COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The original pop and soul tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.…
NEW RELEASE Naughty Mustache is a dub artist hailing from Japan, known for weaving deep basslines with spiritual, roots-inspired vibrations drawn from the essence of sound system culture. His latest offering is a hypnotic, Pablo-esque instrumental titled Dance In The Dark, paired with its reflective dub counterpart, Bright Dub. “This track was born from the feeling of dancing through darkness…
Studio Project If you’ve ever wished modern dub could sound like it just rolled out of a 1970s Kingston studio, The Breadwinners might already be on your radar. Spearheaded by Manchester-based producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Al Redfern aka Al Breadwinner, this studio project has quietly carved out a niche in a reggae world full of hiss, reverb, and deep, meditative…
REISSUES Founded in 2013, Real Rock Records is a vinyl-only label based in Rome, Italy, and closely aligned with the Real Rock Hi Fi Sound System. The imprint is dedicated to the rich traditions of Roots Reggae and Dub, with a focus on sound system culture. One of its recent reissue projects is a trio of 7” singles licensed from…
Boss Reggae Sounds: Laurel Aitken Productions 1969-1971 NEW RELEASE Digital only compilation from Cherry Red Records featuring Boss sounds by King Horror, Winston Groovy, Pama Dice, Laurel Aitken, Joe Lace, The Freedom Singers and more. More about: Laurel Aitken Winston Groovy Cherry Red Records Ads Where to get it FollowFollow FollowFollow FollowFollow FollowFollow The post Boss Reggae Sounds: Laurel Aitken…
COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The original pop and soul tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.…
Black Music Magazine Back in the early 1970s, Black Music Magazine held the unique position of being the sole publication dedicated to covering the Jamaican music scene. Each month, they released the “Black Music Reggae Top Ten” charts for both singles and albums. We will be regularly sharing these vintage charts on our website, courtesy of Eric Denham, to whom…
Once more, we find ourselves mourning the loss of a cherished voice in reggae—a beloved artist whose music touched many hearts Leroy Gibbons was a celebrated reggae singer, widely recognized for his emotion-filled voice that deeply resonated with fans. Emerging in the mid-1980s, he quickly made a name for himself with covers like Sam Cooke’s Cupid and The Drifters’ This…
A real winner here with this Johnny Cosmic produced debut album from Jamaican singer and actor Hector Roots Lewis; many will know him for his portrayal of drummer Carlton “Carly” Barrett in the Bob Marley biopic One Love and that role has certainly made its mark on this generally mellow roots reggae album. Also relevant to this set is the…
NEW RELEASE Roots reggae band Steel and Stone from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, celebrates the release of their new album, Celebration. Independently recorded at Legents Musiq and My Music Live, the finishing touches, mixing and mastering, were handled by Mystic Pulse. Celebration features 10 original tracks that journey through a blend of reggae styles, from rocksteady steppers and dub. Included on…