Black Slavery Days – Roots Reggae Compilation

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The compilation Black Slavery Days is a prime example of some of the brilliant material coming out of Jamaican studios in the middle of the seventies. Recorded The Sound of Saint Anns studio in Northern Jamaica in 1975 and released in 1980 on New York’s Clappers label, this album showcases timeless productions from the one-and-only Jack Ruby paired with heartical vocals from the likes of The Arrows, The Original Survivors, and the Skulls. Each track features an infective rhythm section, crisp horn lines, and memorable lyrical performances, complimented by skillful dubs from The Clappers All Stars, and T.S.O.S.A. I think part of the reason that this record is so pleasing to me is that it invokes the sound of the sort of reggae that I initially became fond of–something like Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey album (also produced by Jack Ruby) comes to mind–but it is not something that I would have had exposure to at that stage. While by no means a rarity thanks to a an Honest Jons reissue, this album deserves a place alongside canonized Jamaican albums that exemplify the organic and timeless sound of reggae’s early years. If you don’t know it already… go out and pick up this unforgettable release.
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