Thanks for the lesson and I defer to your better knowledge
I didn’t say that PRE was an offshoot of African Museum I actually said the opposite that African Museum was an offshoot of the PRE label because both labels on this particular release bare the same catalogue number PREX9. I’m fully aware that AM wasn’t a subsidiary of PRE because I have a number of releases on AM from the 70’s long before PRE was founded.
I do believe you and at no time said anything to disagree I don’t think, what I did say was that I owned an original African Museum pressing which I do.
I’d also like to add that earlier in the thread when I said that the PRE copy I owned ‘sounded a bit flat’ that I wasn’t implying that your copy sounded flat too I’m sure it sounds wonderful I was actually referring to the copy I own which is part of a later double LP release of the two LPs that PRE aquired the rights to and which I also added sounded flat on my system. (Just incase I’ve offended anyone who owns a copy.)
Right hopefully the willy waving can stop and we can get back to the music.
The fact that the African Museum re issue shares the same catalogue number as the PRE indicates that the rights/masters were held by Charisma and supports what I said regarding JA re issues of material that was signed over to a major label.
Whether you said PRE was an offshoot of African Museum or vice versa is just pedantry, it’s the same difference.
To add further complication the 2013 issue your referring to appears to have come via TAD’s. Also, as I’m sure your aware, to add the bonus tracks to this version would require the extra tracks to be assembled along with whatever source tape was being used from the original album onto a cutting or production master, thus being at least a further tape generation away from whatever source tapes were being used. Alternatively, being 2013, your reissue was compiled and mastered in the digital domain and from possibly less than best source material.
No Willy waving here, my purpose in this thread is not just to post endless streams of YouTube clips, anyone can do that and listen for hours on autoselect, but to provide insightful information about background, recordings, artists & labels and especially of importance given the nature of Jamaican music to highlight which pressings/masterings to check out or avoid.
Enjoy your weekend..
2 Likes
I love this thread!!! Never even knew it was on here. I’ve loved Reggae music since first hearing Misty in Roots live on John Peel, back in my teens (55 now!). Have been to MANY great gigs over the years, the best being Bunny Wailer at the Academy back in about 1990(ish). Went to see Big Youth at Cardiff recently. Pretty much only listen to this great music - excuse me while I go over this thread again, and hi Bob the Builder and all the rest of you, One Love!!
2 Likes
Greetings KDee, great to have you along.
I only started the thread a couple of weeks or so ago, so early days, but already I’m delighted with the support for this thread and contributions so far. As I said earlier I was wondering whether this thread would be a non starter, I thought Jamaican music tended to be sniffed at by the audiophile fraternity but I have reassuringly been proven wrong.
You may like to know that Misty In Roots will be at the One Love Festival, I will be there, have seen Misty many times over the years, never dissapoint.
Bunny Wailer too, most recently a few years back at a hot n sticky Birmingham 02 with Beres Hammond.
Dancehall - The Rise Of Jamaican Dancehall Culture - various artists.
Double album containing 33 great choons from the early Dancehall era …and it’s on The River for pennies … you’d be silly not to.
2 Likes
Great set Dave as is almost everything Soul Jazz records put out.
Heartbeat Records from Canada we’re another superb re issue label. Chris Wilson owner of the label had a friendship with Coxsone Dodd who gave him access to Studio One Master tapes. The Heartbeat Label re issued most of the Classic Studio One albums (and other productions) and compilations under their Original Studio One Masters series of CD’s Until then much of the catalogue had never before been heard in such fidelity. Sadly the label is no longer active.
Good news is that for many years now since the folding of Heartbeat, Soul Jazz in the UK have been issuing quality Studio One (and other labels) re issues but with a themed compilation approach, Studio One Roots, Studio One Ska, Studio One Scorcher etc etc.
Such is the clean sound of these re masterings, Dub Vendor actually put a warning on their mailing list when Soul Jazz Re issued Burning Spears Studio One material because it sounded so alien to hardened reggae heads who were used to the notoriously crackly and muddy sound of original vinyl pressings 
Check the Heartbeat Original Studio One Masters catalogue on Discogs, I own them all and can vouch that everyone is a bona fide classic and lovely clean sound
https://www.discogs.com/label/821278-Original-Studio-One-Masters
And other Heartbeat Label releases
https://www.discogs.com/label/19443-Heartbeat-Records-2
An absolutely essential introduction to the vast Studio One catalogue is Soul Jazz Studio One Story which includes a CD of timeless Classics, a DVD documentary (actually an MP4 on disc when I bought the first issue) and book.
2 Likes
Great info, Dread … I’ll do some research based on this, having spent some money as a result of your earlier recommendations.
Oh dear, this could get expensive … but hey. 
1 Like
Money Dread! Tell me about it, there’s so much fantastic music coming out across all genres that interest me, I’m also trying to keep up with the excellent Blue Note Tone Poet & BN80 series and a cartload of stuff on my constantly growing round tooit..
1 Like
And now for something completely different..
Reggae homages to classic pop and rock albums from Easy Star All Stars. These are not just gimmicks, seriously entertaining Reggae/Dub covers, you’ve never heard these albums sound quite like this. Attention to detail, on the LP pressing of Lonely Hearts Dub Band they’ve even done the backward mystery vocal that was on original Sgt Pepper pressings causing the John Lennon is dead conspiracy.
Didn’t go much on Thrillah but the others brilliant..
Similarly, a most unlikely Reggae album that works brilliantly is Little Roy - Battle For Seattle. A whole LP of Nirvana covers!
1 Like
I’ve got most of the “Classic” albums from the All-Stars, including “Dubber Side of the Moon”, and you’re right, they’re serious re-workings of the originals.
Saying that, their “straight ahead” offering is rather good too.
Easy Star All-Stars - First Light.
Returning to the theme of cover versions:
Dubxanne - The Police in Dub.
Many of the better known reggae(ish) songs from The Police … in dub!
It’s totally bonkers, but is hugely entertaining, and always puts a smile on my face.
1 Like
Having mentioned Studio One it would be criminal not to mention its rival Treasure Isle, the rooftop studio run by ex policeman Duke Reid, who had a particular way of ensuring the musicians or singers stayed in time. He wore a bullet belt and pistol and would let off a few shots into the studio ceiling if he disapproved!
Treasure Isle is where the cream of the soulful Rock Steady period was recorded, it’s also where U Roy invented toasting, the early rapping jive talk style that became known as Dee Jay style, where he toasted over earlier classic rock steady tracks.
A good sounding cheap as chips twofer is this CD on the budget Metro label
https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Story-Of-Treasure-Isle/release/2132714
I don’t own this one but for a little over a tenner, this 4CD set has got it covered. Haven’t heard it but its from Trojan Records so should be ok
1 Like
RIP Ranking Roger
The Police In Dub, new one to me Dave, nice one!
1 Like
I have the first Easy Stars Dub Side Of The Moon LP. I haven’t heard Dubber Side… this came out much later is it a different version/remix of the former?
I heard this on Rodigans show recently.
Leroy Sibbles formerly lead vocalist with The Heptones on this Billy Paul cover.
Lightweight but I’m feeling this..
It’s just been “tweaked” somewhat, though the version of “Money” involves the Mad Professor this time round, so it’s all good.
Incidentally, there’s also a later version of the Dubxanne album … Police In Dub:Re-Synchronised By Rob Smith Aka Rsd.
Again, it’s sufficiently tweaked to render it a completely different sound.
They’re both on Tidal, and well worth a listen.
1 Like
Hi Richard, Blackheart Man is my favourite album, by my favourite artist. Some say that it’s the best Reggae album ever recorded, it’s a masterpiece for sure!
2 Likes
