Most of the reggae records that I buy are old. Supplied to me by scrupulous dealers such as Dub Vendor, Dub Store, Sounds Of The Universe, and Tom Dubwise. These folks help me to wade through “wants” lists, pulled, largely from the sets of UK soundsystem legend, Jah Shaka, who in April of 2023 sadly passed away. 

Many of the 45s and 12s I invest in are lucky warehouse finds, so I was surprised, when taking stock, at just how many of those that I bought in 2023 were actually new reissues. Shaka’s sets this year gave me gear like Dambala’s Babylon, care of Emotional Rescue, and Rupie Dan’s Tony “Warriors Dance” Addis-produced My Black Race, on 333, which has fast become a buy-on-sight label. The Death Is Not The End offshoot released 6 singles in 2023 that I managed to snatch up. There was a Prince Jazzbo 45, originally on the unique MC / producer’s own imprint Ujama, whose title and clever wordplay gave the London label its moniker. Nairobi Sisters’ Promised Land, was a fine, funky, mid-1970s tune, featuring Judy Mowatt and, I think, out of New York. Other selections focused on the UK: Jasaro People’s late `70s Suffering, Birmingham’s De$$us, with Ghetto Children and its `80s synth-pop intro, Frankie B’s super stripped-back, digital, Pressure Me. All of these were highly sought-after sides, the treasure otherwise of only super clued-up collectors, licensed from tiny, independent outfits, like Ellie Jay, Timba, and Ital Stuff. 

Mad Professor’s Ariwa is another label where I take a listen to everything and grab whatever funds will allow. Two tracks from Aisha’s 1987 album, High Priestess, were repressed – Guide And Protect, and the much-loved The Creator. The latter arriving in different mixes on both 12 and 7. Diving deeper into the archives unearthed Aquizim’s cover of The Revolutionaries classic, Kunte Kinte. In collaboration with Melodies International, “The Prof” also reissued a compilation of his earliest productions, a highlight of which was Ranking Ann’s raw Moonlight Lover.  

I also surprised myself in that, while in the past my purchases have heavily leant toward `70s roots, over the last 12 months, in the main, I’ve “shot” forward into the “future”, and the 1980s. The handful of `70s sides included Alton Ellis’ Blackish White, part of Soul Jazz’s partnership with Coxsone’s Studio One, Silford Walker’s brilliant Burn Babylon, with The Mighty Two – Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson – at the controls, Vin Gordon’s classy Aswad collaboration, Kojo Hoy, and I Roy & The Upsetter’s mad, but magnificent Space Flight, on Skank & Groove. The track defined by I Roy’s rhymes and the strange sounds coming out of Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Mu-Tron Phaser. An effects unit that he famously played as if it were an instrument. I’ve a sneaking suspicion that The Orb sampled the intro. The master, Mr. Roy, your guide on a trip to Venus and Mars. The legendary Lee, your pilot. 

Of the `80s tracks, the Gladiators’ Can’t Stop Righteousness, from Ernest and JoJo Hookim’s Channel One / Hit Bound, was a reverb-drenched, ringer for Scratchs Black Ark sound. Roman Stewart’s Want You Wanna To Do, on Thompson Sound dated from 1980, as did T.J. “Super T” Thomas’ bluesy, soulful, Sad To Know I Am Leaving on STS. Freddie McKay’s moody Inna Mi Yard, with its distinctive tectonic, room-rattling bass was one of two Scientist mixes / productions. The other was Ruffy & Tuffy’s vocoder-ed If The 3rd World War Is A Must. Another Channel One special, now licensed to Canadian imprint, Shella, this went close to seamlessly with with Legowelt’s super shake of Pampidoo’s King Jammy-produced Synthesizer Voice. The newest / youngest reggae reissue I picked up this year was Abbashantie & Sugar Minott’s Break Down The Walls, on Brooklyn’s Wackies, from 1988. 

The `80s also gave me a few lovers tunes, of a more Balearic bent. Back in 1981 Janice Walker’s You’ll Never Need Somebody was one of the first releases on London label, Fashion. John MacGillivray and Chris Lane ran the imprint, and its offspring, for well over a decade out the legendary Dub Vendor shop. Late last year, Sound Metaphors pressed this single on a 12, with fresh mixes from Androo, and Chris, under his Dub Organiser guise. New label Planets also focused on an old Fashion gem, and reissued Dee Sharp’s very cool cover of Keni Burke’s Rising To The Top. Christine Lewin’s cover of Mtume’s Juicy Fruit came out on a 7, care of Tropical Treasures. It’s a version that I’m sure everyone knows, since it featured on Sam Don’s bestselling comp, For The Love Of You. Sam and Athens Of The North borrowed Christine’s sleeve art too. Lastly Isle Of Jura signed Sonia Whitingham’s 1988 underground hit, Sweet Sensation, from Star Disc. 

Mixes uploading…new reggae and dub to follow….

TRACK-LISTS

Part One
Alton Ellis – Blackish White
Silford Walker – Burn Babylon
Dougie Conscious – Desert Storm Steppa
Count Dubula – Catch 22
Jasaro People – Suffering
De$$us – Ghetto Children
Creation Rebel – Jubilee Clock
Dambala – Babylon
Joe Yorke – Rocking Ship
Disciples – For A Few Dollars More
Aisha – The Creator
Meditations – Judas Dub
Rupie Dan – My Black Race
Pat Simpson – Teach Them
Roman Stewart – What You Wanna Do
Nazamba – Africa
Mystica Tribe – Ido
Count Dubula – Ricochet
Abbashantie – Break Down The Walls

Part Two
Vin Gordon – Kojo Hoy
Creation Rebel – Off The Spectrum
Frankie B – Pressure Me
Ruffy & Tuffy – If The 3rd World War Is A Must
Pampidoo – Synthesizer Voice (Legowelt Remix)
Prince Jazzbo – 333
Scientist – Step It Up
TJ Thomas – Sad To Know I Am Leaving
Creation Rebel – Stonebridge Warrior
Gladiators – Can’t Stop Righteousness
Elijah Minnelli – Gradually
Kulture Blak – On My Path
Aisha – Guide And Protect
Freddie McKay – Inna Mi Yard
Om Unit – Mystik 808
Creation Rebel – Salutation Gardens

Part Three
I Roy – Space Flight
Nairobi Sisters – Promised Land
Soul II Soul – Nothing Compares To You
Janice Walker – You’ll Never Need Somebody
Bee Nix – Did You?
Sonia Whitingham – Sweet Sensation
Prince Fatty – Expansions
Christine Lewin – Juicy Fruit
Dee Sharp – Rising To The Top