Reggae - Radiation Roots

Donaldson, Eric : Eric donaldson

Trinity : Dreadlock satisfaction

Dennis Alcapone : Investigator rock

Jah Stitch : Watch your step youthma

Wilson, Delroy : Worth your weight in gold

Big Joe : At the control

Reissue of second album by Big Joe (born Joseph Spalding in 1955), Jamaican reggae deejay and record producer, who recorded extensively in the 1970s and early 1980s. This is the follow up to 'Keep Rocking And Swinging,' released on Live & Love in 1978 and produced by Bunny Lee. A must for all the reggae and dub fanatics.

Brown, Barry : Stand firm

One of a handful of singers that straddled the divide between the late roots phase and the emerging dancehall style, Barry Brown was gifted with a distinctive high tenor that rendered his voice immediately recognisable, making a lasting impression whenever heard. His lyrics had wit, grit, and feeling, since he often spoke of the harsh realities of Jamaican ghetto life, and equally addressed the aspirations of its inhabitants and the good times they enjoyed, frequently emphasising the irresistible pull of a sound system dance in his recorded work.Originally released in the early '80s.

Brown, Dennis : Love is so true

One of the greatest reggae singers of all time, Dennis Brown made an incredible impact during a career that spanned four decades, his reign cut short by his tragically early death from a collapsed lung in 1999, aged just 42. First released in 1995 under the title 'Take A Stand' and also known as 'Temperature Is Rising,' the album 'Love Is So True' was expertly produced by Anthony Dehaney, alias Bunny Gemini, at the Record Factory studios in Kingston, then home to some of the better dancehall being cut in Jamaica. Along with saxophonist/arranger Dean Fraser and the Fire House Crew and "Rhythm Twins" Sly and Robbie, the featured musicians include the stalwart keyboardist Ansel Collins of 'Double Barrel' and 'Stalag' fame, guitarist Lascelles Beckford and bassist Danny "Axe Man" Thompson of the Gifted Roots band, trumpeter David Madden of Zap Pow, and keyboardist Dennis "Jah D" Fearon. The keen musicianship brought forth by these players helped coax the best out of Brown on songs such as 'Never Let Your Heart Be Troubled,' which rides a tough re-cut of the 'Full Up' rhythm, and 'Temperature Is Rising,' on a durable re-cut of the 'Far East'/'Jah Shakey' rhythm; 'A Little Respect' makes use of a bouncing update of 'Pressure And Slide,' the meditative 'Sea Shore' is on a great dancehall cut of 'Real Rock' and the anti-rude boy 'Gangster' is voiced on a beautiful dancehall interpretation of 'Freedom Blues.' There's even a dancehall take of the Beatles' 'You Won't See Me,' delivered as only Dennis Brown can, as well as a likeable re-make of Dennis' own 'Have You Ever.'

Clarke, Johnny : Wondering

Johnny Clarke ruled the dancehall in the mid '70s, using the clever "Flyers Rhythms" that gave some of his tunes an edge with the sound systems. But his voice was always bigger than this and his versatility to sing a wide range of vocal styles has seen him cut through the decades as one of reggae's best voices. Produced by Bunny Lee, mixed at King Tubby's studio, an absolute reggae/roots classic.SIDE 1:1. Walk The Street2. Wondering3. Build My World4. Love Me With All Your Heart5. You Are No GoodSIDE 2:1. Feel So Good2. Let The Good Times Roll3. Young Lovers4. Music Field5. Over & Over Again

Early B : Immortal

During the early 1980s, stylistic dancehall toaster Earlando Neil became Early B chatting on the sound systems Soul Imperial Hi-Fi and King Majesty, consolidating his reputation on the mighty Kilimanjaro. Scoring many hits before his untimely death in 1994, the posthumous compilation 'Immortal' was compiled by Ossie Thomas, the producer of some of Early B's greatest work; highlights include the smash hit 'Gateman Get Fraid,' the desultory 'Imitator,' the sadly prescient 'If You A Coward Leave Out Badness' and the salutary 'Honourable Nesta Marley.' Highlighting Early B's lyrical prowess, 'Immortal' lives up to its title for sure.SIDE 1:1. Imitator2. Gateman Get Fraid3. What A Drive4. If You Coward Leave Out The Badness5. No Funny Trick6. Africa Must Be FreeSIDE 2:1. Conscious Dread2. Money Man3. A-Class Dejay4. Circle Jamaica5. Poorer Class Want Mass6. Ready Fe You7. The Doctor Ready Fe Them

Holt, John : Peacemaker

John Holt began his career in ska, came to prominence in the Paragons in rock steady and achieved international breakthroughs as a solo roots crooner, remaining versatile in terms of approach and subject matter. 'Peacemaker' is an intriguing album of the mid-1990s, this time recorded between Jamaica and the UK with top-class musicians such as Sly and Robbie, Lindel Lewis and Steely of Steely and Clevie fame. With his voice entirely undiminished and a mixture of romance ballads and songs of social commentary, this is another fine collection that will delight all John Holt fans, as well as reggae heads who favour the sentimental.SIDE 1:1. Hey Love2. Hope We Get To Love In Time3. Hey World4. Lucy And Me Part 15. Lucy And Me Part 2SIDE 2:1. I'm Not Gonna Give You Up2. Peacemaker3. You Touch My Life4. Survival Time Part 15. Survival Time Part 2

Isaacs, Gregory : Maximum respect

A bona fide legend from the ghettos of western Kingston, Gregory Isaacs was a true reggae original whose voice is one of the greatest of the idiom. His ballads made him a favourite with the ladies, but Gregory addressed social issues with equal conviction, and tales of rude boy life were sung firsthand. 'Maximum Respect' is a digital killer from the early 1990s, cut for the pioneering sound system owner Count Shelley, the durable rhythms provided by Steelie and Clevie and the Firehouse Crew. With love ballads, reality tunes and songs praising the dancehall, Gregory covers all the bases and more. This is a must for all true Gregory fans!SIDE 1:1. Maximum Respect2. Promise To Be True3. Murder In The Dancehall4. The First One To Start5. In The Heart Of The CitySIDE 2:1. Me Nah Leggo2. Brother Don't Give Up3. No One Is To Blame4. She Is Not My Kind5. My Heart Is Bleeding

Jah Thomas : Dance hall connection

Deejay Jah Thomas was one of the creative figures making a dramatic impact on the Kingston sound system scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the rhythms he laid at Channel One studio with the Roots Radics helping to steer reggae towards the emerging dancehall style. Voicing and mixing his work at King Tubby's studio, typically with the young upstart engineer known as Scientist, Thomas got his start as a quick-witted deejay in the vibrant sound system scene of western Kingston, making his recording debut in 1976 with 'Midnight Rock,' a hit that became the name of his record label, once he shifted to producing his own work. 'Dance Hall Connection,' which first surfaced in 1983, is easily one of his best LPs, Thomas ably riding the rough Radics rhythms with style. The title track is a variant of the 'Boneman Connection' theme that references dancehall's grounding in sound system culture, 'Friday Night Jamboree' salutes the music's potent allure on a top cut of the 'Entertainment' rhythm, and 'Let Him In' implores the gateman to allow an impoverished dreadlocks into the dance; 'Nigger Skank' warns against wrongdoers, 'Joker Smoker' pokes fun at those who can't handle their herb, and 'Living In Jamaica' describes various aspects of lifestyle on the island. Elsewhere, Thomas enters boasting territory on 'Cool Profile,' disses combative women on 'Jealous,' recounts his girlfriend's dubious antics on 'Gal A Laugh' and implores another not to forget him once she emigrates. Flash it, Jah Thomas! This is musical murder!

Johnson, Anthony : Togetherness

Dynamic dancehall singer Anthony Johnson began his career in the mid-1970s, cutting a few sides for Channel One before he joined the group Mystic I who cut some great work for Lee Perry and Linval Thompson before disbanding, leading to the hit material Johnson cut for Jah Thomas as a solo singer. 'Togetherness' dates from 1993, when Johnson was long based in London, but his singing kills remained on par as in his heyday, the album a mix of ballads, pop adaptations and songs of dancehall appeal, the soave production values and one-off vocal style making it popular in Brazil and other territories. A lost gem, ripe for rediscovery!SIDE 1:1. She's Faced The Hardest Time2. Just To Be Close To You3. Original Roll Call4. External Fire5. GoodbyeSIDE 2:1. Suspicious Minds2. Sweet Inspiration3. If I Follow My Heart (Medley)4. Togetherness5. Swinging My Love (Medley)

Steely & Clevie : At the top

Jamaica's supreme rhythm builders during the 1980s and '90s, Steely and Clevie joined forces at King Jammy's in the aftermath of 'Sleng Teng,' with Clevie on drum machines and Steely on synths, to fashion countless hit rhythms for the rising stars of the dancehall movement. 'At The Top' aka 'Dubbist' was the first Steely and Cleevie dub album, an irresistible collection of tough digital dub workouts that strips bare the computerised wizardry at the duo's core. Collecting dubs cut at various studios, including King Jammy's and Tuff Gong, these killer dubs will delight all digital dancehall fans.