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2LP
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DKR 286LP
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New repress! "This compilation is dedicated to the memory of the late great 'Prince' Philip Smart -- the first apprentice of King Tubby and the first engineer at Tubby's studio besides Tubby himself. Alongside Tubby, Philip was integral to the innovation that took place at Tubby's studio in the mid-1970s, where the mixing of new roots reggae revolutionized the sound of Jamaican music and created styles and techniques that are still being echoed today, nearly 50 years later. Though rarely credited on records in comparison to Tubby, Philip also mixed a lot of the paramount music produced by those close associates of Tubby's studio such as Bunny Lee, Yabby You, and Augustus Pablo. Philip was closely tied to Pablo due to their childhood friendship and was a partner in his stylistically significant early production works. In the early years of Tubby's studio, both men were making and cutting custom dubs there for their sound systems before starting to produce their own tunes from scratch, and Philip becoming the second chair engineer. Several of the songs on this compilation are a selection of the aforementioned work. All of the songs here are sourced from Philip's personal tape archive, and basically all of these mixes and versions have been scarcely if ever heard, and never released before. This double album comprises a rare and genuine glimpse into the dubplate workings of the inner circle of Tubby's studio in the mid-1970s, where the prime players and emerging giants of reggae music production and sound system versioned, remixed and voiced rhythms for custom and exclusive cuts. Some of the cuts heard here were formerly exclusive power plays on King Tubby's own legendary sound system, and unlike some previous issues of such material, these are genuine mixes done at the time. Some other tracks clearly exude the youthful enthusiasm of the participants. Rest in power Prince Philip Smart." --RB/DKR, Summer 2023
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12"
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DKR 281EP
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"New twelve inch of vintage Wackie's on City Line. The A-side features two of the best Wackie's deep roots tunes previously only released on compilation, which have long needed single release. Stranger Cole's somber 'Capture Land' about the reality of squatting in the ghetto, followed by Wanachi's instrumental cut of the brilliant rhythm you might know from Azul's 'Black Rose.' The B-side features a really unique previously unreleased tune from one Moon Dread. Operatic, semi-acoustic and haunting, if you like early Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, this tune offers a maybe less spiritual and more theatrical but still compelling take in that vein from about a decade later in the late 1970s. Comes in new Wackie's company sleeve."
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7"
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DKR 290EP
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"Here's the first dip into previously unreleased heat from Parish. Fire late '80s Everton Chambers, riding a wicked lick of the tonight riddim. Another one proving yet again that Parish is one of the finest labels of the era."
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7"
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DKR 279EP
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"Back with another selection from the Don, one of Digikiller's favorite artists. This one is the only tune he voiced for Bullwackie's, and it is of course killer. Only ever released on a compilation, now on 45 for the first time backed with dub of the rhythm, well-loved from the Love Joy's tune 'Studio Man.'"
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7"
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DKR 285EP
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"Here's the inaugural release in a new series from the archives of the late great engineer and producer Philip Smart. Philip's resume is impeccable -- early friend and collaborator of Augustus Pablo, radio host and DJ, first apprentice of King Tubby, and founder, producer and engineer at one of the major reggae studios of New York City history, HC&F. Many years back label Goldshop did a series of 45 reissues of the dancehall classics from Philip's Eclipse label. This first release is a must -- produced by Philip during his time as engineer at Tubby's studio, this is an awesome rockers style take on the moody Paragons classic. The flip features a classic blueprint mid '70s Tubby's style dub, HPF in effect with the first Prince, Philip Smart at the helm. Originally released thru Brooklyn's legendary Keith's record shop back around the time it was recorded."
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LP
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DKR 274LP
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"Continuing Digikiller's Park Heights series, here's another all killer no filler compilation LP in DKR style. Ten great tracks from Park Height's productive late '80s period, where Mr. Francis produced a lot of great early digital reggae both in Jamaica and right here in NYC. Here are eight great never before reissued tracks from the catalog, plus two previously unreleased gems. As always, housed in a fresh jacket with the vibes of the time."
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LP
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DKR 276LP
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"New compilation and long overdue next entry in the long running Jah Children Invasion compilation series! This volume focuses on Wackies' foray into digital reggae, with a killer selection of tracks from the late '80s and early '90s. There are three previously unreleased tunes alongside seven others culled from prior rare and long out of print releases. In DKR style this comes in a two-sided hand silkscreened jacket. Featuring: Chosen Brothers , Chris Wayne, Horace Andy, Jackie Mittoo, Jerry Harris, Milton Henry, Various Artists, and Wayne Chin."
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7"
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DKR 289EP
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"Hard piece of stepping digital from 1989 with the masters of the era on the rhythm track, Steely & Clevie. Likewise, Conroy is one of the iconic artists of the late '80s digital era with numerous classics to his name."
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7"
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DKR 291EP
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"Peak 1987 all time, top tier digital reggae. Killer one-away rhythm and awesome militant vocal from Hopeton Lindo. An all-time favorite politically conscious reggae tunes, still relevant today. Better still, this release is taken straight from the original master tape and is nearly a full minute longer than the original release, wherein Hopeton drops a bit of dancehall vernacular. Real hardcore DKR heads will know when they hear it."
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7"
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DKR 287EP
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"John Holt & Alton Ellis' 'Live & Love/Version' 7". Killer combination roots tune from these two legends. Released in 1986, but the music sounds more in a 1980-81 Roots Radics style. Backed with hard dub version."
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7"
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DKR 278EP
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"DKR's been overdue to let off a modern gem from the Wackie's vaults. Another favorite 12 Tribes related artists, the late great Judah Eskender Tafari, on a hard and moody but uplifting digital stepper straight from the Bronx. B-side features a great ghostly raw rhythm version from Bullwackie."
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7"
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DKR 272EP
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"A-side is a previously unreleased mix. Killer female roots vocal on the tuff lick of the 'Java' rhythm that we released other cuts on (see above links). This tune was originally released on 12" on Park Heights' Son of a Gun label, under the name Park Heights Angel aka Angel Hoytt. This is the first release on 45, and the A-side vocal cut is an alternate previously unreleased mix."
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7"
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DKR 271EP
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"Previously unreleased. Killer mid '80s 'live digital' tune made at Aquarius Studio, released for the first time ever. A rarity to get Dunkley on this type of rhythm, this one was great to unearth."
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7"
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DKR 280EP
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"Finally here, the first release in our long planned Parish label reissue program. Students of late '80s digital reggae know that Edgar Whyte's Parish label is one of the finest labels of the period, issuing many singles and albums, with a unique selection of artists and a bunch of killer original rhythms. Digikiller has been working on this program a long time and are very pleased it's finally here. It's only fitting to start off with what is likely the most in demand Parish single for '80s digital collectors, and from one of the label's signature artists. Everton Chambers' 'This Love of Mine' came out in 1988 and is extremely tough to find, a ruff piece of stepping digital, even favored for play by the late great Jah Shaka."
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12"
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DKR 260EP
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"Digikiller returns to its long-running Tasha reissue program with a unique pair of 12" releases, each with something old meeting something new. The second of the pair features one of Digikiller's personal favorite artists, Icho Candy. The A-side 'Get Up Natty' was cut at Channel 1 in the mid '80s with the Gifted Roots Band, like much of Tasha's best material. It is released here for the first time. The B-side features a new tune, recently recorded, with Icho still in fine voice, over a tuff new rhythm licked by Danny Bassie of Firehouse Crew and long-time Channel 1/Tasha associate, the one and only Barnabas.'
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12"
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DKR 210EP
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"Moja Nya's Freedom For Trots EP. Killer Wackie's from 1978, originally released on the Jumbo Caribbean Disco label run by Brooklyn's African Record Center shop. Deep roots discomixes on both sides. Essential and finally back out."
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7"
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DKR 262EP
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"One of a pair of absolute killer late '80s singjay reality tunes, originally released back to back on one notoriously rare 12". Despite being from '87 these tunes have a wicked mid 80s style 'live digital' sound with a band on the rhythm. These tunes were produced in Jamaica by Delroy Francis for his Claypot imprint. Delroy is better known as the producer behind the Park Heights label and record shop, one of Brooklyn's foundational players in the record biz. This batch of releases kicks off a long-planned program of Park Heights productions, featuring as always rarities and previously unreleased tunes. These Nuthead tracks are recut from the mixdown master tape, the original '87 mixes for maximum pressure; a previous reissue of these tunes from a decade ago featured new mixes done at that time."
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12"
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DKR 259EP
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"Digikiller returns to its long running Tasha reissue program with a unique pair of 12" releases, each with something old meeting something new. The first one features the roots veteran Prince Alla, school mate of producer George Nicholson. 'Can't Fool I' has Alla voicing over a killer rhythm cut at Channel 1 with the Revolutionaries back in 1978, at Tasha's first ever recording session. Finally voiced and mixed again over 40 years later, to great effect. The flip side 'Easy Skanking' has Alla in fine style over a great new rhythm licked by Danny Bassie of Firehouse Crew and long-time Channel 1/Tasha associate, the one and only Barnabas"
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12"
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DKR 244EP
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"Message from the Congo finds Bob Soul & The United Stars chanting a message of rastafari over the propulsive uptempo rhythm driven by the late Carly Barrett's masterful drumming. The harmonizers in the 'United Stars' as they are dubbed on this record, were actually members of both the Righteous Flames and Rocking Horses vocal groups. In hindsight Digikiller finds in this track King Tubby prefiguring not only the remix and the 'edit,' but also the frantic yet orchestrated chaos of a lot of the complex electronic dance music that would begin to come into its own a full decade later. To try and describe the magic herein would be pointless, you must simply listen to Tubby deconstruct and reconstruct the rhythm using a melange of his now famous tools and techniques to devastating effect. Indeed, it is tracks like this one which made the man himself and those very techniques now so famous. These two tracks were originally released in Jamaica on both the Gemini and Danger Zone labels (in identical mixes). On the flip side of this first 12" is Billy Hutch's little known vocal on the rhythm, entitled 'Ten Long Years.' The soulful vocal finds Bill in top form, and this track was originally released on Bill's very first album Reggae Showcase, released only in NYC and extremely tough to track down. Rounding out the 12" is a real treat, a previously unreleased different take of 'Message from the Congo,' with different harmonies, and a background voice telling you 'this is a message...,' bringing the title of the song sharply into focus."
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7"
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DKR 124RE-EP
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"New pressings of Digikiller's very first two Wackie's releases from over a decade ago, first released in February, 2013. Back then, these Joe Axumite and Wayne Jarrett 45's were remastered from original vinyl copies, as the tapes were MIA. In the years since Digikiller has been hard at work sourcing master tapes all over the place, including ones long thought lost or left behind. Fortunately, the tape was found for these singles a couple years ago, and since they've been out of press for a while, it seemed only right to remaster them now straight off the original tapes for optimum quality. The Joe Axumite 45 is probably my all-time favorite Wackie's single, a defiant polemic against mere reform in a corrupt system, with a brilliant echo overdosed mix that perfectly encapsulates Wackie's late '70s sound. Likewise, the Wayne Jarrett is equally canonical Wackie's, a killer vocal on one of the best original rhythms from the studio, back with a killer Jerry Johnson horns dub."
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12"
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DKR 220EP
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"Double sided killer Wackie's from 1978. Originally released on the Jumbo Caribbean Disco label from Brooklyn. "Big Leg Mary" is on the same rhythm as Wayne Jarrett's killer "Come Let's Go." "Wasn't It You" is a different cut from the earlier one on the Senrab label, but equally as killer. Both sides fully smoked out dubwise trademark Wackie's style. Essential."
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12"
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DKR 249EP
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"Finally realized, here's one that was long on the DKR wish list. Among the very finest moments from both artists, these brilliant interpolations of Curtis' classics have been unavailable too long. A mesmerizing rhythm adorned with the lovely sounds of hand drums, melodica and flute, mixed and dubbed to perfection by King Tubby himself. This 12" is a six-track EP, with all four cuts as originally released on two separate 45s, plus two unreleased mixes straight off the original tapes. Digikiller likes to think Tubbs favored these cuts, as so many mixes were done! The dub titled "Super Cool" is one of Tubby's top ten extant mixes. All tracks except "Super Cool Pt. 2" come from the original Jamaican mastertapes."
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12"
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DKR 225EP
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"A couple of excellent Wackie's 12" sides from the '80s now paired together for maximum pressure. Each originally appeared on separate 12"s in approximately '85 and '80 respectively. The A-side is another killer Sugar Minott shot, one of his many for Wackie's. That is paired with a more obscure one in the Wackie's catalog, "Zion Land," a great shimmering and chanting roots tune which is tough to find on original pressing."
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7"
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DKR 125RE-EP
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"New pressings of Digikiller's very first two Wackie's releases from over a decade ago, first released in February, 2013. Back then, these Joe Axumite and Wayne Jarrett 45's were remastered from original vinyl copies, as the tapes were MIA. In the years since Digikiller has been hard at work sourcing master tapes all over the place, including ones long thought lost or left behind. Fortunately, the tape was found for these singles a couple years ago, and since they've been out of press for a while, it seemed only right to remaster them now straight off the original tapes for optimum quality. The Joe Axumite 45 is probably my all-time favorite Wackie's single, a defiant polemic against mere reform in a corrupt system, with a brilliant echo overdosed mix that perfectly encapsulates Wackie's late '70s sound. Likewise, the Wayne Jarrett is equally canonical Wackie's, a killer vocal on one of the best original rhythms from the studio, back with a killer Jerry Johnson horns dub."
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12"
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DKR 228EP
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"Monster mid '80s 12 inch here, 'Break Down the Walls' has Sugar Minott on vocals with the Abbashantie band, bad roots tune, while the B-side 'Abbashantie Rock' has Jerry Johnson blowing on another killer driving uptempo rhythm, both sides with versions. Comes in Wackie's/Bond Export company sleeve."
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