Reissues of righteous, Babylon-bashing, roots, and dynamite dubs. Preaching peace, positivity, and understanding. The lovers are coming in Part 3…

Dennis Brown – Promised Land – Simba

An absolute essential from Dennis Brown, accompanied by Aswad. Originally released in 1983, the rhythm first appeared as Mosman Skank, on the Countryman soundtrack. Can someone now please repress / reissue Bloody City?

Johnny Clarke – Play Fool Fi Get Wise – Jackpot

A 1976 Bunny Lee  / Aggrovators production, backed by a brilliant King Tubby dub. 

Ansel Collins – Spanish Town Road (Version) – Impact

A rare melodica-led cut by legendary keyboardist Sir Collins from 1974. Clive Chin at the controls. Music provided by Skin, Flesh & Bones. Reissued by Only Roots. 

Cultivator – Voice Of Love – Rewind Dubs

2003 showcase set from Tokyo 9-piece Cultivator. Pressed onto vinyl by Rewind Dubs, in tribute to their vocalist / melodica player, Ras Dasher, who very sadly passed away. 

Culture – Mind Who You Beg For Help – Real Rock

Produced by Sonia Pottinger and engineered by Errol “ET” Thompson. Reissued by Italy’s Real Rock. On the flip you’ll find the equally terrific Too Long In Slavery. Both are late `70s discomixes, first released on High Note. 

Detonators – Lift Off – Special Request

Way way ahead of its time Sci-Fi dub from 1980, that famously landed its producer, John Collins, the job of shaping The Specials` Ghost Town. 

The Disciples – The Message – Partial

A huge horn cut from 1995. Reissued with two wicked, rattling, feedback ringing, previously unreleased Raw Mixes. 

Jeff Dread – Dub The Farmers Daughter – Efficient Space

A seismic 7 from Sydney’s Jeff Dread. An excellent Efficient Space excavation from the early 2000s, produced by a contemporary / spar of Andy Rantzen and Sheriff Lindo. 

Errol Dunkley – A Little Way Different – Common Ground International 

More Sonia Pottinger. Versioned by Errol many times, since its a bit of a theme tune, this one I think dates back to Gay Feet and 1972. A cool, cool call for tolerance and understanding. 

“Deadly” Headley Bennett – Humble Glory – Humble Commission 

From 1985, I think. More horns. This time haunting, and twisted around a slow piano-led groove. 

Gregory Isaacs – One One Cocoa – Pantomime

A `70s production from Glen Brown. Sublime, soulful sufferers, best known via Big Youth’s version, One Of These Fine Days – found on the DJ’s 1972 LP, Screaming Target. 

Jah Warrior – The Greatest Sound – Storming Dub Records

Previously CD-only, from 2003, now on a 45 care of more Italians, Storming Dub. Setting soundbwoys skanking to some serious squelching. 

Matumbi – Guide Us Jah – Matumbi Music Corp

Slow, shuffling, UK roots created by Dennis Bovell as two 7s clashed, and punk broke (1977). Featuring some fabulous fancy fretwork from the band founder / leader. 

Enos McLeod – War Ain`t The Answer – Orbit

Recorded in 1975 for Leonard Chin’s Santic. Reissued by Orbit, which I think is run by Enos himself. The title of the track speaks for itself. 

Johnny Osbourne – Love Is Universal – Jah Guidance 

Produced in the early `80s by Henry Junjo Lawes, and mixed by the mighty Scientist, the vocal is brilliant, and the dub, devastating. 

More Relation – Jahoveahs Kingdom – Roots Vibration 

New York recordings from 1977, where the sharing of knowledge and wisdom leads to understanding, and paradise. 

Michael Rose – Born Free – Golden Gems

Strident skanking with some super cool key runs from 1976. Originally pressed by UK label, Boss. The flip features a very tasty dub, mixed at Tubby’s by Prince Jammy. 

Bim Sherman – Dream – Partial

Man, I lusted after this record, as I’m a huge fan of Bim and have also been trying to collect all of the reggae released by The Orb-associated label, WAU! Mr Modo. I was lucky enough to pick up a test pressing of this early last year. The finished 7 is in shops now. Partial also rescued Zulu Warriors` Zulu Dub LP, from 1989, which is another WAU! Mr Modo essential. 

Leroy Smart – Sweet Music – Roots Youths

An early `80s King Jammy production. A heartfelt hymn to both the healing power of music, and the music of life – nature, humanity – that surrounds us, everywhere.   

Tassilli Players – The Wonderful World Of Weed In Dub – Partial 

Produced by Zion Train back in 1995. With tracks titled after different types of weed, in my opinion, this is a very high quality set of acid / progressive house-influenced dub. 

Tradition – Spirit Of Ecstasy – Solid Groove

Two LPs by West London band, Tradition, were reissued, in Japan, in 2022. This, for my money – although I bought both – is the more desirable one. A set of smooth, jazzy, laid back pieces, with high levels of instrumentation, rather than stripped-back, drum and bass, dubs. 

Ernest Wilson – I Know Myself – Channel One

An anthem from Jo Jo & Ernest Hookim, and former member of The Clarendonians, Ernest Wilson. From 1974, thematically it “foreshadows” Linda Creed`s standard, The Greatest Love Of All, by testifying that god is love, love is within, and that you can’t love anybody until learn to love yourself. 

Flick Wilson – Two Youths Have A Quarrel – Things I’ve Been Through

A top tune from 1988. A prayer for peace, and an end to punch ups. Discogs says it’s Scientist on the mix. 

Yabby You – The Yabby U Sound – Pressure Sounds

This is one of the dopest dub compilations I`ve ever heard, as the versions span several years (1975 to 1982), studios (Dynamic Sounds, Black Ark, Harry J, King Tubby’s and Channel One) and a variety of mixing board maestros (King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Professor, Barnabas and Bunny Tom Tom) – making for an extremely varied set. I’ve included every track in my reggae / dub shows for Music For Dreams Radio. A big thank you! to Cal Gibson for the heads up!

Shouts out my dealers, Dub Store, Dub Vendor, Lighthouse, Ranamusica, and Sounds Of The Universe, plus a big Thank You! to Tom Dubwise for his top recommendations on the more way-out selections.

Track-list

Vocals

Enos McLeod – War Ain`t The Answer

Gregory Isaacs – One One Cocoa

Cultivator – Voice Of Love

Leroy Smart – Sweet Music

Bim Sherman – Dream

Culture – Mind Who You Beg For Help

Ernest Wilson – I Know Myself

Dennis Brown – Promised Land

Flick Wilson – Two Youths Have A Quarrel

Johnny Clarke – Play Fool Fi Get Wise

Matumbi – Guide Us Jah

Errol Dunkley – A Little Way Different 

More Relation – Jahoveahs Kingdom

Michael Rose – Born Free

Johnny Osbourne – Love Is Universal

Dubs

Yabby You – Yabby U Sound

Deadly Headley – Humble Glory

Tassilli Players – Purple Power

Zulu Warriors – Chalawa Dub

Jeff Dread – Dub The Farmers Daughter

Yabby You – Tribal War Dub

Tradition – Tribute To A King

Cultivator – Hear The Voice Of Love (Version)

Overnight Players – Shaka The Great

Ansel Collins – Spanish Town Road (Version)

Detonators – Lift Off

The Disciples – The Message

Jah Warrior – The Greatest Sound