Scientist - Scientist Encounters Pac Man (1982)

"One of two fine LPs Scientist cut from Linval Thompson rhythms -- the other is the even more impressive Scientist Meets the Space Invaders -- Scientist Encounters Pac Man finds the onetime King Tubby protégé forging his patented minimal sound, a landscape resplendent with steely piano, depth-charge drums, and futuristic dub effects. Scientist also delivers one of his most progressive mixes here, deconstructing the originals down to their skeletal base and adding just the right amount of mixing board-generated Echoplex and reverb. And helping out considerably with the heady proceedings, the early dancehall period's greatest band, the Roots Radics, lay down the brutal rhythms and subtle keyboard and guitar interjections. Plus, one gets another of artist Tony McDermott's spectacular comic-book covers, this time depicting all of the studio Svengali's horror-movie nemeses from album jackets past (vampires, zombies, Frankenstein, those space invaders, and now the computer game's star of the day, Pac Man). A mind-warping yet eminently enjoyable way to check into dub central."

---------- Review by Stephen Cook

Tracklist:

"Under Surveillance" – 2:56
"Prince's Wrath" – 3:08
"Space Invaders Re-Group" – 3:18
"World Cup Squad Lick Their Wounds" – 3:58
"Vampire Initiative" – 3:08
"Malicious Intent" – 3:41
"The Dark Secret of the Box" – 3:47
"S.O.S." – 3:31
"Man-Trap" – 3:01
"Look Out – Behind You!" – 2:33

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Various Artists - Rough Guide To Reggae (World Music Network) (1997)

The Rough Guide to Reggae was released in 1997 as part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the album gives broad coverage to the reggae genre originating in Jamaica. The album was curated by Steve Barrow, who also wrote the namesake book, and later compiled The Rough Guide to Dub (which will be uploaded at a later date....). Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer.

"The Rough Guide to Reggae is a stellar introduction to the music, though lacking a song by Bob Marley is a serious oversight (or perhaps, a statement about the importance of reggae's most famous figure). The artists who are included are some of the best, though, including Toots & the Maytals, Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Burning Spear, the Congos, Aswad, Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton and Lucky Dube." 

------ Review By Keith Farley

Tracklist:

1. "Broadway Jungle" - The Maytals (as 'The Flames') (2:50)
2. "Chinatown" - Don Drummond & The Skatalites (2:34)
3. "The Tide Is High" - The Paragons (2:45)
4. "Rivers of Babylon" - The Melodians (4:15)
5. "Too Late" - Augustus Pablo (3:16)
6. "Great Stone" - King Tubby & Soul Syndicate (3:10)
7. "Conquering Lion" - Yabby You & The Prophets (3:28)
8. "Slavery Days" - Burning Spear (3:25)
9. "Fisherman" - The Congos (6:03)
10. "Warrior Charge" - Aswad (5:48)
11. "Rough Neck" - Gregory Isaacs (6:53)
12. "This a Lover's Corner" - General Echo (4:47)
13. "Entertainment" - Triston Palmer (3:34)
14. "Cockney Translation" - Smiley Culture (3:10)
15. "We Can Work It Out" - Janet-Lee Davis & Peter Hunnigale (3:50)
16. "Living Dangerously" - Barrington Levy & Bounty Killer (3:30)
17. "Untold Stories" - Buju Banton (4:34)
18. "Slave" - Lucky Dube (4:06)

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Dr. Alimantado - Best Dressed Chicken In Town (1978)

"Best Dressed Chicken in Town" is the debut album by Jamaican deejay Dr. Alimantado. It was first released in 1978, and collects many of his self-produced singles from 1972 to 1977, and employs the sound engineering talents of Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, and Scientist. It was the first album released by Greensleeves Records, and gained a cult following within both the reggae and punk rock communities in the UK at the time. (Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols fame announced it to be one of his favourite reggae albums....)

The album employed several major hits as the basis for the tracks, including Horace Andy's versions of "Ain't No Sunshine". The album was described by The Independent as "one of the finest albums from reggae's golden age". There have been a number of re issues of this album over the years, this is a rip of the original album from the vinyl, which lends a lot to the authentic feel when listening to it.

"One-of-a-kind Jamaican DJ Dr. Alimantado found unexpected fame with U.K. punks after Johnny Rotten bestowed his blessings. The hoopla was certainly warranted based on the high quality of his mid-'70s sides, several of which are included on Best Dressed Chicken in Town. Handling production chores himself, Alimantado enlisted top reggae engineers and producers like Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, and Scientist to add their own alchemy to the mix. The dub-inflected tracks and Alimantado's idiosyncratic musings prove a potent combination, especially on standouts like "Poison Flower" (a version of a Horace Andy vocal), the Rasta vengeance number "I Killed the Barber," and the comically over-the-top title cut. Other highlights include the bubbly "Unitone Skank," as well as the album's two instrumentals: a predictably bizarre and brilliant Scratch mix, "I Am the Greatest Says Muhammed Ali," and the Duke Reid homage "Tribute to Duke" (based on Slim Smith's incredible rendition of the Billy Stewart soul gem "Sitting in the Park"). Completing this very enjoyable disc are sampled vocals by Gregory Isaacs and Jackie Edwards, the musical contributions of great Kingston studio outfits like the Aggrovators, and, finally, the tableau-like cover photo of Alimantado walking the sunny streets of downtown Kingston. Along with other unique dub and DJ titles like Mikey Dread's African Anthem, Best Dressed Chicken in Town is a must for reggae enthusiasts"

---------------- Review by Stephen Cook 

Tracklist:

1. "Best Dressed Chicken in Town" engineer - Upsetter
2. "Just The Other Day" vocals - Droopy; engineer - King Tubby
3. "Poison Flour" vocals - Horace Andy; engineer - Philip Smart
4. "Gimmie Mi Gun" vocals - Gregory Isaacs; engineer - Lancelot "Maxie" McKenzie
5. "I Killed The Barber" vocals - Jackie Edwards; engineer - Philip Smart
6. "Unitone Skank" vocals - Gregory Isaacs; engineer - Pat Kelly
7. "Can't Conquer Natty Dreadlocks" engineer - Upsetter
8. "Ride On" vocals - Jah Woosh, Jimmy Radwell; engineer - Upsetter
9. "Plead I Cause" engineer - King Tubby
10. "I Shall Fear No Evil" engineer - Philip Smart

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The Ragga Twins - Step Out! (2008)

The Ragga Twins are the link between UK dancehall reggae, jungle and hip-hop. This is a retrospective of their classic (and now very rare) early tracks produced by Shut Up and Dance at the start of the 1990s.

The Ragga Twins (alongside producers PJ and Smiley, AKA Shut Up and Dance) revolutionised UK dance music at the start of the 1990s bringing Reggae and Hip-Hop styles together to create Jungle. As drum and bass approaches its 20th anniversary and as new developments such as Grime, UK Garage - and most recently Dubstep – create artists and producers who continue to cite Jungle as a pivotal moment in the UKs musical history, Ragga Twins Step Out, chronicles one of the most important groups of this time. The Ragga Twins (Deman Rockers and Flinty Badman) began their careers as MCs for North London’s legendary Unity reggae sound system. The Ragga Twins were born after Shut up and Dance sampled the pair’s introduction on a dancehall mix-tape and then offered them a deal. At the height of rave culture, The Ragga Twins found themselves playing at raves up and down the country. With one album (Reggae Owes Me Money) and a steady stream of killer singles over the next couple of years the Ragga Twins’ musical blueprint of basslines, breakbeats and ragga defined Jungle music in the years to come.

As well as a serious overview of The Ragga Twins tracks with Shut Up and Dance, this album also features the super-rare bonus tracks “Iron Lady” and “Hard Drugs”, dating back to their pre-Ragga Twins, Dancehall days with the Unity Soundsystem. The album comes with extensive sleeve-notes, photographs and interviews. Essential!

“Relive the early-90s Reggae-Rave Soundclash. High speed dancehall chat, tough breakbeats and dub-reggae spliced together to still-exhillarating effect” Q

“Before dubstep and grime there was drum ‘n’ bass, before that there was jungle and before that The Ragga Twins. A brilliant retrospective.” Guardian

Tracklist:

1. Ragga Trip
2. Illegal Gunshot
3. Spliffhead (Remix)
4. Love Talk
5. The Homeless Problem
6. Rudeboy
7. 18" Speaker
8. Tan So Back
9. Bring Up The Mic Some More
10. Juggling
11. Spliffhead (Original)
12. Hard Drugs
13. Shine Eye
14. Wipe The Needle
15. Iron Lady
16. Good Times
17. The Truth
18. Hooligan 69 Remix
19. Paro 69

Download Link - Mediafire

Trojan Calypso Box Set

This collection of music is some of my favourite tunes going. Calypso music originated in Trinidad. It's roots lay in the arrival of African slaves who were not allowed to communicate with speech and instead used song. With the change in colonial masters, the music evolved, influenced by French, Spanish and British music. The music became popular worldwide in the late 30's with the emergence of calypsonians such as Roaring Lion, Lord Invader and followed by others such as Lord Kitchener (who continued to release music up until his death in 2000).

Calypso became extremely popular in the 1950's despite some of the most popular songs being harshly critical of emerging social problems in a similar fashion to how in it's earlier incarnations it had  articulated itself as a form of protest against the colonial culture which had existed at the time.

This collection comes under criticism because it includes so much Jamaican calypso. However it does highlight even with this said how much Jamaican calypso was around at the time. This Jamaican calypso itself forms the basis for the contention whether reggae music is itself rooted in Trinidadian calypso. That said however there are a number of major Trinidadian calypsonians included such as Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow, Invader. And it is a brilliant collection, very enjoyable to listen to whether as background music or at a party or even to be enjoyed in it's own right.

The question of 'authentic' sound aside. I have yet to meet a person who likes reggae in any way that didn't wholeheartedly enjoy this collection. It is definitive sunny day music.

Tracklist:

CD1

1. The Weed (AKA Man Pyabba) - Count Lasher
2. Love In The Cemetery - Lord Kitchener
3. Big Bamboo - Lord Creator
4. Jamaica Is The Place To Go - Charlie Binger & His Quartet
5. Get Me To The Church On Time - Tommy McCook
6. The Valet - Nora Dean
7. Woman A Love In The Night Time - Lord Spoon & David
8. Do Re Mi - The Mighty Vikings
9. Skillamy - Aston & Yen
10. Nice Time - Phyllis Dillon
11. In The Park - Count Alert
12. Our Time Fe Celebrate - Derrick Harriott
13. Great '68 - Marva Moore & The Gaysters
14. Bam Bam - The Maytals
15. Bam Bam - Count Lasher
16. Jamaica Woman - Lord Kitchener
17. Savito - The Undergrounds

CD2

1. Neighbour, Neighbour - Lord Kitchener
2. Must Get A Man - Nora Dean
3. 'Mufridite - Count Lasher
4. Country Gal - Charlie Binger & His Quartet
5. Paint Up, Clean Up Time - Lord Creator
6. The World On A Wheel - Lord Spoon & David
7. Happy Times - Derrick Harriott
8. Hard Time - Count Alert
9. Reggae Merengue - Tommy McCook
10. Dumb Boy & The Parrot - Lord Cristo
11. Village Ram - Mighty Sparrow
12. Teacher Teacher - Mighty Dougla
13. The Sausage - Baldhead Growler
14. Muhammad Ali - Mister Calypson
15. Undemocratic Rhodesia - Sampson The Lark
16. Kitch You're So Sweet - Lord Kitchener
17. A Dash Of The Sunshine - Lord Tanamo

CD3

1. Calypso War - The Mighty Terror & His Calypsonians
2. Me One Alone - Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys
3. The Water Gobbler - Lord Ivanhoe & His Caribbean Knights
4. Not Me (aka Man Woman, Woman Smarter) - Ben Bowers
5. Brownskin Girl - The Mighty Terror & His Calypsonians
6. You Don't Need Glasses To See - Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys
7. Belinda - Lord Ivanhoe & His Caribbean Knights
8. Heading North - The Mighty Terror & His Calypsonians
9. I'm Going Back To Africa - Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys
10. Africa, Here I Come - Lord Ivanhoe & His Caribbean Knights
11. Little Jeannie - The Mighty Terror & His Calypsonians
12. Naughty Little Flea - Ben Bowers
13. Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar - Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys
14. Lift The Iron Curtain - Lord Ivanhoe & His Caribbean Knights
15. T.V. Calypso - The Mighty Terror & His Calypsonians
16. Teddy Boy Calypso (Bring Back The Cat-o-Nine) - Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys





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