Echo Minott - I Am Back 7'' [1988 Jammys Original Pressing]

Wicked one away cut by Echo that doesn't appear on any of his LP's. In fact don't think this riddim appeared anywhere else, though King Kong has claimed that he (and a few others) voiced tracks over this riddim but were never ultimately released. One of those artists, by the way, was Wayne Smith, who just passed away a few weeks ago RIP! This tune here appears originally on 7'' for Jammys, 12'' for Live And Love, and repressed by Dub Store (slightly different mix).

I Told You I'd Be Back!

Singing Melody - Giving You Up 7'' [199x Two Friends Original Pressing]

Melody was one of those singers whose style was perfectly matched for Two Friends productions, characterized by upbeat, dark, and pop sounding riddims. This is a great example of their material at its best. Much like Little Kirk, Melody started as a strictly dancehall singer, but later in his career became more of a sappy/commercial r&b artist. Regardless, he had some tunes (like this one) that are definitely worth picking up! For example, check out his duo with Mikey Melody (My Favorite Lady), also on Two Friends.

Yagga

Sister P - Big Bout Ya 7'' [198x Black Beauty Original Pressing]

Early digi release on independent label best known for it's Delroy Melody singles. I don't know much about Sister P, as she did not release much, but she sounds like a Sister Nancy impersonator on this tune. There weren't many female deejays in the 80's, and unfortunately they did not have the most creative names either. Many of them went by Sister or Lady (sometimes interchangeably) something or another... so you have artists with names like Lady Patra, Lady  G, Lady Anne, Sister Charmaine, etc. This makes it hard to distinguish some artists, so Sister P could perhaps have changed her name later to Lady P (see clash video below... not my clip). When it comes to female digi deejays though, I think Junie Ranks had to be my fave!

Come Down

Check out this classic clash vid from Sting '89!

Tony Tuff - Careless People 7'' [1988 Redman International Original Pressing]

A classic fast paced tune by og singer Tony Tuff. Kind of sounds like a faster/darker version of Koloko riddim pioneered by Hugh James. In this tune, Tuff criticizes the loafters with no skills and manners that can't even do simple tasks like washing, cooking, cleaning... and nicing up the scene! This 7'' was later repressed by Japanese based Dub Store, who did a series on the Redman label to bring to light some incredibly hard to find digi killers from the golden years. 

Rigggght Hurrr

Frankie Paul and Papa San - Buck Wild 7'' [198x Super Power Original Pressing]

Can't quite place the riddim on this release but it has a old school James Bond 007 theme feel to it. Originally released on Black Scorpio label and 30 Headley Ave (Scorpio subsidiary) too. Not too many other tracks released on this riddim, though one stand out is Mikey Melody's Good Loving. Either way this is a nice (and wild!) duet by two classic dancehall dons. Version included here...

Wicked And Wild

Lukie D - Try Me 7'' [199x Chris Original Pressing]

A rumbling bass Tempo version from the mid 90's. Though Lukie D is probably better known for some of his crossover American style dancehall with Miami based rapper Uncle Luke's label, he had some big traditional dancehall tunes (like this one). Also check out his acapella collab with Frankie Paul and Axeman called My Sound Is The Answer on the Duke label. That is a much sought out and rare tune... and if anyone has a spare copy (unlikely!) that they are interested in trading/selling, please get at me.

Pruebame

Barry Spiritual, Neil Diamond, Major Black, and Little Rush - Coke A Nuh The Thing 7'' [199x Pills Posse Original Pressing]

This is just a bizarre release all around. We have 4 unknown deejays rapping about the dangers of cocaine on a label named after a different form of abusable substances (pills). Song also features snorting sounds and Shinehead inspired deliveries. Tune is based on Bruce Lee's Sounds Of The Africans 7'' on the Tagarus label (yard deejay, not the martial arts legend). Overall though still an enjoyable song that rode the anti-drug wave of conscious dancehall in the late 80's-early 90's. Unlike some other similar releases at the time though, this one also lumps ganja in with the plethora of evil substances... which goes to show the disconnect between the later dancehall generations and the 70's based Rastafarian/Roots sound that preceded it.

Parro Di Perrico

Daddy Screw - Original Dimbo Bucket 7'' [199x Magic Sword Original Pressing]

Sometimes I simply do not understand where JA slang comes from... for example how a "dimbo bucket" translates as a stuck up, lazy woman. As demeaning as that sounds, this song actually is promoting that non dimbo bucket women should be proud of themselves. Anyway, Screw (not to be confused with deejay Jah Screw of Time One label) rides a nice Duck riddim, which I'm not normally a fan of but it works out here. Digging the label art here too. Big up-

Quack!