Product description 2012 collection. Soul Jazz Records continues its journey into the vaults of the mighty Studio One with this next installment featuring everything from classic ska and rocksteady to the deepest roots, heaviest dub and dancehall roots. As ever the album includes incredible Reggae artists such as The Heptones, Ken Boothe, The Skatalites, Johnny Osbourne, Wailing Souls all of whom launched their careers at Studio One. This album features some of the most in-demand and collectible Studio One tracks over the years, all digitally remastered. The sleevenotes are by Rob Chapman, author of the celebrated books about Studio One Records, 'Never Grow Old' and 'Downbeat the Ruler'. Review Knowledge of Studio One is integral to an understanding of reggae. More than any other Jamaican production stable, Studio One was a crucial force during the 1960s and 70s, being the true home of ska and a hugely important site of early reggae.London’s Soul Jazz began an association with Studio One founder Clement Dodd during the 1990s, helping to introduce this great music to a whole new audience. Dodd’s death interrupted the release schedule, but Studio One Sound shows that things are back on track. It’s a sublime set of little-known material from the label’s heyday.It opens with Hip Hug, Slim Smith’s wonderful rock steady dance tune, which is followed by the extraordinary funk-roots of Good People, an exceptionally rare 1979 offering from Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus. Lord Tanamo’s Keep on Moving is an alternate take of Jackie Mittoo’s Totally Together, and The Wailing Souls’ Trouble Maker has the harmonic brilliance that made their name.Elsewhere, Rita Marley’s Call to Me reminds of her early renown, and Johnny Osbourne’s All I Have Is Love is absolutely chilling. But the cheesy version of Smokey Robinson’s I Second That Emotion is pure novelty-value stuff – credited to The Martinis, it features Bajan singer Emile Straker.More noteworthy highlights include Irvin Brown’s falsetto party tune, Run Come, The Heptones’ stunning Give Give Love, Jackie Opel’s ska-gospel The Lord Is With Me, and Ken Boothe’s heartbroken I Am a Fool. Larry Marshall’s take on The Gaylads’ There’s a Fire is full of emotion, and Freddie McGregor’s wonderful Homeward Bound is yet another standout, as are a few splendid instrumentals.Liner notes by discographer Rob Chapman add context, albeit despite minor errors, and the sound quality is occasionally a bit muffled. Also, why a photo of Dennis Brown during his A&M phase was chosen for the front cover, when he does not appear on the disc, is something of a mystery. But the exceptional track selection, masterfully chosen by Oxman of Dub Vendor, makes this one a winner in every sense. --Natalie ShawFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off in a new window
G**Y
studio one sound
got this for my dad for xmas . he was trying to lay his eyes on it strait away when it came threw our post box . he cant wait to listern to some of the tunes on it . thank you for our quick delivery and look foward to buying more from you !!
A**R
Five Stars
Great music.thanks
T**H
Excellent wide ranging compilation of rarer Studio One tracks.....
This 18 track compilation with a playing time of 52 minutes has the following track-listing:1. Hip Hug - Slim Smith2. Good People - Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus3. Keep On Moving - Lord Tanamo4. Trouble Maker - The Wailing Souls5. Call To Me - Rita Marley6. All I Have Is Love - Johnny Osbourne7. I Second That Emotion - The Martinis8. Run Come - Irvin Brown9. Give Give Love - The Heptones10. Double Minded Man - Anthony 'Rocky' Ellis11. The Lord Is With Me - Jackie Opel12. Happy Feelings - Dub Specialist13. Live Up To Your Name - Prince Lincoln14. I Am A Fool - Ken Boothe15. Happy Valley - Reuben Alexander16. There's A Fire - Larry Marshall17. Rolando Special - Roland Alphonso18. Homeward Bound - Freddie McGregorOf the 18 tracks I'd only heard two before (Johnny Osbourne's truly sublime "All I Have Is Love" & Freddie McGregor somewhat over-slick "Homeward Bound" [nothing to do with the S&G classic]) which means there are rarities a plenty on this platter. I am pleased to report that in the main despite their rarity the vast majority of the tracks on this set are good to excellent spanning the late-ska period (Rita Marley's beautiful "Call To Me") to the early dancehall period (the aforementioned Freddie McGregor track which is probably the weakest on the set, not because of his singing which is brilliant but the synth-heavy production).Picking out highlights is tricky in such a strong set but I'm pleased to see Soul Jazz have slipped in a Wailing Souls track, "Trouble Maker" which is more lover's themed than most of their work with a truly superb ultra-soulful vocal from 'Pipe' Matthews and a dancing flute line in the background perhaps supplied by 'Im Brooks ---- great, great track. The Heptones track "Give Give Love" has their superior harmonising over a strong late rocksteady, early reggae rhythm later employed by Sugar Minott on his brilliant "Give A Hand". The ulta-rare Prince Lincoln track, "Live Up To Your Name" is excellent minor-keyed roots with more great singing. On the rocksteady side of things there is more self-pity from the ultimate romantic neurotic Ken Boothe with the archetypal "I Am A Fool" containing a fantastic sax break by Roland Alphonso. The ska singer Lord Tanamo pops up on "Keep On Moving" to vocalise brilliantly on Jackie Mittoo's "Total Together" rocksteady rhythm. And so on; I could mentioned another four or five brilliant tracks before hitting the 'relatively' 2nd tier stuff which in the main is still really good.In conclusion then perhaps one of the best Soul Jazz Studio One compilations since the inception of this series over a decade ago! This far into the series that is a really impressive achievement and let's hope they can continue the good work demonstrated here and on the previous 'Legendary Studio One' set.
Z**E
Just superb
Studio One as it should be heard - on vinyl! Great selection of tunes, some familiar and some that are new to me (as it should be with a compilation) but all well-chosen to show off the distinctive Studio One Sound. Love it.
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