TAURUS 7" / CHANNEL 1 7" & LP / SNOWBIRD 7"

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE / DIGIKILLER NEW RELEASES - JUNE 2012

TAURUS 7" 45 RPM

DKR-052 - JUNIOR MURVIN - MAKE IT AND SET IT 7"

Self-produced by Junior Murvin at King Tubby's in 1987, and released via Tubby's then-active Taurus imprint. Fans of digital reggae are well aware of the brilliant and unique digital riddims being cut at Tubby's in the late '80s by the likes of Asher, Peego, Fatman, Benbow, and others. But besides the immortal 'Tempo' riddim and its variations, there are monsters like 'Babylon', 'Inna De Ghetto', 'Grammy', and many more. And then there is this one, perhaps more singular and deadly than almost all of them, yet only lesser-known by virtue of its rarity. Junior Murvin's beautiful falsetto floats on top of a monstrous and mind-boggling one-away riddim that could only have come from Dromilly Avenue.

CHANNEL 1 / WELL CHARGE LP / 7" 45 RPM

DKR-097 - CHANNEL 1 - SATTA DUB LP
DKR-098 - CHANNEL 1 - FULL CHARGE REVIVAL DUB ROOTS NOW LP
DKR-106 - FRANKIE PAUL - WORRIES IN THE DANCE 7"

Two legendary Channel 1 dub albums, unavailable for 30+ years. Originally released only in JA, in silkscreened jackets featuring the iconic Well Charge star logo. Each LP features a selection of evergreen Channel 1 rhythms recorded, mixed and dubbed to perfection at 29 Maxfield Avenue. These are crystal clear reissues cut straight from the original master tapes, and come again in hand-silkscreened jackets, each in two different colors, exactly as the originals.

"Worries in the Dance", in our estimation the best rhythm of the early '80s and perhaps the entire decade, nothing short of a masterpiece. This rhythm and this tune really represent the refinement and zenith of heaviness in reggae as achieved by Channel 1, also in our opinion still unequaled then or now. This is a reissue of the rare JA 45 pressing of this tune, which features vocal & dub mixes different to any of the more common LP cuts. As if the rhythm wasn't enough, this is one of FP's best vocal outings, and the lyrics provide a brilliant and vivid snapshot of the climate in the area of 29 Maxfield Avenue at the time.

SNOWBIRD 7" 45 RPM

DKR-099 - BARRY BROWN - LAND OF THE LIVING 7"
DKR-100 - BARRY BROWN - STONE OF THE ARRIVAL 7"

Two of the hardest and best Barry Brown tunes. From the early '80s, and self-produced, released, and distributed by the late Barry Brown and his wife Lisa, on their own Snowbird label. Both songs only ever issued in tiny quantity on 45 in JA, until now of course both very hard to find.

Sound Clips:

Junior Murvin - Make It and Set It


Junior Murvin - Make It and Set It DUB


Channel 1 - Satta Dub LP - SIDE A


Channel 1 - Satta Dub LP - SIDE B


Channel 1 - Full Charge Revival Dub Roots Now LP - SIDE A


Channel 1 - Full Charge Revival Dub Roots Now LP - SIDE B


Frankie Paul - Worries in the Dance


Frankie Paul - Worries in the Dance DUB


Barry Brown - Land of the Living


Barry Brown - Land of the Living DUB


Barry Brown - Stone of the Arrival


Barry Brown - Stone of the Arrival DUB


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Glimpse into FOX FIRE!

Unfortunately we feel that photos of recording sessions in JA in the '70s and '80s are all too rare, so imagine our joy when our friend Clive Matthews shared with us these photos of himself, Trevor Byfield and others recording in Harry J studio circa 1983! Please enjoy them as we have, a fantastic glimpse into the making of the music we love. Click on the pictures to see them larger!



inside Harry J studio. bottom left corner, on guitar: Norman 'Fox Fire' Vassell. seated, wearing tam: Trevor Byfield. on bass, green sleeveless shirt: Derrick Barnett. singing, at microphone: Clive Matthews. drummer: Desmond Gaynor. organ: Simeon Stewart.



inside Harry J studio. on guitar: Norman 'Fox Fire' Vassell. on bass: Derrick Barnett. singing at microphone: Clive Matthews. drummer: Desmond Gaynor. organ: Simeon Stewart. piano (in foreground): Richard Foulkes.



mixing in the Harry J control room!
standing: bass player Derrick Barnett. seated at board, in blue shirt, engineer Barry Murray. with beard, vocalist Clive Matthews.



mixing continues! behind the console, left to right: Clive Matthews & Derrick Barnett. seated at board, Barry Murray mixes while Trevor Byfield looks on.


That was then, and here is now -


Clive Matthews



Trevor Byfield

FOX FIRE 7" 45 RPM

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE RECORDS NEW RELEASES - MAY 2012

FOX FIRE 7" 45 RPM

DKR-102 - TREVOR BYFIELD - BURNING BUSH 7"
DKR-103 - TREVOR BYFIELD - TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME 7"
DKR-104 - CLIVE MATTHEWS - LIVE NOT FOR VANITY 7"
DKR-105 - CLIVE MATTHEWS - APOLOGY 7"

This batch of releases is what Deeper Knowledge Records is really all about - showcasing and making available fantastic music that has been rarefied, but with no correlation to its quality. That is to say, music that we feel is every bit as great as well known, much-loved and canonized classics, but just never reached the ears of as many folks, only due to its unavailability. And the music made by the close-knit foursome of Trevor Byfield and Clive Matthews as artists, and Norman "Fox Fire" Vassell and the late Clinton "Percival" Williams as producers, is just that. Starting in the late '70s and into the early '80s, this foursome cut some of the best and heaviest roots reggae tunes of the era. We will be issuing eight great singles from these folks, and here is the first batch of four. Trevor Byfield's "Tell Me That You Love Me" is one of the most dread love songs that we've heard, and the flip is one of the most truly psychedelic, heavy and unique Tubby's dubs ever mixed. In fact, the crew liked this rhythm for this song so much that they cut three tunes on it! Clive Matthew's "Apology" is on the same rhythm, but instead of pleading for a woman's love as Trevor did on his take, Clive is telling her she's written off! The killer vocal is backed with a different and again wicked dub mix. Have no fear, the third cut on this rhythm, another vocal by Clive called "Am Going Home", is coming in our next batch, later this year. Next up is Clive Matthew's "Live Not For Vanity", a serious warning given thru a heavy tune. Lastly for this batch, Trevor Byfield's "Burning Bush", a classic ode to herb smoking. Originally issued on the Mistic, Percival and Fox Fire imprints respectively, these four tunes are now re-presented using the Fox Fire design originally used on "Burning Bush", which is one of our favorite label designs of all time! We would also like to let everyone know that Clive, Trevor and Norman are still making great tunes thru their new imprint, One Sleeve Music! If anyone is interested in working with these gentlemen, please contact us and we will put you in touch!

Sound Clips:

Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush


Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush DUB


Trevor Byfield - Tell Me That You Love Me


Trevor Byfield - Tell Me... DUB


Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity


Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity DUB


Clive Matthews - Apology


Clive Matthews - Apology DUB



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NARROWS RECORDS 7" & 10" 45 RPM

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE RECORDS NEW RELEASES - APRIL 2012

NARROWS RECORDS 7" & 10" 45 RPM

DKR-094 - ENFORCER - PENSION/AFRICA WAY 10"
*BOTH SIDES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED & WITH DUBS*

DKR-095 - ENFORCER/LITTLE ROY - BAD BOY/LEAVING ROME 10" *EACH SIDE WITH A DIFFERENT DUB, LITTLE ROY VOCAL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED*

DKR-096 - UPLIFTERS - GALLAS TRAP 7"

The man called Enforcer is to us, one of the greatest under-recorded voices in reggae. His two his smoky-voiced militant roots anthems cut for Channel One, "Pay Them" and "Ride on Marcus", are indelible classics and two of our all-time favorite tunes. Next to these, we love the wicked "Bad Boy", produced & released by Narrows Records owner Barry Bailey in the early '80s. Well lucky for us, Barry had similar feelings about Enforcer's talents, and "Bad Boy" was actually just one of an LP's worth of tunes he produced by the man! But unfortunately, only one other tune from these sessions (the love song "Her Eyes") had ever been released. So we went straight to the master tapes and found two more fantastic roots tunes from the man, and so here is the new 10-inch release featuring "Africa Way" and "Pension", both out now for the very first time, and with dubs. But we couldn't leave "Bad Boy" out, no way. And so our other Narrows 10-inch release features "Bad Boy", along with the two different dubs of the rhythm (one with horns!) as released on the original Narrows US and Regal UK singles respectively. And add to those, an awesome unreleased vocal cut on the 'Bad Boy' rhythm by Little Roy! Two serious 10-inches, 8 tracks in all, 5 previously unreleased, finally on the road. But while we're at it, we have to round it out with another gem from the Narrows catalog, the haunting "Gallas Trap" by Uplifters. A rare one released only on 12" in Brooklyn from Narrows' former Linden Blvd HQ, it's more killer early 80s sound laid down at Channel 1, back out now on a 7-inch.

Sound Clips:

Enforcer - Africa Way

Enforcer - Africa Way DUB

Enforcer - Pension

Enforcer - Pension DUB

Enforcer - Bad Boy

Enforcer - Bad Boy DUB

Little Roy - Leaving Rome

Little Roy - Leaving Rome DUB (with horns!)

Uplifters - Gallas Trap

Uplifters - Gallas Trap DUB

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CHANNEL 1 7" & 10" 45 RPM

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE RECORDS NEW RELEASES - MARCH 2012

CHANNEL 1 7" & 10" 45 RPM

DKR-087-JJ - PATRICK ANDY - JOIN ME/SELF CONTROL 10"
DKR-090-JJ - I-ROY - SKY JUICE & FESTIVAL DUMPLING/VERSION 7"
DKR-091-JJ - I-ROY/REVOLUTIONARIES - SEMI-CLASSICAL NATTY DREAD/DRASTIC 7"
DKR-092-JJ - CLARENCE PARKS - MT. ZION/BEEN SO LONG 10"
DKR-093-JJ - TONY TUFF/REVOLUTIONARIES - SEPARATION/COME ALONG/PROVERBS 10"
*all 10"s have vocal & dub on both sides!*




















The Channel 1 Lost & Found series returns for it's fourth installment and it's the biggest and baddest one yet.
By now you know we love Patrick Andy, and here's two more heaters culled from his body of recording with Channel 1. "Join Me" was actually released, but only a very rare 10-inch in New York, and remains unknown to most, heavy tune, with dub. The flip side "Self Control" is previously unreleased, Patrick riding CH1's cut of 'revolution' aka 'black roses' to great effect, again with dub of course.
Second, Clarence Parks comes in heavy with two awesome tunes, both previously unreleased, again, both sides with dubs. You may recognize the rhythm for "Been So Long" from Half Pint's "Freedom Fighter" and a handful of other tunes, yet another killer Radics riddim employed by several producers working at CH1 at the time. The flip side "Mt. Zion" is a one-away riddim as far as we know, but we wish it wasn't! Heavy stuff, but that's not all...more unreleased Clarence Parks still to come!
Next, a huge double-sider from Tony Tuff. Both of these tunes were cut for Channel's still-unreleased Tony Tuff album, but were making the rounds on dubplate and became favored by sounds. The massive "Separation" was played by Jah Shaka, and this original cut is, in our opinion, far superior to the second version Tony cut shortly after for his self-produced album on the CSA label. "How Long" is an awesome tune on Channel's cut of 'truth & rights' which became an anthem for Jah Love soundsystem. Again, both sides with dubs!
Rewinding back to the '70s now, with two total killer tunes from our man the late I-Roy, the original Channel 1 deejay and our favorite of the decade. His "Musical Shark Attack" LP for Channel 1 is our favorite deejay album ever, brilliant toasting over some of the all-time hardest Maxfield Avenue rhythms. A few months ago we brought out one of the cuts on this album on single for the first time, the militant "Tribute to Marcus Garvey", and it's vocal counterpart by Leroy Smart, "Oh Marcus." Both are backed with the rhythm's previously unreleased dub version, and both still available! So in continuing that, he's two more I-Roy cuts, again, both from the 'Musical Shark Attack' LP and both on single for the first time. All Channel diehards should know these tunes, as they are the deejay cuts to our man Enforcer's all time classic roots tunes, "Pay Them" and "Ride on Marcus." I-Roy's "Semi Classical Natty Dread" is a cut to "Ride on Marcus", and is backed by the Revolutionaries' dub "Drastic", previously only released on the hard to find UK-only "Revolutionaries' Sounds Vol. 2" dub LP on the Ballistic label. While this dub features snatches of the Enforcer's vocal, take note that it is unique, a different mix to the one featured on the b-side of the Enforcer 45! Last but definitely not least, "Sky Juice & Festival Dumpling" is the deejay cut to "Pay Them", and is of course, well heavy. This one is backed with a previously unreleased dub of the rhythm, different again from the "Pay Them" single dub side. Some straight talk from I-Roy on these tunes, we find him giving sound advice when he says, "now be careful what you're saying, because your mouth is gonna get you into something, your ass ain't gonna able to take you out of!" Gwaan Mr. Reid! RIP I-Roy.

Sound Clips:

Patrick Andy - Join Me


Patrick Andy - Join Me DUB


Patrick Andy - Self Control


Patrick Andy - Self Control DUB


I-Roy - Sky Juice & Festival Dumpling


I-Roy - Sky Juice DUB


I-Roy - Semi Classical Natty Dread


Revolutionaries - Drastic (Semi Classical Natty Dread DUB)


Clarence Parks - Mount Zion


Clarence Parks - Mount Zion DUB


Clarence Parks - Been So Long


Clarence Parks - Been So Long DUB


Tony Tuff - Separation


Tony Tuff - Separation DUB


Tony Tuff - Come Along


Revolutionaries - Proverbs (Come Along DUB)


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MAN KIND & RYTHEM TRACK 7" 45 RPM

DIGIKILLER RECORDS NEW RELEASES - FEB. 2012

MAN KIND 7" 45 RPM

DKR-053 - MANKIND - THEM A HUSTLER 7"
DKR-054 - MANKIND - SOME GIRLS WICKED & WILD 7"

RYTHEM TRACK 7" 45 RPM

DKR-068 - ANTHONY SELASSIE - VARIETY 7"








More '80s digital heat from Sydney 'Mankind' Francis! Re-presenting two of Mankind's best early digital tunes, both of which slightly pre-date his classic double-sider 'These Three Girls/Country Life' (still available from DKR!). "Them a Hustler" is on a killer one-away digital riddim, which utilises the sleng teng bassline, yet stands alone. "Some Girls Wicked & Wild" is a duet with an unfortunately nameless female singer, definitely one of the best combi tunes we've heard, again using a great one-off digital riddim. Both of these now very-rare tunes were originally released only on 7-inch in JA, in tiny pressings, dubiously and inexplicably with bogus artist credits. No matter though, they are back now for all to enjoy, further proof of just how amazingly fertile the '80s digital era was, and how many great tunes from it are still being brought to light!

Next tune from Callo Collins' Rythem Track label is a late '80s monster from our man Anthony Selassie. Around this time Selassie was a young artist hanging with the Youth Promotion crew as well as Callo's Rythem Track crew. This rugged live-digital (played, not programmed) tune was cut at Music Mountain studios, and to us has a similar vibe as the great live-digital Leggo Sounds releases we put out a while back. "Variety" was until recently very obscure, being released only in NY, on a 12" on the Genesis Music label, operated by a former Bronx record shop. Look out for more Anthony Selassie tunes from DKR in the future, and be sure to check out his other Rythem Track tune "Busy Body", which we released a while ago, still available from DKR.

Sound Clips:

Mankind - Them a Hustler


Mankind - Hustling Version


Mankind - Some Girls Wicked & Wild


Mankind - Some Girls Wicked & Wild Version


Anthony Selassie - Variety


Anthony Selassie - Variety Version




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TASHA & CHANNEL 1 7" 45 RPM

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE NEW RELEASES - JANUARY 2012

TASHA RECORDS

DKR-041 - MIDNIGHT RIDERS - YOUTHMAN INVASION 7"
DKR-042 - MIDNIGHT RIDERS - RAISE AGAIN 7"
DKR-043 - STEVE KNIGHT - ORPHAN CHILD 7" *FIRST TIME ON SINGLE WITH DUB!*
DKR-044 - STEVE KNIGHT - WOMAN A PROBLEM 7"
DKR-045 - MIDNIGHT RIDERS - ME A NO GUNMAN 7"











CHANNEL 1

DKR-088-JJ - FRANKIE PAUL - THAT LOVE 7"
DKR-089-JJ - HOPETON JUNIOR - REWARD 7"






Round three of Tasha releases! Midnight Riders, our favorite group of the 80's, did most of their recording for the Tasha and Channel 1 labels. Here are two more killer cuts from the Riders. "Youthman Invasion" was originally released on 7-inch in Jamaica via Sonic Sounds' Thunderbolt label, and licensed for a compilation on Japan's Tachyon label. Awesome tune on one of our top rhythms of the '80s! Next, "Raise Again" originally came out in 1987 on Tasha's one-away Under Pressure label. Another fantastic mid '80s rhythm from the Gifted Roots Band, this one infuses digital vibes with the live Channel 1 sound. Then the next cut on 'Raise Again' rhythm, Steve Knight's "Orphan Child", originally featured only on his rare LP of the same name, it's here on a single for the first time. Steve Knight's "Woman a Problem", is a great tune voiced on the much-loved lick of the billie jean riddim cut at Channel 1 in the mid '80s, and traded amongst nuff producers at the time. This tune originally came on 7" via Sonic Sounds' Thunderbolt label, and again on Steve Knight's "Orphan Child" LP. Lastly, Midnight Riders "Me a No Gunman" was one of two tunes Riders cut for Errol "ET" Thompson in the early 80's. One was never released and is seemingly lost to the sands of time, but the other, this one, was only ever released on a 12" in Canada. It's being re-presented here on the Tasha label alongside much of the Riders other material from the same era, a heavy heavy tune with wailing sirens.

This month's Channel 1 releases are two great and hard to find singles from the early '80s. Frankie Paul's "That Love" is a cut on the same lick of the 'revolution' rhythm made famous by Barrington Levy's "Black Roses." It was originally released on CH1's one-away 'Channel Expression' imprint, only on 7" in JA. Next is Hopeton Junior's "Reward", one of the baddest cuts on Channel's "Worries in the Dance" rhythm. It was featured on the classic "Worries" rhythm album, but was also one of only two cuts on the rhythm that was released on 7" in JA, with its own unique dub.

Sound Clips:

Midnight Riders - Youthman Invasion


Black Roots Band - Youthman Invasion DUB


Midnight Riders - Raise Again


Steve Knight - Orphan Child


Gifted Roots Band - Raise Again Version


Steve Knight - Woman a Problem


Steve Knight - Woman a Problem DUB


Midnight Riders - Me a No Gunman


Midnight Riders - Me a No Gunman DUB


Frankie Paul - That Love


Frankie Paul - That Love DUB


Hopeton Junior - Reward


Hopeton Junior - Reward DUB


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