Various - Front Line Presents Dub: 40 Heavyweight Dub Sounds (Virgin)(2014)(2xCD)

 

Virgin Front Line always released excellent roots reggae music. Digging in record stores, one could find their releases all over even in the U.S. These 40 Heavyweight dub cuts are pretty good. A lot of hard-core reggae heads will have many of these dubs but it is nice to have these all in one place. If this is the only dub album you own, that would be pretty good as far as I am concerned. This is what reggae music use to sound like. : ) Great overview of what Front Line released during this era of reggae. For a taste of the dubs available here, check out Mr. Brown Version by Gregory Isaacs. For those looking for a deeper sound, check out Free Us Dub by the Twinkle Brothers. 

More Timmion Records 45s: Jonny Benavidez - Let's Get Together and Thee Baby Cuffs - My My My Baby

 

My exploration of the Timmion Records catalog continues with two more great 45s from the label. Thee Baby Cuffs with My My My Baby further shows that Timmion Records puts out consistently great output. This release is from 2019 and has a great classic Chicano soul sound. The Jonny Benavidez 45 is no slouch either with Let's Get Together. Jonny was born in El Paso but grew up in San Diego (my home town!).  Both of these should be in your soul box. This is from 2018. 

Ernie Hawks 7" 45s on Timmion Records - The Scorpio Walk and Cold Turkey Time

Don't know much about Ernie Hawks but here are two great 45s from him on Timmion Records. Both 45s were released in 2018. Solid soul music with stellar backing by the Soul Investigators. The Scorpio Walk and Cold Turkey Time are both worth your time. 

Pratt & Moody 7" 45s on Timmion Records "Lost Lost Lost" and "Words Words Words"

 

Two stellar 45s from Pratt and Moody on Timmion Records out of Finland. Superb music that makes me want to listen to all their releases. Lost Lost Lost came out in 2017, while Words Words Words came out in 2018. Worth getting. If you like modern soul that brings back memories of classic soul music from earlier times, then this is for you.

Various - Mods Mayday '79 (Radiation Reissues)(Italy)(2023)

 

An Italian reissue of an album released in 1979. Recorded live on Mayday. Captures some of the best mod bands from the era. I remember this album from the early 80s. I finally found a copy. Great historical statement and the music is solid! If you are partial to the music that Mods liked back in the late 70s, early 80s, then this is for you. Check out Squire's B-A-B-Y Baby Love 

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Don't Want To Lose You/Don't Give A Friend A Number (From A Man Like You)(Daptone 7")(2024)

 

The late great Sharon Jones backed up by the mighty Dap Kings with a stunner! This is the type of music that made me explore the new soul scene. Again, the A side and B side are superb. Check out the B side here. A must! Great release from 2024.

Sunny & The Sunliners - Should I Take You Home/My Dream (Big Crown 7")(2017)

 

Big reissue. Originally released in 1968. Perfect for cruising in your car on a Saturday night. World class sweet soul music. Check out the B side, My Dream. A must for your soul box.

Monophonics - Warpaint/Crash and Burn (Colemine 7")(2023)

 

Great release from Monophonics. Soulful but with a tinge of psychedelic. I only have a couple of singles so far but I need to find their albums. Excellent release. Check out Crash and Burn. A side and B side are equally good. 

Menahan Street Band - There's A New Day Coming/Tommy Don't 7" (Dunham Records)(2019)

 

Menahan Street Band with another great release but it is way too short! It left me wanting more. Check out There's A New Day Coming. Top shelf. This is released in conjunction with Daptone Records. So, you know it is good. B side is good as well.

Thee Illusions - Baby Don't (Waste My Time)/Will You Love My Child 7" (Black Bird Records)(2022)

 

Thee Illusions with a solid release. Not as catchy as I hoped but worth exploring more. The B side, Will You Love My Child is the better side. Need to explore this label more.

Vicky Tafoya - The Moment/Love Don't Treat You Fair 7" (Penrose Records)(2023)

 

Very bluesy offering from Vicky Tafoya. Check out The Moment. 

Pugwash - The Pugwash Singles Club (self-released)(2024)

 

Sometimes you find an artist that has such a mastery of melody that you wished everyone could enjoy them. Thomas Walsh aka "Pugwash" is that type of artist. This compilation was put together for a U.S. West Coast tour in 2024. It is brilliant. So many good songs and so many melodies. This is the real deal folks. Pugwash is pop. Check out Fall Down

Fleet Foxes - A Very Lonely Solstice (Anti)(2022)(CD)

 

Fleet Foxes just seems to calm me. I have mentioned this before but their music sets a beautiful mood for the mind and soul. It is a music that one should listen to on headphones in your dark room. Another gem. This is from 2022.  Listen to Tiger Mountain Peasant Song from this release.

Various - Pour A Little Sugar On It: The Chewy Chewy Sound of American Bubblegum 1966-1971 (Grapefruit USA)(2024)(3 x CD)

 

Great concept and idea. I had really high hopes for this compilation but for some reason it left me a little cold. Not sure what is wrong. The songs are melodic and are exactly what you would expect. The quality is good. It is not that it is bad. But the songs and the CDs when played all the way through left me a little bored. Maybe I need to listen to this box set a third time.  I did like the Cuff Links - Tracey a lot! I wish I was more excited about this box set.

Willie West & The Soul Investigators/The Soul Investigators - After the Storm/Instrumental 7" (Timmion Records)(2016)

 

This is the second 7" 45 from Timmion Records out of Helsinki, Finland that i have tried out and it is a cracker. Original release in 2016. If you like soul music, you are going to like this 45. The B-side is an instrumental of the A-side featuring the The Soul Investigators which may be the Timmion Records house band(?). Check out the song here.

Creole and Chinafrica - Journey from Creation 1975-1985 (Deeper Knowledge Records)(2023)

DKR Records with another great addition to reggae collections worldwide. Most serious reggae music fans are familiar with Creole through their various 45s in the 70s. In this collection, DKR gathers singles from the 1970s and 80s in one place and also adds a second LP of the dubs/versions. What is new to me is that Creole was also known as China-frica. The China-frica sound was a bit more of a fusion reggae sound and much of it was recorded in New York with the master Philip Smart engineering. Don't be scared away. The 'reggae/rock" fusion works well. 

This is a crucial collection. Tip of the hat to DKR. Check out Creole's version of Moving Away.

Dennis Brown - No Man Is An Island (Studio One)(2024)(LP Reissue/Remastered)

 New reissue and remastered Studio One albums! Every reggae person should have this record so I won't spend time on the music-it is classic. The key part is that this pressing is super clean. Forever, buying Studio One LPs was always a crap shoot because they often came pressed in 'rough' conditions - "Under duress" may be best way to describe the awful pressings that one would get when buying Studio One LPs. Well, this 2024 reissue of the 1970 release by Dennis Brown is worth having just to be able to hear the music clearly. I am sure some collectors will find fault with this reissue and remaster but that is ok...get it anyway...the music sounds good and you probably need a second copy!

Billy Tibbals - Stay Teenage (Silver Arrow Records)(12" 45 rpm)(2022)

 

Billy Tibbals released this 12" single back in 2022, and I am getting to it now. I do not know much about Tibbals, aside from the hype of heard around the internet about him. He is classified as a 'power-pop' but it is more than that. While he is a new artist, this 12" single sounds like Billy Tibbals recorded this in the 70s. To be frank, this sounds a bit glam at times. I would even say he sounds a bit "British".  In other words, this record does not sound like a straight-forward American power pop record. That is not a bad thing. If you like your music melodic, then you need to keep your eye on Billy Tibbals. For a taste of what I mean, check out the last cut on this 12" single Foreverland.

Various - Penrose Showcase Vol. II (Penrose)(2024)(LP)

 

If you are not keeping up with the Penrose 45s as they come out, then get this compilation from one of the premier soul labels in the U.S. Classic soul music made today! This is from 2024. I picked up mine a while ago but I decided to open this up and put on the turntable. 

Los Yesterdays - Who Made You You/Louie Louie 7" (Penrose Records)(2023)

 

Another gem from Los Yesterdays. Who Made You You is has that classic old-school soul feel. Just beautiful. Take a listen. The B side is the rock'n'roll classic (by R. Berry) but imagine if it had originally been recorded as a soul song and you were driving down the boulevard on a Saturday night. Excellent. 

Pale Jay - In Your Corner/Bewilderment 7" (Karma Chief)(2024)

 

Great single from Pale Jay! Don't know much about this artist but the mood of the A side is just perfect. This is from 2024. Check it out here. The arrangement is great and the strings. Oh my, I need to check out more of this groove from Pale Jay!

Taitu Riddim Force meets Dub Creator - Dub Blessings/More Blessings 7" (Taitu Records)(2025)

Here are two dub version of "His Blessings" reviewed just below. Available on Bandcamp from Taitu Records. Dub Creator on the mix with Taitu Riddim Force (Mafia/Fluxy/Bubbler/Mikey Chung). Very good modern roots from Amanda at Taitu. More information on the Bandcamp page. These 45s are a must for any fan of serious roots music.
 

Rominal feat. Xana Romeo / Addis Pablo - His Blessings / Blessings Melodica 7" (Taitu)(2025 pressing)

From the Taitu Bandcamp page: "The ever-tough "Live In Love" riddim of Hugh Mundell and Augustus Pablo fame rides again with a vocal from the Romeo siblings, Melodica cut by Addis Pablo"  Mafia and Fluxy, Bubbler, and Mikey Chung on the riddim. From 2015(?)

Great release from Amanda at Taitu. Taitu releases prime roots music. You should get this. Check out Taitu Records on Bandcamp. 

Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away/Loves Comes Easy 7" (Penrose)(2023)

 

Thee Sacred Souls are world class in the new soul scene. Running Away is an uptempo song with sweet vocals on top. Love the sharp back-up vocals. The B side is a slow burn soul lament of the old school type. Great single. From 2023. Listen to Love Comes Easy is here

Fred/Instrumental Band - Love Can Last Forever/Love Can Last Forever 7" (Stylart Records)(2020)

 

Slow burn soul release on the Stylart label.  New soul music from Fred. Nice horn chart. B side is an instrumental version of the same song. Here is a taste of the vocal side. This is my first purchase of 45s from the Timmion label out of Helsinki, Finland. More to come!

Various - How Is The Air Up There? 80 Mod, Soul, RnB, and Freakbeat Nuggets from Down Under (RPM Records)(2018)(3 CD Box Set)

 

Wow..this is great! All the bands and songs are from New Zealand (NZ). While NZ was also enamored of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things, The Kinks, and Manfred Mann all toured NZ in quick succession. As such, NZ bands from the 60s tend to be fuzzier, dirtier, and grungier than other music scenes. So, if you like 60s garage on the crunchy side, you will like this a lot. A must buy for anyone into 60s dirtier side!

Hemsley Morris - You Think I'M A Fool/Ernest Ranglin - Heart Beat 7" (Clancy's)(2023)Europe

 

Rocksteady music from 1968(?) but released in 2023. Can't tell if this is a reissue or newly released. Hemsley Morris has a nice voice and rides the Hot Milk riddim well. Reggae fans will recognize the riddim. B side is an instrumental of the riddim credited to guitarist Ernest Ranglin. Good release. Get it. Check out Hemsley Morris here.

Ras Talent - African Trap/African Trap Version 7" (I Aim, I Destiny, I Jah) (2022) Euro reissue

 

2022 reissue of a 1980 release by Ras Talent. Straightforward roots tune. Not a barn burner. Version side is the better side. I give this a C. There are better roots tune from the era available. Check it out here.

Various - parasol's sweet sixteen volume 1 (Parasol Records) (2000) CD

 

Parasol Records is legendary in the pop music community. They have consistently released great, melodic rock, pop, indie music for years. This is volume 1 of a series of compilations they released. This is from 2000. It has now been 25 years since they came out, yet it still sounds good because melodies are eternal. Parasol was a label that turned me on June and the Exit Wounds - I Can See You

I am trying to get all volumes!