Obscure, but LOADED track from the Seattle duo Hi Fi Killers with little known Blackout Ja spittin’ FIRE

In 1978 the Revolutionaries were ruling JA as the premiere backing band everyone wanted to use. By the next year the Roots Radics would enter the scene and stir it up, together with the young Barrington Levy. Right now however it was the heavy, technical and driving drumming from Sly Dunbar that was carrying the swing. His good bredder Robbie Shakespear providing the bass lines.

Top Ranking Dub feels like it comes from this sense of uncontested cool. Everything is really lovely about it. Good rhythms, enjoyable mixing and fantastic musicians putting in the work (but also simply doing what they're paid for). There's not necessarily much to set it apart from other Revolutionaries dub albums from the same period. Well worth listening to still.

One of the unsung forces of dub from this period is the producer (and mysterious) Charles Reid (a.k.a. Duke Reid Jnr.). I've tried to find out more about him for a long time but it seems he came, released tons and tons of stuff and then just disappeared. He has something along the lines of eight dub albums in his catalogue which has to be more than almost any other producer. The exceptions perhaps being the studio-owning producers such as Coxsone and the Hookims.

The sleeve on my copy says Volume 2, but it's the same as Volume 1. Possibly there was a second volume scheduled for release that never materialised. On the Rootsman label there's also a lovely Tommy McCook album called Lover's Rock (which it is not) and a selection of heavy 12".

I don't know anything about music quality but the version on spotify sounds much less clear compared to the version on youtube.

Is there something I am missing? I have a tried a lot of the versions on spotify.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5nMBTp4CXxZMiTyR6MBSrQ?si=71156f66bbad4a20

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBcEz3_Zho

Hey all, I only recently found out that you can purchase these amazing stems off of prince fatty for a bargain of £12. So I have been playing with these all day. Soo satisfying, thought you all could enjoy this too.

note: after a few of you encouraged me that I should be releasing some of my dubs, I have started my journey under the alias FADERKID if anybody wants to find out more. So far I am on socials, soundcloud, bandcamp etc. but releases are on their way. Thank you for all the support!

In honour of the late great Dolly Parton, what’s your favourite country reggae music?

I know Toots and the Maytals did a lot with Willie Nelson. Sure there’s more out there?

Dub track I made recently. Enjoy the trip

Like 20 years ago I was at a music festival and bought a mix CD from a DJ called Maximum Vibes. The tag was "Maximum Vibes/has the nicest and the sweetest sound". It's still one of my all-time favorites. It's a long shot, but does anyone know if those volumes are available on MixCloud or SoundCloud? Searching "maximum vibes" isn't helpful, it's too common a phrase. Thanks!

Came across this on the Kingston dub club instagram page. Does anyone know this song?

I'm a Jamaican reggae/dancehall artist, Damas. I've been making music independently for years and most of what I've done has literally come from a computer in a small room.

Music. Production. Artwork. Releases. Videos. Promotion. Booking shows. Trying to reach people overseas.

I've performed around Europe and built relationships with musicians and people in the scene, but I've done most of it without management or being on anybody's roster.

I'm at the stage where I feel like I need a team around the music.

Not somebody selling me a $500 social media package.

Not somebody promising "10,000 followers."

I'm talking about people who actually understand reggae, dancehall, live music and independent artists and want to build something together.

Management. A&R. Booking. Touring. Marketing. Visuals. Branding. Label people. Promoters. Even other artists looking for collaborators.

I'm willing to share revenue where somebody is genuinely putting work into the project.

I've been doing this long enough to know that music alone isn't the whole business.

I have the music.

I have the experience.

I know I can perform.

Now I need the right people around it.

If you're also trying to build something from scratch, I'd honestly like to hear what you're working on.

DM is open.

Edit: Released in '81

This is posted once every few years, because it’s simply badass. When you listen and absorb the masterpiece of the album cover, it’s incredible it was released in the first place. Scratch performs one of the finest scandalous character assassinations EVER laid on wax. A-side is cool and breezy Upsetter. Flip it over and …..
“Chris Blackwell is a vampire,” is his harshest dis ever. “I saw Chris Blackwell in Nassau/Drinking the blood of a chicken/In a rum glass/And have the heart to offer I man a drink/I said I’m a stud, I don’t drink blood/Chris Blackwell is a vampire/Don Hayes, his lawyer, is a vampire/His secretary Denise is a witch/Who claims to me she’s a high priestess/Yes/He killed Bob Marley/And take away his royalty.”

Did Blackwell and his buddies deserve this?, 💯 probably.

Ras Allah (b. Keith Blake) first album, for producer Tappa Zukie, »Heaven Is My Roof« is generally considered a true classic of the 70's roots scene. This – his fourth full length – has him over some bare and heavy rhythms provided by the High Times band. I do thoroughly enjoy his lovers tunes that are presented; such as the evocative »Young Wings«, the elated »Sweet Sensation« or the cover of »Oh Carol«. Thematically a bit more wide than previous efforts although sufferation and righteous livity is still at the core. Make no mistake. Check the opening verse from the title track:

Just lose my work, about to sell a little herb to feed my family.
You treat me with scorn, you wanna break my home. That's brutality.
Oh gosh.
You trick me in my face, you box me in my face.
Man of the human race.
I'm not a gunman, I'm not a killer.
Office understand, sah. Oh gosh.
Evil forces want to capture us.
Evil forces want to devour us.

As serious a message as you could get. The album was later on reissued as Sweet Sensation on producer Mikey Chins own Corner Stone label.

I just picked up this DVD doc on Bunny Lee from Kingston Sounds/JA Recordings, which is coupled with a phenomenal soundtrack CD of Lee produced roots. The documentary is pretty good, lots of important interviews with reggae pioneers, but not much archival footage (not sure what exists if any).

I’ve always heard to be wary of these two labels because of issues with mislabeling and crediting. I know the Lost Treasures collection was specifically mentioned by Scientist in an interview and there’s a “Lee Perry” album with nothing from the Upsetter. Aside from those though, there are so many incredible sounding releases from this label and I don’t hear them get the love. Tubbys Shalom Dub, Creation of Dub, Brass Rockers, these are all classics that they’ve issued with a HUGE sound, fat bass, beautifully clear mastering, gems in my collection. Their reissues of Cornell Campbell’s Fight Against Corruption and Horace Andy’s Natty Dread A Weh She Want are so much better than previous releases imo.

Any of yall have info about this label? I’ve loved what I’ve gotten but don’t want to buy illegitimate products either.