quick audio picks: 12
We got a nice batch of these Jah Guidance reissues on clean UK presses. The label was the undisputed king of early 80s dancehall, featuring the all-time combo of Junjo Lawes on production, Scientist engineering, and the Roots Radics as in-house band,...
expand review in case you need reminding. Barrington Levy was the label's fist major success, putting the dancehall on lock in 1979 (at the age of 16) with "Collie Weed(1)." He rides the My Conversation rhythm with finesse, probably about the same time as Lone Ranger's massive "Barnabas Collins." In proper fashion, this record also features the original Scientist/Roots Radics version(2) on the flip. Collector's choice. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 123
Not sure exactly where these recent Barrington Levy 12-inch pressings have been coming from (you did pick up "Under Mi Sensi" right?), but all I have to say is: don't stop! This time around we get "Here I Come(1)" - aka "Broader...
expand review Than Broadway" - in a couple of unheard mixes. The main version is the one you've heard a million times (shoodly-addly-diddly-waddly vocals and all) while the Trouble Mixer(2) adds a rough synth into the mix. The flip has two dubs, the first being more of a straight instrumental(3) and the next a much spacier dub. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
From the dancehall days of the water pumpee and the cool and deadly comes Barrington's slow skank classic. No doubt a great song, once again produced by the 80s king a di dance, Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Same on both sides. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
This could be the most relentlessly cheerful song ever. I don't know what it is about reggae that lets a song featuring the nursery-rhyme chorus of "Everyday I love her just a little bit more/Your love is my love and my...
expand review love is your love" escape my finely honed, withering derision, but somehow it's impossible to hate on this. Of course, "She's Mine"is one of Barrington Levy's biggest and most, um, beloved hits from the glory days of late '80s dancehall, an undisputed part of any of his greatest hits collections and live shows to this day. This is the very cool and seldom seen picture sleeve 12-inch, complete with extended dub version. And yes, these are originals. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
Barrington Levy, "the golden warbler," versioned this tune with Jah Screw in 1985 into a huge hit. Under Mi Sensi is one of the great Barrington Levy songs that has yet to get played, still sounding fresh and crucial. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
Next to "Bam Bam" and "Ring The Alarm," this has to be one of the most enduring dancehall songs of all time. That Sly and Robbie rhythm is one of the sweetest in creation and never fails to get people dancing. Even...
expand review if you are stuck deep in the dead wood, this will turn at least one person out. Yeah it's a bit overplayed, but this is one of those can't lose tunes that absolutely everybody should own in some format. You hear that, people who constantly ask the reggae monkey to suggest some classics? Also includes the version and the unrelated instrumental track "Thief Of Bagdad," plays at 45. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
An exceptionally smooth tune from the early period in Cocoa T's long career. Early 80s master Junjo Lawes is on production, popping out a great version of the Real Rock riddim here. Version on the B-side. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1
This is the Steelie & Cleevie's re-woking of the Dawn Penn classic "You Don't Love Me." Molded into a contemporary style, it was launched on the wave of dancehall popularity likes Shaggy and took over the world in 1994. Little kids in...
expand review Morocco were singing no no nooo. I seen it, believe it. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
"You Don't Love Me(1)" - you don't have this? Well damn, son, I'm going to look the other way while you slip this into the cart, and I won't say anything. Original Penthouse pressing of the massive crossover hit, with...
expand review a smooved out R&B mix on the flip side. Do I even need to add "essential"? -monk
quick audio picks: 1
The "other" Eek-A-Mouse hit ("Wa Do Dem" is his claim to fame), featuring the mouse at his adlib bong-gong-giddy best. For the unfamiliar, an Eek-A-Mouse record lands somewhere between singing, chatting, and a saturday morning cartoon- one of the most recognizable reggae...
expand review voice this side of Barrington Levy. When his delivery and melody is on, he kills with such authority that it makes his average stuff seem kinda lame (warbling monster mash hit tunes are hard to follow up). You don't have to worry about that tho, cause this is a certified weed anthem ("load up the van, all of the ganja it ram, put it on a plane, the weed gone a Spain, and the money just a flow like rain"). Unrelated version on the b-side. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
Another huge tune produced by Junjo Lawes and backed by the Roots Radics band, this is the Eek A Mouse claim to fame, with one of the weirdest sounding dj styles ever. There's always been a strange string of crazy sounding singers/djs...
expand review starting from way back: Barrington, Eek A Mouse, Tenor Saw, Buju, Bounty, Vegas, Sizzla etc. All these guys have the distinctive voices and combine with strange patterns to make some catchy unique shit. B-side is an unrelated instrumental. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
Frankie Paul is known as Jamaica's Stevie Wonder: a musical prodigy and hit maker from an early age and legally blind (but wears those bank window glasses anyway). Plays every instrument and loves to smoke his tushung peng. I always wondered what...
expand review it would be like to be blind and stoned...check the b-side for an excellent Scientist dub. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
One of Frankie's major hits, again for the undisputed crown king of the early 80s, Junjo Lawes. Word has it these days that Frankie gone chi chi, but his music stays classic. Version on the B-side. Jamaican pressing. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1
One of the all-time greatest dancehall songs, Half Pint floats lovely over this George Phang production. He had a massive amount of hits from the mid eighties into the early nineties, ruling as one of the dance's most loved singers. This is...
expand review his first string shit though. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
One of the most upbeat tunes I know, as Pete says this could have just as easily been some 80's new wave club hit. Regardless it is strictly sweetness tonight as soon as this hits the turntable. Great George Phang production, loving...
expand review those extra instrumental touches. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
There's a million dancehall records about weed, and a lengthy list of great ones, but "Sensi Addict (1)" is up in the lambs bread hall of fame. The riddim is like a little plinking casio line with shitty digital drums- could easily...
expand review be trash bin material without Horace. But he drops a wicked clipped vocal in his falsetto style ("me no wan no white rum, me will tumble down") that turns the whole thing into a giant fun fest. Stop being a sad little man and pick this up. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1
The source for Damian Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock" revealed! "World A Music(1)" is on the same rhythm and is just a sick track in its own right. People don't know about Ini Kamozi man... think just cause he had a crossover tune...
expand review that he wasn't ever the real deal? Then sink your soft teeth into this. And now imagine dropping the D Marley after that first verse when he goes "out in the street, they call it murder". Hammer time. Reasonably clean press with the vocal track "Call The Taxi" on the b-side. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
The immortal, unfadeable Queen Majesty riddim in true vocal form, on a Channel One extended 12-inch, with DJ destruction from Ranking Trevor?? Absolutely essential roots business. Originally done by the Techniques as an homage to the Impressions' "Minstrel & Queen," this...
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