Heart of the Congos reissued with rare original mixes

The Congos’ debut album Heart of the Congos is by many regarded as the greatest reggae album ever to be released. And this album is certainly something very special with its swirling soundscape and haunting vocals courtesy of Cedric Myton’s falsetto and Watty Burnett’s deep baritone.

The set was originally released 40 years ago, but was soon withdrawn by producer and engineer extraordinaire Lee Perry. A year later – in 1978 – it surfaced again, but this time with new and different mixes. That release also formed the blueprint for all subsequent reissues.

But now – for the first time ever – the original album from 1977 has been reissued by reggae powerhouse VP Records. The set was put out on LP on Record Store Day in April and in early June on digital and a deluxe 3CD edition. The 3LP version put out in June does not include the original mixes. The only way to get your hands on those are via digital, CD, the Record Store Day edition or the incredibly rare original from the 70s.

Some might argue that this release is for reggae aficionados only. But think again. The digital and the 3CD set is the most definitive edition of this iconic album. It comes with the album mixes from 1978, discomixes, versions, the previously unreleased Don’t Blame it on I and, of course, the original album mixes, which are quite different from the others. These originals are more stripped-down, cleaner and lacks the mooing cow on Children Crying and Ark of the Covenant.

Get it and compare and judge for yourself.

 

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Greensleeves celebrates 40 years with extensive compilation

Greensleeves Records – the iconic UK label that was acquired by reggae powerhouse VP Records in 2008 – has been operating for 40 years in the music business. That’s now celebrated with a new – and extensive – collection of classics cuts released over the years.

The 40 track – what else – double disc draws from Greensleeves wide-ranging catalogue of razor-sharp roots and dancehall from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s. The label has managed to maneuver through a diverse set of sounds coming mostly from Jamaica and the UK.

The album doesn’t come with any gems for collectors, but it’s a great gateway to reggae, especially dancehall from the early 80s, a period when Greensleeves dropped a truckload of classics albums and 12” discomixes.

Featured on the set are scorchers like the Wailings Souls’ War, Johnny Osbourne’s Fally Ranking and Eek-A-Mouse’s Wa-Do-Dem. You can also find a truly international hit song like Shaggy’s Oh Carolina on Total Reggae Greensleeves.

This is a great introduction to one of the greatest reggae labels.

Loads of reggae classics when Suns of Dub select their Greensleeves favorites

Jamaican ensemble and production crew Suns of Dub – led by the late Augustus Pablo’s son Addis Pablo – has created a mixtape for VP/Greensleeves by using the label’s extensive catalogue.

Riddimentary is a musical journey and a time travel back to the 70s and early 80s. Addis Pablo and Suns of Dub have selected crucial cuts that have inspired their musical output and in the continuous mix – without any sound effects or mixing wizardry – you’ll find classics from reggae legends like Sugar Minott, Dillinger, Jacob Miller and, of course Augustus Pablo, who kicks off the set in fine style with his Far East sound.

This set is an excellent introduction to conscious reggae and rootsy dancehall and be sure to check slightly lesser known cuts like John Wayne’s Call the Police or Tenor Saw’s Golden Hen.

First class rocksteady on new compilation

On Record Store Day 2016 reggae powerhouse VP’s reissue imprint 17 North Parade dropped a limited edition 7” box set collecting 14 rock steady gems. This release has now been expanded with another 26 cuts and released as a double CD celebrating the 50th anniversary of rock steady.

This comprehensive collection comes with timeless hits and ultra-rare gems showcasing the impact rock steady has had on Jamaican and popular music.

Rock steady only lasted for about two years – 1966-1968 – but is an undeniably influential genre with riddims that have been versioned and covered countless of times. The slow and melodious rock steady paved the way for the evolution of reggae and how it sounds today.

First Class Rock Steady shows many aspects of the genre and includes love songs, dance celebrations, conscious cuts and beautiful instrumentals played by some of Jamaica’s finest musicians, such as Tommy McCook, Lynn Taitt and Bobby Ellis.

Sensational songs like Hopeton Lewis’ Take It Easy, The Techniques’ You Don’t Care and Alton Ellis Rock Steady helped to put Jamaica on the musical map and the music still sounds fresh today.

Everlasting is Raging Fyah’s most sophisticated set yet

Following two excellent albums in 2011 and 2014 – Judgement Day and Destiny – Jamaican roots rockers Raging Fyah signed to reggae powerhouse VP’s subsidiary Dub Rockers and recently put out their third album Everlasting, a bombastic set with infectious melodies, lush harmonies and sing-a-long choruses.

Raging Fyah formed about ten years ago after several of the five members had met at Edna Manley College of Visual & Performing Arts in Kingston. Their elegant sound is inspired by reggae bands such as Third World, Steel Pulse and Aswad and they often tackle topics of socio-economics and politics together with uplifting messages about hope and inspiration.

Everlasting – produced by Llamar “Riff Raff” brown, whose credits include work for Stephen Marley, Damian Marley and Morgan Heritage – features J Boog, Busy Signal and the stylistically superior Jesse Royal on guest vocals. The latter kills it as usual on Humble and Busy Signal offers some well-needed edge to the pop-flavoured Would You Love Me.

Raging Fyah is at their best when staying on the grittier side of the reggae spectrum. The sparse and dark Raggamuffin is one such highlight, the roaring title track is another.

Everlasting has several irresistible moments – even though a few might be slightly too slick and polished – and passionate and expressive vocalist Kumar shines throughout this sonically sophisticated collection.

Horace Andy shines on In the Light

About two years ago reggae powerhouse VP Records announced a collaboration with renowned reggae historian and label head Steve Barrow, one of the founders of the legendary Blood & Fire label. Not much materialized from the collaboration and Steve Barrow left.

But one can guess that the most recent release from VP’s subsidiary 17 North Parade might be a result from the Steve Barrow and VP collaboration. Horace Andy’s In the Light and its dub companion In the Light Dub were namely reissued by Blood & Fire in 1995 and both are now reissued by 17 North Parade.

The sets were however originally put out in 1977 and the vocal version was recorded as a full album with two dedicated producers rather than a collection of singles for a variety of producers. Not always standard in the world of reggae.

Horace Andy is one of the most distinctive voices in reggae and several singers have followed in his footsteps over the years. In the Light is one of his best albums and was produced by Horace Andy himself along with the late producer Everton DaSilva.

It includes a number of new recordings along with updated versions of classics like Fever and Problems. The dub version is superb and shines light on the excellent musicianship provided by some of Jamaica’s top session players. The dubs are explosive with the usual emphasis on the rhythm section.

When these sets were reissued some 20 years ago they reached a new and wider audience and now they are finally made widely available once again.

Classic Augustus Pablo album reissued

Reggae powerhouse VP Records’ subsidiary Greensleeves has started the year with a number of solid reissues. First off was three rare Glen Brown compilations from the late 80s and now the label has put out Horace Andy’s hard to find In the Light and In the Light Dub along with Augustus Pablo’s classic Original Rockers.

I have noted some critique on these releases. Some say it’s easy money dropping reissues and that’s why VP is doing it. It’s probably cheaper to release an already recorded album, but for me that’s not the case. I think VP is doing the right thing reissuing solid and hard to find – sometimes downright impossible – albums and singles. These reissues – at least the CD and digital versions – also come with added tracks. Sure, they have reissued before, but there are new generations out there, generations that haven’t heard these great sets.

Augustus Pablo’s Original Rockers album was originally released in 1979. It’s a collection of severely rare singles from his early days, circa 1972-1975, and showcases three creative masterminds – Augustus Pablo himself along with legendary mixing engineers King Tubby and Prince Jammy, the former gracing a few cuts with his dub wizardry.

Original Rockers is extraordinarily innovative and is a mostly instrumental set. This expanded version comes however with vocal cuts from Dillinger, Big Youth, Leroy Sibbles, The Heptones and Bongo Pat.

Augustus Pablo’s dreamy melodica floats around in the mixes and standout cuts include Up Wareika Hill, the militant Jah Dread, the mellow Thunder Clap and Park Lane Special, a superb version of Hugh Mundell’s classic Africa Must Be Free By 1983.

Original Rockers is the essence of Augustus Pablo and the album now gets a well-deserved reissue.

A superb introduction to Luciano

Jamaican singer Luciano has been honoured reggae legend by VP Records and the label has dedicated him a four disc box set collecting three stunning original albums along with a live set.

The box set comprises no less than 58 tracks across the albums One Way Ticket (1995), Sweep Over My Soul (1999), Live (2000) and A New Day (2001) and gives a comprehensive overview of major talent that arrived in the early 90s.

Some of Luciano’s best work was produced by the late Phillip “Fatis” Burrell and he is behind the spectacular One Way Ticket and the atmospheric Sweep Over My Soul. Dean Fraser produced the Grammy-nominated A New Day, which features a remarkable version of Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari’s nyabinghi hymn No Night in Zion, and Live was recorded on stage in London at the peak of his career.

Luciano has always been highly influenced by Frankie Paul and especially Dennis Brown, which is certainly quite clear on One Way Ticket. The resemblance with the late Crown Prince of Reggae is striking. And just like Dennis Brown, Luciano is always soulful and gentle, and often spiritual and reflective.

A sublime introduction to Luciano, and it would actually be rather easy to do this exercise again since Luciano has been one of the most prolific modern Jamaican singers. Another four disc box could collect masterpieces like Where There is Life, Serious Time, United States of Africa and Write My Name.

Version galore on massive Glen Brown reissue

Reggae powerhouse VP Records’ subsidiary Greensleeves has reissued three superb compilations of cuts produced by Glen Brown, a singer, instrumentalist and producer that made some of the most uncompromising reggae music ever to be put on wax.

Glen Brown started as a harmony vocalist singing with Lloyd Robinson, Hopeton Lewis and Dave Barker, later of Dave and Ansell Collins fame, and recorded with several top producers in the late 60s, including Coxsone Dodd and Harry J.

In the early 70s he tried his hand at producing and he was – just like his peer Keith Hudson – an innovative and idiosyncratic producer. He was a rebel, not afraid of cutting downright uncommercial music with false starts, vocal interjections and eerie sonic landscapes with earth-shattering bass lines and minor key melodies.

His productions were pressed in tiny quantities on a broad variety of labels and hard to come by back in the days. And these three reissues – originally put out in 1989 – were highly sought after since they collected rare recordings on Glen Brown’s Pantomine label by some of the finest Jamaican singers, deejays and instrumentalists, including performances by U Roy, I Roy, Prince Jazzbo, Big Youth and Tommy McCook. Featured are also Prince Hammer’s Daughter a Whole Lot of Sugar Down Deh, his first recording, and one of Gregory Isaacs’ earliest tracks – One One Coco.

But Glen Brown wasn’t only a truly original producer, he was also ahead of his time when he recycled his riddims for various performers. These three compilations – Boat to Progress (vocal cuts), Check the Winner (instrumentals) and Dubble Attack (deejay outings) – contain largely interpretations of the same deadly riddims. All in all 46 killer tracks showcasing the essence of dread. For a dubwise shower of Glen Brown’s music seek out Blood & Fire’s Termination Dub.

Augustus Pablo – a man with a musical vision

The late and great Augustus Pablo had a distinctive musical vision and his take on reggae is inimitable and his productions are easily identifiable. Organic and dynamic with his typical Far East sound. He was no stranger to instrumentals and was responsible for the massive melodica cut Java.

His music has been heavily reissued and now reggae powerhouse VP has a fresh addition to the Augustus Pablo section in the shelves.

The compilation Rockers International was originally released in 1980 and showcased a bunch of the artists he was currently working with, including Earl Sixteen, Norris Reid and Delroy Williams. Its follow up – Rockers International Vol. 2 – was put out in 1992. Both are now available again on one lovely double disc with liner notes by reggae historian Harry Wise.

The 28 track compilation features several thunderous instrumental gems from Augustus Pablo himself along with earth-shaking dub versions and affecting vocal cuts from the likes of Jacob Miller, Junior Delgado and Jah Levi aka Hugh Mundell.

This album draws deep from the Augustus Pablo vaults and showcases signature productions from his golden era. His music is timeless, spiritually inspired and definately unique.