Tracklist

credits: A.Waldron / S.Hanggi / E.Gut / M.Tobber / L.Montini • courtesy of One Drop Records

This man’s career has spanned over 35 years! From the Studio One days to contemporary roots and dancehall.

Scoring classics like love bump, badda than dem, Rosemarie, M 16, Barnabas Collins and others, he remains one of reggae’s most influential and popular DJ’s hailing from the Studio One days. He linked in Jamaica with Swiss band the Scrucialites, who are one of Swiss best bands. They’re also famous for backing Jamaican touring acts on a regular base all over Europe.

This original piece was recorded in their own studio but voiced and mixed at Black Scorpio studio in Kingston. It passed by unnoticed on a compilation in 2005. I’m happy to give it a new chance, so you can discover this little gem from the Ranger! He still tours frequently in Europe with the French soundsystem Soul Stereo.

credits C.Macfarlane / B.Marley • courtesy of Jah Mix Entertainment

This singer was born and grow up in Belize, Belize City, more specific. Singing from a young age, he was formerly known as Junior Rankin’.

In the late 80-ies he emigrated to LA and became lead singer with a group, called The Dominators. In a later period he formed the group Belize and was signed to Paisley Park and later on even to Warner Brothers!

They experienced a good amount of success but Eljai really wanted to grow bigger as a reggae artist. He scored a hit in Jamaica with don’t leave and recorded a combi with Capleton called blessed. He signed afterwards an album deal with Fabian Cook and his JASIC record label.

I know is a great roots song, performed with passion and devotion. It has Marley’s sun is shining riddim. Eljai knows!

credits J.Addis / S.Addis / M.George Henry • courtesy of Addis Records

Switzerland has a long time tradition with reggae music! Restless Mashaits combines the talents of a two excellent musicians, called Jill and Stuff Addis, who also run a label by the name Addis. Coming from the 70-ies background, they had a great love for roots and dub music.

They released their first songs recorded in the Leggo studio’s in Kingston round about ’92. That resulted in 4 recordings, of which faya dub and adwa march, gained popularity amongst roots fans.

During different visits to JA and working together with great musicians from the roots scene, a full album was recorded. It got released in 2002 with the title King of Kingston sessions 1992-2002. A quality dub album that amazed friends and enemies!

Selassie I steps is a magnificent dub and it is Addis’s version of the classic riddim none a dem jah children from Ras Michael. They continued working with Jamaican acts like Turbulence, Mark Wonder, Daddy Rings. Addis’s the heat riddim is also an example of a wicked roots/one drop riddim!

credits J.Vassel • courtesy of Frontyard Productions

It’s a tuff competition in Jamaica where new talent is coming up and/or fading away almost every day. This is one of the reasons why producers and artists can’t afford to put out a weak tune!

Hailing from the mountains of St Mary, comes this young upcoming artist who tries to build up a musical career. Falling is an original reality song, with an up to date roots and culture riddim. It will find its way to collections of roots and dancehall fans. No doubts about that!

credits I.Stewart / S.Minott - courtesy of Ivanhoe Stewart Productions

Coming out of the black roots stable from Sugar Minott and his youth promotion team, we have Trevor Junior who recorded several songs for Sugar like don’t wanna run around, ghetto living and have a little faith in Jah.

Some of this tunes are sought after collectors and circulate on the internet for good money. For example joker soldier, is such a track!

This tune is an unreleased song, coming from one of his sessions with the black roots players. It shows how good a talent he is. Junior is still active in the music scene. Be it voicing a tune, some dub plate recording or engineering work. Trevor Junior does it all!

Unfortunately, the great Sugar Minott passed away recently in July. Majestic wishes to pay its respect to Sugar Minott, his family and the entire youth promotion, and Black Roots Crew.

credits D.Duncan / D.Sparling / W.Rose / S.Reynolds / R.Braitwaite • courtesy of Exodus Nuclear Productions

Violence and guns have always been a part of Jamaican society. It has and still is an opportunity for artists to react against this negative form of living. This wicked song, with its up to date roots/steppers riddim, combines the talents of roots icon Bushman and two upcoming DJ’s. CP Ink is a much in demand dubplate artist, while Ras Goudie is working his way up in the music scene. This song was produced by Gary Exodus. He runs a popular dubplate studio, and also has his own soundsystem, Exodus Nuclear!

credits  C. Taylor / M.Thompson / F.Star / A.Senior • courtesy of Altafaan Records

Born as Clifford Taylor in Portmore, I-Wayne busted on the scene about 7 years ago with his hit wood for the fire. A great song on a choice version of the father jungle rock riddim. I-Wayne, an always consistent falsetto singer, who went on making good songs, wasn’t able to repeat the success of wood for the fire, with the exception of lava ground which was a minor hit for him. He teamed up with Anthony Senior from Altafaan, who carries the roots and culture of the music whoever he works with, to make this exemplary original song in combination with Mark Wonder and support from DJ Fire Star.

A sufferers song in the real roots tradition that deserves a place in any rootsfan’s collection.

credits S.Levi / P.Smart • courtesy of Philippe Smart Productions

Sammy Levi is undoubtedly one of the superior singers from his generation. This Jamaican born singer emigrated to the US and build from there up his career. In New York he teamed up with producer Philippe Smart, a former engineer of King Tubby, who migrated to the US in 1976, and set his H.C&F studio.

He was responsible for hits from artists like Shabba, Supercat, Shaggy, Scion Sucses, Sluggy, Ninjaman, Yammi Bolo and others. Smart stepped along the digi roots sidewalk and gave Levi big songs like come off the road ( by the way, this 12-inch version is still a collectors item today ) and 12 pounds a dub. These songs still stands as classics in all soundsystem area.

Trouble again is also one of those smashing songs from Levi that has a first-rate riddim and superb vocals. To my personal opinion Sammy is the best singer Smart ever worked with. Up until today, Smart is still a strong force in the dancehall scene!

credits D.Shaw / F.Simpson / L.Ferguson / A.Senior • courtesy of Altafaan Records

No introduction needed, for one of the longest running harmony groups in reggae history! Tabby, Judge and Dread have a 35 year plus career behind them. Started at Channel One with a truckload of classics and hits, and the train isn’t stopping!

They stayed always truethfull to their roots, and every album release, matches their quality standards. Altafaan Records shows love and respect for the foundation artists and recorded this tune with them, on an original riddim called immigration.

Here we have for you an unreleased glorious song which proves they haven’t lost anything of their unique qualities. It is the perfect Diamonds song.

credits E.Williams / M.Thompson / A.Senior • courtesy of Altafaan Records

Altafaan brought this two sublime singers together to record this one drop big tune! Blender busted on the scene early 90-ies with classic songs like lift up your head, just a come, create a sound: all on the Star Trail label. He became a consistent singer and set up his own production company and label.

Mark Wonder is a talented singer who has already a long career behind him. He’s a much in demand artist, because of his easy way of working and singing skills! This tune combines the best from both singers.