Richie Stevens - No Drugs 7'' [1989 Dennis Star Original Pressing]

Stevens recorded a lot of soft, popish/romantic dancehall tunes, many of which I can't say I really care for. Yet he also had a few tuff tunes about serious conscious issues. Here he tackles drug abuse in the community over a mean Peanie Peanie riddim produced by Dennis Star Hayles.

Drugs = Bad

Pad Anthony Sound Killaz!

Pad Anthony - Born Lover Man 7'' [198x Taurus Original Pressing]

Some of Anthony's biggest hits came from Tubby at the peak of his digi productions days. Anthony's name was synonymous with singers like Anthony Redrose, King Everald, Courtney Melody, and King Kong... the stars of Tubby's stable.  

Where? Here...

Pad Anthony - Dancehall Style 7'' [1988 Stereo Mix Original Pressing]

Nice mellow cut of Things And Times riddim. Cool label art in good condition.

Donde? Aqui...

Pad Anthony - Turn Me Loose 12'' [198x Witty Original Pressing]

Whitfield Henry aka Witty produced some monster hits in the 80's, and in doing so, created some biiiiiig riddims. The Kuff riddim, originally by female deejay Shelly Thunder, was one of them. This remake of that riddim sounds almost nothing like the original, but still holds its own just as well. Did i say biiiiig?

Ram Dance

Pad Anthony - Killing Of A Sound 7'' [198x Music Master Original Pressing]

Might as well follow up with another Witty tune, this one a 7'' from his Jamaican based Music Master label. Once again An-tony talks about his love of killing competitive sounds in the dancehall.

Kill Dance

Pad Anthony - Musical Sample 7'' [198x Uncle T Original Pressing]

A "musical sample" of the Uncle T catalog. Uncle T of course being Trevor James, brother of famed producer King Jammy. Not only did Jammy's brother produce, but eventually so did two of his sons, John John and Jam2 as well. Quite the musical family!

Sample Dance

Scion Sashay Success - Cry Fi Me Girl 12'' [198x Eclipse Original Pressing]

Scion just has that unmistakeable style, not only vocally, but also the instrumentals that he was usually paired up with. A lot of his material was actually self produced, which he doesn't get enough credit for. Philip Smart, who produced this tune, is also an underrated icon of Jamaican music, having started his career as an engineer for Augustus Pablo in the 70's. By the 80's he had relocated to NY and was banging out hits for his Eclipse label (and others) well into the 90's. This is a crucial example of that (version included).

 

 

Llorona

Culture T - Live So Bad 7'' [199x Soljie Original Pressing]

Nice build up tune with the thumping Every Tongue Shall Tell bassline kicking in about 35 seconds in. Original riddim is by Horace Andy, though I also love King Everald's Automatic on Waterhouse. Producer Soljie showing his King Tubby posse's roots.

Tan Mal

Frankie Paul - Gun Shot 7'' [1986 Skengdon Original Pressing]

Much coveted sound man tune that FP mashes up. The 7''/12'' mixes are different (and better) than the version that appears on his Sizzling LP for Skengdon. The bass line is just ridiculous on this one.
Gun shot... we no respect dat!

 

Fuck The NRA

King Everald - Bad Girls 7'' [1986 Jammys Original Pressing]

Very nice King Jammy prodo on one of the few crucial riddims that he did not over exploit.

Watch out fi dem wicked ladies!

Muchachas Malas

Louie Culture and Wayne Rankin - Circle Africa 7'' [198x Redman International Original Pressing]

Though Louie Culture hit big in 1992 with his Gangalee single, he actually started his recording career as part of the duo Wayne And Louie in the late 80's. Here he is with his sparring partner Wayne Rankin tearing up a conscious Sleng Teng riddim as they tear up the Motherland.

Smash Apartheid