Back catalogue: Roots/Lovers Rock

Review: Jamaican reggae don Winston Hubert 'Peter Tosh' McIntosh was a core member of the Wailers alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, but he also had a successful solo career. This Greatest Hits compilation spans his entire Parlophone catalogue with iconic tracks from albums like Johnny B. Goode, Wanted Dread and Alive and Bush Doctor. Originally released in 1987 exclusively in Brazil, this reissue marks its global availability for the first time and it comes on striking red, green, and yellow tri-colour vinyl that helps showcase his powerful blend of reggae, rock and political activism. Tosh's revolutionary spirit and musical mastery were second to none, as this collection proves.

Review: The Travellers' 1977 roots reggae harmony classic is back with a collectible original artwork re-issue. This album, produced by the legendary Prince Jammy, features crucial rhythms from The Aggravators and the High Time Band, recorded at renowned studios Channel One, Joe Gibbs, Harry J's and King Tubby's. As vocal harmony groups began to wane in the late 70s, Prince Jammy continued to work with exceptional talent, creating this gem alongside his seminal work with Black Uhuru. This re-issue includes rare singles 'Jah Give Us This World,' 'Keep On Trying,' and 'Black Black Minds,' as well as other standout tracks like 'Peace & Rest,' 'Tell Me Why,' and 'Poor Man Cry.' Roots reggae enthusiasts take notice, this is a glimpse into a pivotal era of Jamaican music with true riddims and timeless harmonies.

Review: Originally released in 1981 on the Clocktower label, this killer compilation does a fine job of harnessing the raw magic of Lee "Scratch" Perry's legendary Black Ark era. Although the sounds are mostly drawn from mid-70s sessions, it also features two standout early cuts from the late 60s, namely Perry's gritty versions of 'Tighten Up' and 'Serious Joke'. Elsewhere, highlights include Johnny Lover's deep DJ take over Devon Irons' 'When Jah Come' and the rootsy energy of Ricky and Bunny's 'Bush Weed Corn Trash.' This reissue is a crucial document of Perry's genre-defining production, masterful take on vintage dub, toasting and spiritual reggae heat.

Review: Since launching late last year, Harlem Shuffle Records has reissued a string of killer reggae recordings from the 1960s and 70's. Here the imprint offers up its first compilation, a 14-track selection of early reggae, dub and rocksteady hand-picked from the vaults of such legendary labels as Black Swan, Blue Cat, Duke, Doctor Bird, High Note and Trojan. It's a fine and hugely entertaining collection all told, with highlights including the easy, laidback skank of Stranger & Patsy's 'Tell it to Me', the trumpet-laden instrumental shuffle of 'Walk With Des' by Des All Stars, the Hammond-powered dancefloor heaviness of Clancy Collins' 'Brother Moses' and the prototype dub brilliance of 'Black Out' by the Hardy Boys.

Review: The latest collection from the mighty Soul Jazz draws together a myriad of different styles favoured by black British sound systems, not only reflecting the roots of different communities reaching these shores but also the UK twist that that music has received as result. Reggae forms the backbone of the collection, from the blissful consciousness of Pebbles' 'Positive Vibrations' to the more protest-orientated Brown Sugar's 'Black Pride' and Tabby Cat Kelly's 'Don't Call Us Immigrants'. But the presence of Shut Up & Dance, Ragga Twins, Ray Keith aka The Terrorist and Digital Mystikz helps show the uniquely British areas into which sound system culture evolved - rave, breakbeat, jungle and dubstep.

Review: A true staple of the Soul Jazz compilation canon, Studio One Rockers originally came out in 2001 and has remained an authoritative overview of the Studio One sound ever since. As one of the major powerhouses of Jamaica's music industry during those heady years of ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall, Studio One's legacy deserves acknowledgement from anyone with even a passing interest in the music. This collection takes in legends like Horace Andy, Dawn Penn, Johnny Osbourne and Jackie Mittoo, and shines a light on many other iconic artists with that perfect balance of broad appeal and deep-rooted knowledge that Soul Jazz nail when they pull a collection together.

Review: Soul Jazz have done it again with the Space Age Dub Special, compiling a selection of dub bits from the legendary Studio One label and its head honcho Clement "Coxsone" Dodd (Dub Specialist). One of the best producers and facilitators in the game, this comp is chock-full of the patented box delays and makeshift tinkerings that made Coxsone particularly famous in his day. Homing in on a space-age theme, one can expect an extra out-of-this-world FX palette here, with snippets of the original tracks' vocal channels phased in and out of their thoroughly effected instrumentals - like eclipsed satellites in orbit.

Review: This legendary compilation from Soul Jazz has seen many iterations, but now it comes out in its most comprehensive glory to date, with versions on vinyl, CD and cassette in tow this January 2023. Charting the very best and funkiest tracks from the revered reggae musical imprint known as Studio One, greats from Jackie Mitto (covering Booker T & The MGs' 'Hang Em High'), Soul Bros (reinterpreting the James Bond theme tune, '007') and Alton Ellis (with the snappy reggae cut 'It's A Shame') render this a highbrow compilation of rare soundtrack cuts, originals and classics.

Review: Barely a week goes by without another Soul Jazz compilation, and never are they anything else than superb. This time out we're cerated to another collection of tunes from Kingston's seminal Studio One, but rather than the straight up reggae we're used to, it is more of a melting pot of funk, soul, jazz and dub. All of these tunes were written in the 1970s under the watchful eye of studio chief and producer Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd and there is a wealth of deep, sunny, funk cuts that have more than stood the test of time.

Review: 'Reggae disco' might not be a very well-known style, but Soul Jazz are hardly intimidated by any sense of obscurity, especially when it comes to a fusion between their two most prized genres. Homing in on reggae disco versions of funk, soul and disco classics, this curt but precious compilation features reggae covers of classics by Michael Jackon, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Candi Staton, with coverers including Risco Connection and the Crashers.

Review: Reissued almost ten years on from its first appearance, Soul Jazz's Rastafari compilation resurfaces once more. Famed for its recognition of the religion's influence on the emergence of dub and reggae in the early 1950s through to the 80s, this compilation proves Rastafari's influence and core ideas as inexorable from its sonic expression. Chief among reggae's pioneering players is Oswald Williams, aka. Count Ossie, whose influence is heard here is a sort of orthopaedic sonic stem from which all offshoots follow. Ossie's many posthumous contributions to this compilation, largely with The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, laid the foundations of reggae as we know it, and are charted from his various nyabinghi chants and drum workouts, and come peppered by those of his sono-spiritual antecedents - the likes of Mutabaruka, Rod Taylor and Bongo Herman.

Review: Studio One Power Mix! is a vibrant and essential compilation from Soul Jazz Records that dives deep into the influential sounds of reggae, ska, rocksteady and more, focusing on the late 1970s, 1980s and beyond. This collection captures the essence of Studio One, the legendary Jamaican label founded by Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, which has been at the forefront of every major development in reggae music since the 1960s. By the late 1970s, Studio One had already established itself as the undisputed leader in the genre, nurturing the careers of icons like Bob Marley & The Wailers, Marcia Griffiths, The Skatalites, and Dennis Brown. During this period, long-standing artists such as Alton Ellis and Jackie Mittoo returned to the label, producing some of their most creatively fulfilling work. Meanwhile, new talents like Sugar Minott, Johnny Osbourne, and Freddie McGregor propelled Studio One into the dancehall era, pushing musical boundaries while honoring the label's roots. The compilation features a dynamic range of tracks that celebrate this golden era, from classic hits to hidden gems. Each song reflects the creativity, innovation, and unmistakable groove that have made Studio One a cornerstone of reggae history. Whether you're a seasoned reggae enthusiast or new to the genre, Studio One Power Mix! offers a great tracklist through the evolution of Jamaican music, celebrating the enduring legacy of one of its most influential labels.

Review: Soul Jazz returns with another of its supremely assembled and vital compilations, and this one focuses on reggae. Down Beat Special offers a thrilling journey through timeless hits carefully selected from Jamaica's revered Studio One Records, the epitome of reggae excellence. From Michigan and Smiley's 'Nice Up The Dance' to Dawn Penn's 'No, No, No' and The Wailers' 'Simmer Down,' this collection pulsates with iconic tracks. Originally a limited edition 7" box set, this remastered edition boasts 18 rare gems, including works by The Skatalites, Bob Marley, and Horace Andy.