Augustus Pablo
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

Only Roots reissue this Classic Gregory Isaacs "Best Of" produced by Alvin "GG's" Ranglin and originally released in Jamaica in 1977. Hearing it now, it really does sound like GG got the best of Gregory whose voice on this selection of mainly original compositions is indeed sublime.

Released in 1979, self-financed by loans from friends and allies, Mandinka Dong - The Mandinke Dance - is the genesis of Touré Kunda, the cornerstone of the band’s unique sound, at the crossroads of Disco, Funk, Pop, Reggae, Portuguese, Guinean, Cuban, Zairean, Mandinke and Soninke music.

Easily one of the greatest roots reggae albums of all time, Soul Rebels resulted from the intensive partnership brokered by the group and maverick producer, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. It was the first Wailers ‘concept’ album, conceived as a long-player based on a rebellious theme, rather than a collection of isolated singles, and the presence of the Barrett Brothers in the rhythm section pointed the way for greater glories to come. The Wailers first formed as an unruly 5-piece in 1963, with Junior Braithwaite as lead singer and Beverley Kelso an early member, sometimes replaced by Cherry Green. During their long tenure at Studio One, Bob Marley gradually shifted to the lead vocal role and the robust core of Marley, Peter Tosh and Neville Livingston, aka Bunny Wailer, soon emerged as the mainstays of the group. Perry was involved with the Wailers at Studio One, using their talents for backing vocals on some of his solo work, but the partnership that yielded Soul Rebels was in an entirely different league. The title track, Tosh’s anguished 400 Years and Corner Stone are legendary for their intense power; It’s Alright set the template for the later Night Shift, My Cup was an individual barebones reading of James Brown’s I Guess I’ll Have To Cry Cry Cry, while the playful Try Me and No Water are suggestive odes. Tosh’s dejected No Sympathy and the spirited Soul Almighty are other winners and the Cloud 9 revamp Rebel’s Hop is another joy.