Dub Disco

Continuing with yesterday's extended 12" tip, here's seven songs stretched out into discomixes and dub excursions by some of the finest producers ever to step on this planet.

I'd love to say that my shelves are crammed with well-loved and oft-played reggae and dub 12" vinyl. Sadly, not the case. Thankfully, so much has been released on CD and digitally in the last two or three decades that I've been able to regularly satisify my voracious appetite for the music and the artists and producers that created it.

 

Another hour long selection, the shortest version on here clocking in at eight and a half minutes, the longest just shy of nine and three quarters, all solid gold. And a reminder of when UB40 were really good.

 

I usually list the EP or album that the song originally appeared on. This time, I've listed the compilation that I first discovered the version on. Physical copies still out of print in many cases, but possibly slightly easier to track down...and afford.

 

Enjoy!

 

1) Prophecy (Discomix By Lloyd Coxsone): Fabian (1977)

2) Know Love (Discomix By Lee 'Scratch' Perry): The Twin Roots (1977)

3) Pure Ranking (Discomix By King Tubby): Horace Andy (1979)

4) Liberated Woman (Album Version By Mad Professor): Ranking Ann (1982)

5) Rasta Train (Discomix By Lee 'Scratch' Perry): Raphael Green & Dr. Alimantado (1977)

6) All I Can Say (Album Version By Bullwackie): Love Joys (1983)

7) The Earth Dies Screaming (12" Version By Ray 'Pablo' Falconer): UB40 (1980)

 

1982: A Slice Of English Toast: 4 

1983: Lovers Rock Reggae Style: 6

1997: Good Vibes: 3 

2005: Trojan Roots & Culture Box Set: 5

2012: Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Friends: Disco Devil: The Jamaican Discomixes: 2 

2014: 12"/80s New Wave: 7

2015: Island Records Presents Reggae Discomixes: 22 Essential Extended Mixes: 1

Dub Disco (1:02:00) (KF) (Mega)

Lovers Rock

Inspired by watching Steve McQueen's Lovers Rock (finally!) and loved up following the recent brace of excellent love-themed mixes over at The Vinyl Villain from Jez* and JC himself, today's selection features a groovy kind of love (though thankfully no Phil Collins).

 

Mrs. K & I have made a very belated visit to Steve McQueen's Small Axe series of films, originally premiered on BBC One in late 2020. No excuse for leaving it so long, really, as they are an absolute joy in film-making and storytelling, with an excellent cast. Lovers Rock is the second of five films and both have been essential viewing so far.

Despite a deep love of reggae and dub, I cannot pretend to be an expert in any way, but I'm reasonably confident that the lovers rock label legitimately applies to all of today's featured artists. Some - Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Pat Kelly - I have loved for a long, long time. Others have been more recent discoveries, several via Mojo magazine's "How To Buy...Lovers Rock" - Jean Adebambo, Vivian Weathers, Jimmy Lindsay, 15 16 17, Candy McKenzie and Love Joys. All are an aural delight for the ears, with sweet vocals complemented by rocksteady rhythms and joyous basslines.

 

Apologies for pops, crackles and skips on some songs. No apologies for the sheer quality of the tunes.

1) Lovers Rock JA. Style: Freddie McGregor (1981)

2) Breakfast In Bed (Cover of Dusty Springfield): Candy McKenzie (1977)

3) Sweet, Bitter Love (Album Version By Lloyd Charmers): Marcia Griffiths (1974) 

4) Stoned In Love (Cover of 'I'm Stone In Love With You' by The Stylistics): Pat Kelly (1979)

5) Black Pride: Brown Sugar (1977)

6) Money In My Pocket (Pt.1) (Single Version By Joe Gibbs): Dennis Brown (1979)

7) Let Me Rock You Now (12" Version By Lloyd Barnes): Love Joys (1982)

8) Steal Away Girl: Sugar Minott (1980)

9) No, You Don't Know (Album Version): Carroll Thompson (1981)

10) Caught You In A Lie / Pt. 2 Caught Dubbing (12" Version By Sir Coxsone): Louisa Mark (1975)

11) Black Skin Boys: 15 16 17 (1977)

12) The Way You Walk: Vivian Weathers (1978)

13) Something's On My Mind (Album Version By Tad A. Dawkins & Sylvan Morris): Horace Andy (1980)

14) Something Nice: Gregory Isaacs (1975)

15) Look At Me, I'm In Love: Sylvia Tella (1981)

16) Pipe Dreams (Album Version By Desmond Lyken): Jean Adebambo (1983)

17) Love Was Never Meant For Me: Jimmy Lindsay (1979)

18) Silly Games (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): Janet Kay (1982)

 

Lovers Rock (1:07:23) (GD) (M) 

 

* Jez is also responsible for A History Of Dubious Taste, another of my regular, essential reads when exploring the blogosphere.