, but this is one of those albums that I rarely tire of.

To my knowledge Henry "Junjo" Lawes was apprenticing under Linval Thompson and started recording a string of Barrington Levy (who was about 15 years old mind you) 45's which would ultimately become "Shaolin Temple". Barrington would go on be one of the biggest names in the dance.

Enjoy.


Track Listing:

Wedding Ring
Moonlight Lover
Bounty Hunter
Skylarking
It’s Not Easy
Looking My Love
Shine Eye Girl
Shaolin Temple
Reggae Music
Collie Weed
Stray Away Girl (Extended Version) *


* I cut the last 3 tunes cause they were just versions and would make it twice as long to download.


Download:

Barrington Levy "Shaolin Temple"

Tristan Palma

* Look how serious dude's album cover is?

More rub a dub ting for the massive. If you're coming here for some rap shiz don't bother cause I'm on a dread takeover and will be for a while.

Tristan Palma comes with it on this one. Again we have all Radics on the back end, but with a man called Jah Thomas on the production tip which ain't a bad thing.

This one really conveys the whole roots to dancehall transition I've been talking about. It is worth noting because there are only so many records that do it right.

Enjoy this one because it has some heat on it.



And here we have another album cover jammie which features Tristan posing with a guitar of alll things.

Track Listing:

Innocent Man
Babylon
Give Me Your Love
Lonely Man
Got To Praise Jah Jah
Joker Smoker
Peace And Love In The Ghetto
Two Timer
Ghetto King
Lover Man
Give Me A Chance *bonus
Time So Hard *bonus
Give I Girl *bonus
Joker Smoker (12" Mix) *bonus

Download:
Tristan Palma "Joker Smoker" 1982 Re-Issue

Little John

I'm not super up on Likkle John. This is the first long player of his I've come across and it is pretty damn good.

This one has Henry "Junjo" Lawes on the controls and Roots Radics on backing and it is another Channel One Studio ting.

"Let Go Me Hand" and "Why Won't You Come On" (think Keith and Tex "Tonite" riddim) are the big tunes on here in my opinion.

Run it.


Track Listing:

Give The Youth A Try
Why Won't You Come On
The More We Are Together
Tea Tar Toe
I Have Got To Go
Let Go Me Hand
Down A Yard
I Love My Mommy





Download:
Little John "Give The Youth A Try"