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Errol Bellot meets Jah Bunny & Ras Elroy Ina 80’s style

Errol Bellot is one of the best kept secrets in British reggae with a career spanning more than thirty years, he has released dozens of high quality records and become a singer of choice for reggae connoisseurs worldwide. The fact that his name is barely known beyond the hardcore reggae audience, is symptomatic of a career focused on one off singles for small independent reggae labels unable to give Errol’s talent the support and exposure it so deserves.

Reggae Archive Records is all about showcasing the wealth of talent that the UK scene has in abundance; working with Errol was high on our wish list. We originally hoped to compile a best of package, an idea we hope to return to, but when we discovered that there was an entire unreleased album he had recorded in collaboration with the legendary Jah Bunny and Ras Elroy, our plans changed.

We were given full access to the session tapes recorded between 1983 and 1985 and selected a standout mixture of 16 vocals, dubs and extended disco mixes to which we’ve added Errol’s first self-production, the excellent, expensive and very sought after “The Wicked Them” which is sequenced together with its previously unreleased dub version discovered on the original master tape. The only other track on the album to have previously surfaced is “Rootsman” which saw a belated and limited issue on 10” in 2006.

The bulk of the tracks were recorded to four track and have the raw feel of dubplate mixes with an emphasis on the bass line and sound system play. Rather than try and tame them we’ve embraced that authentic sound. The tracks were transferred at the famous Conscious Sounds studio and where necessary, were then edited together by Rootikal’s David Hill giving us four extended disco mixes that only add to the genuine eighties vibes. Five of the vocals are paired with full dub counterparts with Jah Bunny showing his mastery of the dub version and giving speakers a real workout with tracks like “Do What You Have To Do Dub” pushing your woofers to their limits. This entire album is definitely sound system friendly.

The emphasis is heavily towards roots with the majority of tracks having a heavy roots theme, whilst even those songs that aren’t ostensibly roots have a seriousness in their delivery that belays their more mundane themes. Even the soul song dealing with relationships, “Reason and Chat”, is about as far removed from lovers rock as one could imagine.

Although recorded thirty years ago using contemporary rhythms and sounds, these tracks sound totally fresh and are a revelation. Perhaps we should have called this album a best of after all as the calibre of the music is that high. It is the fact that the majority of tracks are previously unreleased that denies them that accolade.

The package is completed by full sleeve notes telling the story of Errol and Jah Bunny and how they came to collaborate, in their own words, as well as a selection of rare archive photographs. This really is an essential slice of British reggae history featuring many of the key players from the scene.

Released on 22ND July 2013 on limited edition vinyl, CD and digital download via Reggae Archive Records.

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Janet Lee Davis

Often cited as one of the best lovers rock albums ever, Janet Lee Davis’ “Missing You” was originally recorded and released by Fashion Records in late 1994. Long out of print, Reggae Archive Records couldn’t think of a better candidate to mark their first venture into the often neglected field of lovers rock and their second release in conjunction with Fashion.

The original album stands as a classic, but there’s always room for improvement and so this edition is a deluxe version and not only includes the full original album, but also an additional five tracks previously only to be found on a limited and very rare Japanese only CD issue.

Having moved back to the UK from Jamaica in the 1980s Janet was soon recording, but it was during the 1990s that she became a leading force on the reggae scene with hit singles and numerous awards including best female singer, best album and best single her talent being noticed beyond the reggae world. Her collaboration with the Fashion label found both parties at the top of their game with “Missing You” being rightly acclaimed as one of the decade’s highlights.

This new deluxe version of “Missing You” contains 20 tracks including one remix of the finest lovers rock, the one style of reggae that can claim British origins. In addition to showcasing Janet’s soulful voice and versatility, she is joined and ably supported on two tracks by Peter Hunnigale and Tippa Irie.

The rhythms and production are everything you could wish for, Fashion at their finest, some familiar rhythms, some not so, but all perfectly framing Janet’s wonderful voice. Don’t be fooled into dismissing this album because it’s lovers rock. It’s appeal is far greater and it deserves to be heard by reggae fans, soul fans and anybody who appreciates great and beautiful music, a very welcome and long overdue reissue.

Released on CD by Reggae Archive Records on 17th June 2013 and also available as a digital download from Fashion.

Track listing

1. Baby, I’ve Been Missing You
2. Girl On The Side
3. Your Sweet
4. She’s Got Papers
5. Do You Remember
6. We Can Work it Out
7. Ooh Baby Baby
8. Big Mistake
9. Who’s That Girl
10. Love Me Boy
11. Baby I’ve Been Missing You (Groove Remix featuring Tippa Irie)
12. Walk On By
13. Ready To Learn (Yes, I’m Ready)
14. Two Timing Lover
15. Love
16.I Don’t Want To Say Goodbye
17.This World
18. Take Time
19.Show Me Some Love
20. I’ll Come Running

 

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Following the success of “Significant Hits Volume One”, Reggae Archive Records once again team up with Fashion for the CD release of “Significant Hits Volume Two”. If anything, this latest compilation betters its predecessor and in common with Volume One, it trawls through every corner of the label’s deep catalogue to bring fans a great selection of 20 tracks from the Fashion vaults. As with Volume One, this latest compilation reflects the diversity of artists and styles that found a home with Fashion.

When it comes to veteran Jamaican singers, this compilation includes three of the best. Johnnie Clarke is present with “Rocking To the A-Class Champion” and as befits one of the label’s earliest releases it kicks things off setting the bar high. More than rising to the challenge is Horace Andy with his sizeable 1985 hit “Hypocrites”, an essential update of the perennially popular Wailers tune. It’s aptly placed back to back, just as they were as vinyl 12”s, with the late Junior Delgado’s superb and understated “Two To Tango”.

Another legendary figure in seventies reggae is producer and sometime melodica player Glen Brown, represented here with the wild, album only track “Detrimental Music” a tune that feels like it’s about to escape the confines of the studio at any moment.

One of Fashion’s cornerstones was lovers rock and as with Volume One, the genre is well represented with tracks from Michael Gordon, Barry Boom, Winsome and Nerious Joseph, Neville Morrison and Janet Lee Davis with an alternate cut of “Do You Remember”. As well as straight lovers rock, there are lovers rock dancehall crossovers from Philip Leo and C. J. Lewis, Michie One and Louie Lou and General Levy. Nerious Joseph has the distinction of making a second appearance with his huge 1985 hit “Sensi Crisis” whilst the UK MC style for which the label was justly famed can be heard with Pato’s “The Boss”.

The straight dancehall sound can be heard in Papa San’s “DJ Business” and Top Cat’s “Gallist”, while dancehall pioneer Frankie Paul makes the bold claim to be “The Greatest”. Fashion was never a label that could be pigeon-holed, always willing to spread their wings beyond the core reggae market. The disc is rounded off with dancehall influenced jungle from Tenor Fly and Poison Chang whilst Cutty Ranks is represented by a hip hop mix.

With Volume Two the series goes from strength to strength bettering its predecessor and being exactly as described, all hits and all significant in the story of reggae in the UK. “Significant Hits Volume Two” is released by Reggae Archive Records and Fashion on CD on 17th June 2013 it is also available on digital download from leading sites.

1. Johnnie Clarke – Rocking To The A-Class Champion
2. Michael Gordon – Magic Feeling
3. Barry Boom – Making Love
4. Winsome & Nereus – Rock With Me Baby
5. Janet Lee Davis – Do You Remember (alternate TV cut)
6. Neville Morrison – True Friends
7. Frankie Paul – The Greatest
8. Papa San – D J Business
9. Pato – The Boss
10. Nereus Joseph – Sensi Crisis
11. Horace Andy – Hypocrites
12. Junior Delgado – Two To Tango
13. Glen Brown – Detrimental Music
14. Top Cat – Gallist
15. General Levy – Breeze
16. Phillip Leo & CJ Lewis – Why Do Fools…
17. Michie One & Louchie Lou – Shout
18. Tenor Fly – Don’t Dis The Jungle
19. Poison Chang – Love The Woman (Jungle Mix)
20. Cutty Ranks – Limb By Limb (Hip Hop Mix)

 

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Inspired by the first wave of UK produced Digi Roots and Dub he was hearing at Nick Manasseh’s Roots Rock Reggae sessions at London’s Dingwalls and Jah Shaka dances, reggae lover and club promoter Anthony Cummins got together with friends Adam Holden (Fish), Mark Evans (Suffurah) and Hamish Brown (All Nation Rockers), to see about getting some studio time and trying their hand at creating their own music.
A visit to Youth Sound record shop to get feedback for an early version of “Warm The Nation” gained them a positive response from Tenastelin, Danny Red and MC Ishen. The feedback was such that Mark decided they had to release the tune. Joined by local singer Kenrick Griffith (Versatile Creations), they finished the track and the following Spring, the Sound ‘n’ Pressure label launched with the release of “Warm the Nation” on 12”.
The record was a hit on the underground UK reggae scene and over the next couple of years, the label put out another three equally well received twelve inch singles and had their fifth release recorded and being played on dubplate by Aba Shanti. Unfortunately for reggae fans, in 1995 Anthony decided to put his time and energy into creating and opening his own studio and the label was put on hold with no further releases.
In the intervening years, a whole new generation of fans in the UK and worldwide have discovered those original Sound ‘n’ Pressure records, often paying high prices to secure copies. Finally the music will be readily available again when Reggae Archive Records release their Sound ‘n’ Pressure compilation, ‘Sound ‘n’ Pressure Story, on 11th March 2013.
Remastered from the original master tapes, the music has never sounded better and in addition to the four twelve inches, the album includes both tracks from what would have been the fifth single, (previously an exclusive Aba Shanti dub plate), and an unreleased track Anthony created for a short film..
The album comes with sleeve notes filling in the background to the label and is available on CD, limited edition vinyl and as a digital download from all good outlets.
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Fashion In Fine Style Significant Hits Volume One

Released 10th September 2012 as a Digitally Remastered CD
through Reggae Archive Records /Fashion.

There is no other label that defines UK reggae in the eighties and nineties as well as Fashion Records. For two decades they captured the sound of the UK as it was happening. Their constant stream of singles and LPs effectively defined the UK MC style, dominated the UK lovers rock charts, pioneered the UK ragga sound, released roots and dub and provided huge inspiration for the jungle and garage scenes.

After a long hiatus, Fashion has been relaunched in the digital domain but, with a strong demand for physical releases of their back catalogue from fans old and new, John and Chris have chosen Reggae Archive Records as their partner to meet that demand with a comprehensive programme of vinyl and CD releases and giving the new label access to all of the Fashion catalogue, including unreleased tracks.
To launch the new partnership, Reggae Archive Records have decided to start with the same compilation that launched Fashion’s arrival on the digital platform and will be releasing the various artists compilation “Fashion In Fine Style – Significant Hits Volume One” as a digitally remastered CD on 10th September 2012.

Personally selected by John and Chris, the compilation starts with the first release on the label and indeed its first hit Dee Sharp’s “Let’s Dub It Up”. The next five tracks continue in a similar lovers vein with Peter Hunnigale, Winsome and Janet Lee-Davis joined by Jamaican legend Alton Ellis.

The album keeps up a mellow vibe, but heads in a roots direction with tracks from Nereus Joseph and Jah Mali before Frankie Paul ushers in the dancehall sounds the label was famous for. We are given nine variations on the dancehall style ranging from roots themes to sound clash tunes and the early digital style to raga. There’s even a jungle remix amongst them with the remix of Top Cat’s “Request this Style” though it rather conflicts with the message of Starkey Banton’s “Jungle Bungle”

Last, but by no means least, is a track from the label’s twilight. Chris Lane in his Dub Organiser alter ego with the excellent “Herbal Dub”, a great slice of dub and a final reminder of just how versatile the label was.

This is a great opportunity for fans old and new to pick up some of Fashion’s biggest hits on CD.

Track listing

1. Dee Sharp – Let’s Dub It Up
2. Alton Ellis – Play It Cool
3. Winsome – Am I The Same Girl
4. Janet Lee-Davis – Two Timing Lover
5. Janet Lee-Davis & Tippa Irie – Baby, I’ve Been Missing You
6. Nereus Joseph – Guidance
7. Jah Mali – Mercy Street
8. Frankie Paul – A No Nutten
9. Me & You – Rock This Rub A Dub
10. Andrew Paul – Who’s Gonna Make The Dance Ram
11. Daddy Freddy – Yes We A Blood
12. Starkey Banton – Jungle Bungle
13. Peter Hunnigale – Perfect Lady
14. Papa San & Lt. Stitchie – One More Request
15. Top Cat – Request The Style
16. Joseph Cotton – No Touch The Style
17. General Levy – Heat
18. Cutty Ranks – The Stopper
19. Bunny General – Full Up A Class
20. Dub Organiser – Herbal Dub

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The Tribe / Finsbury Park

Tribesman

Released 3rd September 2012 as a 12″ Vinyl Single (Limited Edition) & Digital Download,
through Reggae Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

Following Bristol Archive Record’s great success with reissuing classic lost reggae from Bristol we have expanded our sights to the whole UK with the launch of our new label Reggae Archive Records. Our aim is exactly the same, to issue obscure and previously unreleased reggae music of merit that has largely been forgotten and neglected and give it a second chance.

To kick things off, we have chosen a classic and highly sought after twelve inch single from London band Tribesman released with the full cooperation of original producer Paget King.

Originally issued in 1979 the record has gone on to become something of a classic fetching good money in collectors circles. We’ve taken the liberty of reversing the sides meaning the more rootsy and sought after “The Tribe” is now the A side whilst “Finsbury Park” is now the AA.

Both sides are extended disco mixes with the vocal leading straight into the dub and to complement the package, the record will be housed in a high quality Reggae Archive Records 12” disco sleeve recalling those lost days of the late seventies when colourfully designed sleeves jostled each other for space in the racks and helping this classic tune really stand out.

Not only is this just the first of many exciting projects we have planned for the new label, but it is also the start of our relationship with Paget King and Tribesman as we plan a full CD release of the band’s back catalogue in 2013.

The record will be released on 3rd September as a strictly limited edition and will be available from all good retailers worldwide.

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CORRUPTED SOCIETY

ECLIPSE

Released 15th October 2012 as a CD & Digital Download,
through Reggae Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

Having already successfully turned the spotlight on Bristol’s lost reggae heritage, Bristol Archive Record’s new sister label Reggae Archive Records launches with similar ambitions for other UK towns and cities. We begin that mission with some long lost music from legendary Birmingham band Eclipse.

Friends and contemporaries of fellow Handsworth band Steel Pulse, Eclipse never achieved the same level of commercial success. Back in the seventies the two bands vied with each other to be acclaimed as Handsworth’s best, as the area bubbled with musical creativity. Eclipse were together for ten years, from 1975 until 1985. In that time they managed to release just one album and three 7” singles, a small, but powerful legacy and one that deserves to be recognised by a wider audience.

The bulk of this CD features Eclipse’s lone album release, known as “Eclipsed.” The British pressing is now very scarce and was repressed as “Inner Reggae Rhythm for a Canadian release. The album includes these eight tracks plus both sides of the bands final single and a brace of previously unreleased tracks. Unlike previous reissues this project has been completed with the full cooperation of the original band members. They have provided their recollections of the band’s history for the sleeve notes as well as supplying precious archive photographs.

Although written and recorded over thirty years ago we couldn’t believe how relevant many of the songs still are today. We therefore felt that the best title for this collection would be “Corrupted Society”, a song of protest that starts the CD off in a classic UK roots vein. Things carry on in similar fashion with songs dealing with repatriation, “Immigration” and “Come Me Brethren”. Then political violence, “Six Dead”, the triumph of the righteous, “Blood Fi Dem” and “Visions”, as well as faith with “Jah Can’t Fail I”.

The last few tracks take a lighter direction, dealing with love and having a good time. The album ends with the rather beautiful “Eclipse”, a track that’s just as strong as any of the band’s more rootsy compositions and ends things on a suitably high point. The album is available on CD and as a digital download from all good retail outlets from 15th October 2012.

Track listing

1. Corrupted Society
2. Immigration
3. Six Dead
4. Blood Fi Dem
5. Jah Can’t Fail I
6. Come Me Brethren
7. Visions
8. Let Jah Be The One
9. Enjoy Yourself / Have A Good Time (Live)
10. After The Rain
11. City Loving (Live)
12. Eclipse

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