I’ve gotten a few requests for reggae mixes over the past couple of years and for one reason or another never got around to it.
Well…that’s changed. I’ve just created two mixes — count ’em — and I’m offering them for download until the authorities shut me down.
FRANCO NERO PRESENTS: ROCKSTEADY SESSION VOL 1.
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Of course some nitpickers will probably debate whether all of the chunes on this comp are indeed authentic rocksteady or maybe they’re reggae. You be the judge. Most of the tracks are sourced from scratchy vinyl 45s so put on your bibs and dig in.
Hardcore and rare Jamaican rocksteady circa 1966-1968 including some hard-to-find singles, remixes and versions. All the info should be in the metadata of the file but for the wary:
1. Rocking Time – Roy & Enid (Coxsone 7″ 1968)
2. I Am the Winner – Roy Shirley (Star 7″ 1966)
3. Rocksteady Cool – Frederick Bell (Nu Beat 7″ 1968)
4. Tickle Me for Days – The Pioneers (Amalgamated 7″ 1968)
5. Tell Me Now – Marcia Griffiths (Money Disc 7″ 1969)
6. Hypnotic Eyes – Keith & Tex (Island 7″ 1968)
7. Right on Time – The Sensations (Doctor Bird 7″ 1967)
8. Sweet Soul Music – The Gladiators (Treasure Isle 7″ 1968)
9. People Funny Boy – Lee Perry (Doctor Bird 7″ 1968)
10. Rougher Dub – Slim Smith & Soul Vendors (Coxsone 7″ 1967)
11. The Big Takeover – The Overtakers (Amalgamated 7″ 1968)
12. The Scorcher – Errol Dunkley (Amalgamated 7″ 1968)
13. Feel the Rhythm – Clancy Eccles (Doctor Bird 7″ 1968)
14. Swing & Dine – Melodians (Gayfeet 7″ 1968)
15. Hard to Confess – The Gaylads (Doctor Bird 7″ 1968)
16. The Mood Version – The Heptones (Coxsone 7″)
17. A Fool – Alton Ellis (Studio One 7″ 1968)
18. Soulful Rocking – The Invaders (Studio One 7″ 1968)
19. Love is a Message – Jacob Miller (Money Disc 7″ 1968)
20. Love is a Treasure – Freddie McKay & Soul Defenders (Studio One 12″ )
21. Born to Love You – The Sensations (Techniques 7″ 1967)
FRANCO NERO PRESENTS: BONGOMAN – STUDIO ONE ROOTS SESSION
Coxsone Dodd was the true father of the Jamaican music industry. Legend has it, he was also the boss who encouraged the rasta to record their heavy, nyabinghi roots sounds in his Brentford Road recording studio. So it’s no surprise that Studio One turned out some crucial sides during the ’70s. Here’s almost an hour of the deepest roots you’ll hear mixed with care by a true devotee, DJ Franco Nero.
These are all sourced from vinyl in various conditions so expect occasional audio imperfections. Once again, is Ken Boothe’s “Home Home Home” a roots chune? Maybe not. Who cares? The 12″ disco mix is WICKED!
1. Jah Go Before Us – The Gladiators (from their Presenting The Gladiators LP)
2. Beat Down Babylon – Freddie McGregor (Coxsone 7″)
3. Ethiopian Peace Song – Al Tascith Joe (Studio One 7″)
4. Home Home Home – Ken Boothe & Soul Vendors (Studio One 12″ Extended Mix)
5. I Need a Roof – Sugar Minott (Coxsone 7″)
6. Rebel Disco – Brentford Disco Set (Studio One 12″)
7. Natty Gone – Manchesters (Blank 7″)
8. Locust – Leonard Dillon (Studio One 7″)
9. Jah Jah Way – Jackie Bernard (Bongo Man 7″)
10. Zion Higher – Burning Spear (Coxsone 7″)
11. Jah Hold the Key – Devon Russell (Coxsone 7″)
12. Dream Land – Della Humphrey (Coxsone 7″)
13. Moses Version – Brentford Reggae Band (Coxsone 7″)
14. African Descendents – Alton Ellis (Coxsone 7″)
15. Rastafari Tell You Version – Judah Eskendar Tafari (Studio One 7″)