Cultures Of Soul`s Take Us Home documents the 80s Boston Reggae scene. A community of singers and players establishing DIY, independent set ups, and labels, as outlets for music by themselves, and friends. I Tones on Lion Records. Zion Initation on Zion Lion. Danny Tucker on Twigze Dee Sounds. Healin` Of The Nations on Hub. Lambsbread`s LBI Co. The latter a former proto-Punk band, called Death, who ended up doing sessions at Kingston`s Channel One. Plus other local imprints, such as Majah, and Mastermind. All pressed up in tiny quantities, and, consequently, scarce. Often representing the artists` sole recordings.

Cultures Of Soul, with Boston-based journalists Noah Schaffer and Uchenna Ikonne, have selected seventeen tracks. Bringing together Rocksteady heartbreak, and kinda Country end-of-the-night skank. Calls for universal love, unity, equality, and an end to war. Pledges to Jah, and Haile Selassie I. Wailers and Lee Perry-inspired, Black Ark-esque, almost beatless prayers. Dub fragments flying everywhere. Cute Lovers Rock, and a love song to the Dance itself. Oh What A Saturday Night! The highlight, though, is the tune that gives the compilation its name, Danny Tucker`s Take Us Home. A repatriation hymn, set to warrior-charging percussion.

Cultures Of Soul also have some Reggae of a more obviously Balearic bent, in the form of Sabrina Rich`s Dancehall cover of Sade`s Smooth Operator. A slice of Taxi Gang-like Diamond Life, recorded in Miami, with help from members of Inner Circle, at Bernard “Touter” Harvey`s Circle Sound. Sly & Robbie-esque, with its whistling synths, steel pans, and Linn drums. A touch of both Wayne Smith`s Sleng Teng, and Carly Simon’s Why, in the riddim. The 12 features the original vocal, dub, and an extended edit by NYC`s Duckcomb. 

You can pre-order both of these releases directly from Cultures Of Soul.

Reference Links

A Band Called Death 

Why 

Sleng Teng 

Duckcomb