Tenor Saw - Come Me Just A Come 12'' [1987 Blue Mountain Original Pressing]

Ruff n tuff chune by the man named Saw! Tenor did not record for any single producer for very long, instead cutting singles for various labels during his short rise to fame. Some of his better known releases were compiled by Blue Mountain for his only LP, titled Fever (based on hit title track). However, most of those tunes can be found as 7'' and 12'' releases, as well as other tracks that for whatever reason never made it on to the LP. This is one of those non-LP tracks, and is just as deadly as ever! Can be found as a repress 12'' on Blue Mountain as well as Blue Trac labels. * I've included the version here too.

Pram Pram

Little John and Peter Metro - True Confession (?) / Tenor Saw - Roll Is Called 12'' [198x Powerhouse Original Pressing]

Double sided 12'' release in a disco stylee! First side has the title track from Little John's True Confession LP (Powerhouse, 1984) which was a massive hit when released. It is strangely mixed to include Peter Metro chatting about war and crime on the second half of this disco mix (I don't know the name of the Metro tune, or whether it was even released on it's own). The second side is the true killer though, with Saw listing a roll call of big names in the dancehall scene. This tune is included on the Fever LP (as Roll Call) and was even covered by the reggae/ska-cover band Sublime on their Jailhouse track. The mixing on this side is more appropriately done with the version haha.

Side 1

Side 2

Half Pint - She Is Mine 7'' [198x Mass Hugh Original Pressing]

Normally I'm not a big Half Pint, as his style was better suited to early 80's rub-a-dub dancehall instrumentals, and didn't adapt well to digital vibes. This release is an exception though, as he rides a tuff likkle digi riddim with his melodic lovers rock singing. Big up the Pint!

Full Quart

Scion Sashay Success - Genocide / Sister Carol - Mother Culture 7'' [199x San Salvage Original Pressing]

Really digging this bubbly double-sided 7'' on Scion's label, both tracks over the same Hot Milk riddim. Conscious lyrics as usual, with Scion preaching that the youthman study up his history, while Carol chats about respecting womankind!

*Interesting fact of the day: Scion Success is fairly short, and Sister Carol's favorite color is green...

Scion

Carol

Little John - Do Mama 7'' [198x Techniques Original Pressing]

Killer version of Revolution riddim by Winston Riley, with John chatting about his strict mother! As far as I know, the Techniques label's only other release on this riddim is a 7'' by Lieutenant Stitchie named Lover Boy.

Madre

Panhead and Yoruba - Hot Teaser 7'' [1993 Drum And Bass Original Pressing]

Nice likkle upbeat combo tune from two deejays, the late Panhead, and the unknown Yoruba. Riddim is a bit like Heavenless and is good example of the early 90's dancehall sound.

And Please Me...

Earl Sixteen - Cocaine / Junior Brammer (aka Trinity) - Know Your Friend 12'' [198x Kaya Original Pressing]

Early digi double sided 12'' featuring the same killer Swing Easy riddim on both sides. Thirty years later and these tunes seem so relevant still...

Side A

Side B

Copac (as Callie B) - Someone Knocking On My Door 7'' [198x Studio Quality Original Pressing]

Another lesser known release by Canadian singer Copac, who later changed his name to Callie B. He also released a hard to find self-titled LP on the Studio Quality label under this new name. This single alternates between sound killing and lovers rock in a strange but catchy way. Kind of reminiscent of the Soundboy 7'' on Mes Jam that I posted on the blog long ago (link is probably dead by now).

   

Ding Dong Ditch

Greetings to all massive by the way, long time fi see dis blog, I-man will try to improve upon that!


Echo Minott - Pickney Fe Mine 7'' [1986 Skengdon Original Pressing]

Heartical rootsy single here by controversial singer Echo. Also appears as last track on his Familiar Face LP.

Chavalito

Richie Stevens - Ruff All Around 7'' [1990 Jamaazima Original Pressing]

Blistering chune over the None Shall Escape Judgement riddim (Johnny Clarke, 1975) inna digi style. Sound boys shall not escape this clash!

Buf Baf

Judah Eskender Tafari - Live By The Gun 12'' [1994 Gussie P Original Pressing]

Deadly 12'' release by roots singer Tafari! Originally released on 12'', and repressed by Gussie as a 7'' later on. This is on Gussie's own label, which he started in the 90's (as well as Sip A Cup label) after producing for Fashion in the UK during the 80's. Two different mixes are on this release, with the dub on backside (I didn't include it here)... think I prefer the second mix personally.

Original Mix

Mix Two

Michael Palmer - Ready She No Ready 12'' [198x Witty Original Pressing]

Whitfield Henry started his US-based Witty label by releasing Jamaican tunes produced by Lloyd "King Jammy" James (and others) as 12'' records in the States. He quickly began producing his own material as well, from which he garnished his fame. Here's an example of an older release, the hot single off of Palmer's I'm So Attractive LP (Jammys, 1985). Mixed as disco style.

Not Ready Like Freddy

Robert Lee - Sound Boy 7'' [199x Record Factory Original Pressing]

Certain artists had favorite riddims that they often rode, establishing a certain type of sound and style for themselves. Lee obviously had a thing for the Tempo riddim, which might be why I'm a big fan of his... though his sound killing lyrics and smooth voice also help! Several different cuts of him singing over this riddim can be found on various LP's and a few as singles too.

Tempo-rature Rising!

Leroy Smart - Aim High 7'' [199x Record Factory Original Pressing]

Another Tempo cut on this label, though crappy mixing/recording leaves this 7'' feeling a bit disappointing... very similar to the following release too.

Tempo-rature Dropping...

Leroy Smart - Render Your Heart 7'' [199x Unity And Love Original Pressing]

Notice any similarities?

Just Cool Man

Gregory Isaacs - Only You 12'' [1986 Sunset Original Pressing]

If you've been following this blog, you'll know by now that I love me some crucial G Isaacs digi tunes. He has quite an underrated digital dancehall catalog, with some obscure and deadly material. This one's not that rare, but still nice likkle Dancehall Bubbler riddim take. Riddims included in a 12'' disco style here (meaning mixed without a pause between vocal and version).

Solo Tu

Little John - Do It To Me 7'' [1986 Jammys Original Pressing]

Ruff cut of Screechie Across The Border riddim straight from the golden years of Jamaican dancehall. This appears also as a Youth Vibration 12'' and Dub Store repress 7''.

Biiiiiiiim!

Lukie D, Frankie Paul, and Axeman - My Sound Is The Answer [199x Duke Original Pressing]

A much coveted soundboy killer, this unconventional acapella cover of the Beatles Let It Be features an unlikely pairing that includes a singer (FP) and two deejays wailing over a pop synth organ. This guy can also fetch a pretty penny because of it's rareness and uniqueness. Was curious to see what the back side would include, but it was just a random 90's version of some other Duke release. Most Duke releases have different versions (than the A side vocal), or even completely different vocal tracks on the B sides, even though they're just labeled as "version." I wonder if this was meant as a secret hidden track, or to throw off rival sounds... either that, or the production team was just lazy and confused :)

Your Sound Is...

Joe Banner - Love Me Baby 7'' [199x Joe Banner Production Original Pressing]

Independently produced single on the Rope In riddim. Not much info on Banner, but he is the only person credited for everything on the label. My copy is a bit beat up and noisy, but still a good listen.

Owned And Operated

Papa San - Perdemident 7'' [198x Dennis Star Original Pressing]

Funny little chatty chatty tune by deejay San over Mud Up riddim. I've seen this repressed on both Dennis Star (7'' and 12''), and strangely on Black Solidarity (7'') with the title Predominant.

Lyrical Business

Anthony Redrose - Life No Easy Game 7'' [199x HowYu Fi Sey Dat Original Pressing]

Tuff piece of mid 90's digi roots by Redrose, who had several nice releases on this label. The title track unfortunately has a pressing defect that causes some noise in the first 30 seconds of the tune (every copy I've heard has it), so I've also uploaded the version too.

Vocal

Version

Capleton - Hard To Believe / Admiral Tibett - Love Of Jah 12'' [1993 Exterminator Original Pressing]

The A side has a cool little Answer riddim ridden by the then deejay young Capleton, but the AA side is the banger (as usual!). Tibett sings over a crucial Fattis instrumental known as the Over The Years riddim, popularized by the Cocoa Tea tune of that name. The Cocoa Tea track appears on the Tune In LP, which also includes a remix featuring Charlie Chaplin titled Heads Of Government. The three tunes, lastly, appear all together on a Greensleeves 12'', which is fairly hard to find. Oh, and I've included the version for Tibett's side btw.

Side A

Side AA

Ricky Stereo - Jealousy Lover 12'' [1989 Ossie Original Pressing]

Fierce three part release on this riddim by under the radar producer Ossie Hibbert. While producing for several other labels over the years, he also had his own Ossie label in the late 80's and early 90's. This killer features a nice likkle Joe Lickshot intro, and was also released in the UK as a Living Room label 12'', as well as more recently as a 7'' repress by Gold Shop with the Lionel Craig tune and the backside.

Ricky 

 Pliers - Come In A The Dance / Lionel Craig - Under Mi Nose 12'' [198x Ossie Original Pressing]

For some reason the Pliers tune is on the A side, but anyone who buys this record is getting it for the back side. The Pliers track is so boring that I haven't even ripped it for y'all. I have however included the Ansel Meditation (as Lionel Craig) song, who's lyrics also speak of romance problems with an interesting domestic animal analogy. Originally from the roots group the Meditations, the artist also released much solo material using his real name, Ansel Cridland.

Lionel

Johnny Osbourne - I'm Moving Up 12'' [1989 Ossie Original Pressing]

The last of the three releases on this hot riddim, and probably my favorite cut of the trio. This was also released as a Living Room 12'' and 7'' Gold Shop repress. This (and the Ricky Stereo record) appears to be an original Jamaican 12'' release, while the Lionel Craig record is an original US 12'' releases. A bit unusual actually, as with vinyl always a shortage on the island (because of the sheer amount of records being put out), most JA releases are on 7'', while US pressed dancehall appeared primarily on 12'' to appeal to an American audience and disc jockeys. I've included the version on the recording here.

Johnny