Released: July 24, 1984

Zoom in to see titles. These are my albums and 12" records from the 80s and early 90s

Double 12" Spin #41 | Check the artists Desi Roots & Bunny Lie Lie, both with small discographies but significant impact, deserving wider recognition. Desi brings the roots classic Go Deh Right while Bunny offers two wicked tunes #DesiRoots #BunnyLieLie #LinvalThompson #LordKoos #Revolutionaries #Double12Spin #vintagereggae #VinylOnly #12InchSingle #CrateDiggers #Vinyl #ReggaeHistory Read the full article

Double 12" Spin #40 | Journey back to the vibrant 1980s, and listen to 2 hit tunes from Chuck Turner: Run Around Girl and One The Hard Way, and groove to the Mikey Melody song, Soldier In Town. #ChuckTurner #MikeyMelody #KingJammy #SteelyAndClevie #DennisStar #Double12Spin #vintagereggae #VinylOnly #12InchSingle #CrateDiggers #Vinyl #ReggaeHistory  Read the full article

This edition takes a trip back to the 1970s, featuring several artists, many of whom are no longer with us. We begin with a 12" single by Roy Shirley with a medley of his biggest hits, called The Great Roy Shirley. The medley includes Hold Them, Feel Good (also known as In The Groove), and Get Ready (also known as Get On The Ball). The record was produced by the longtime partnership of Pete Weston and Lloyd Charmers, a duo responsible for numerous hits. Both Weston and Charmers went on to successful solo producing careers, with Canadian-based Weston finding success with the Micron Music label. Roy Shirley, also known as King Roy Shirley and The High Priest, launched his musical career in 1965 with the single Oh Shirley. In 1966, he recorded Hold Them, considered one of the first true rocksteady tracks, produced by Joe Gibbs. Roy's ecstatic live performances contributed significantly to his success, particularly during the 1960s and 70s. He made the UK his permanent home in 1973, where he established several organizations dedicated to mentoring artists and nurturing young talent. His final performance was at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2008. He passed away a month later at the age of 63. The B-side of the 12-inch single features renowned toasters Big Youth and I-Roy (credited here under his real name, Roy Reid). While the label lists two separate tracks, the two tunes blend seamlessly together, which is unsurprising as they both utilize the same backdrop: Roy Shirley's Hold Them, also known as the Leggo Beast riddim. Big Youth, born Manley Augustus Buchanan, is a reggae artist of exceptional stature. Emerging in the early 1970s, he quickly became one of Jamaica's top deejays, also gaining notoriety for his teeth, which were inlaid with red, gold, and green jewels. His 1973 album, Screaming Target, became an instant classic. Starting in the mid-1970s, he took control of his production, releasing music on his own labels, Negusa Nagast and Augustus Buchanan. He enjoyed continued success and prolific output until the mid-1980s, when the rise of digital riddims pushed him somewhat into the background. Since the turn of the millennium, he has returned to the forefront, frequently performing at festivals worldwide and regularly recording new music. I Roy's story, unfortunately, has a less positive ending. After working in the sound system circuit, he recorded a four-song set for producer Harry Mudie, which launched a successful career throughout the 1970s. He recorded popular tracks with various producers, and his 1973 debut album for Gussie Clarke, Presenting I Roy, was a major hit. His work with Bunny Lee is also well-known, including his "feud" with deejay Prince Jazzbo. He later signed with Virgin Records, which released several of his albums. Like many artists of the 1970s, I Roy struggled to adapt to the rise of digital riddims. He faced health issues and financial difficulties, even experiencing homelessness. He passed away in November 1999, penniless and alone, in a hospital in Spanish Town. The second 12" single features Jah Larry, a reggae deejay/singer, producer, and label owner whose output was relatively limited. Beyond his base in Clarendon, Jamaica, little is known about him. On this single, he collaborates with singer Ken Parker, who enjoyed a successful, though brief, career in the Jamaican music industry. During the latter half of the 1960s, Parker scored hits for both Coxsone Dodd's Studio One and Duke Reid's Treasure Isle. His biggest successes came with Treasure Isle, including the tunes Jimmy Brown and Can't Hide. Disillusioned with the music business, he left Jamaica in 1972, moving to the UK via the US. Since the 1980s, he has focused on gospel music and continues to perform occasionally. The track by Jah Larry and Ken Parker is a successful remake of The Techniques' 1967 hit, Queen Majesty, which itself was an adaptation of The Impressions' massive hit Minstrel And Queen. It's possible that Jah Larry and Ken Parker drew inspiration from The Jayes' version featuring deejay Ranking Trevor, famous for the iconic "takeover" scene in the film Rockers. The track is produced by Lloyd Charmers, a prominent artist and singer who has made a significant contribution to the Jamaican music industry. Read the full article

This 38th edition of Double 12" Spin features Earl 16, a singer with a vast body of work and an extensive history in the music industry, as well as Chalice, the Jamaican reggae band that was primarily active in the 1980s and experienced a brief resurgence in the late 1990s. Earl 16, whose birth name is Earl John Daley, was born in Kingston on May 9, 1958. He embarked on his musical career as a member of the Flaming Phonics, a group that unfortunately did not achieve widespread recognition. He then joined Boris Gardiner's band, the Boris Gardiner Happening, an experience that proved invaluable in his artistic development. His career breakthrough came in 1975 with the song Malcolm X, written by his friend Winston McAnuff and produced by Joe Gibbs. Throughout the remainder of the 1970s, Earl 16 maintained his association with Boris Gardiner, a prominent figure in the Jamaican music landscape. This collaboration provided him with opportunities to connect with influential producers such as Derrick Harriott and Lee "Scratch" Perry. He released several singles during this period, and toward the close of 1979, he began working with producer and artist Mikey Dread, who was then gaining notoriety for his radio show Dread At The Controls on the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation. Earl 16's debut album, Reggae Sound, was subsequently released on Dread's label. The following year saw the release of Super Duper, produced by Ranking Joe, the deejay who also worked as a producer. In the ensuing years, Earl 16 frequently collaborated with producer Roy Cousins, resulting in approximately three albums. He also worked with Earl Morgan of The Heptones on the album Shining Star. In 1985, Coxsone Dodd released Showcase, a compilation of tracks Earl 16 had recorded for him over the preceding years. In 1985, following a period spent in the United States, Earl 16 relocated to the United Kingdom, where he currently resides. In the UK, he began working with the Mad Professor, which led to the release of the critically and commercially successful album Babylon Walls. He continued his collaborations with various UK producers, including Gussie P. He also joined Dreadzone, the UK electronica/reggae band, as one of their vocalists. In 1988, he achieved significant chart success with his cover version of Simply Red's Holding Back The Years a song that has become arguably his most recognizable and popular track. Earl 16 remains active in the music industry, collaborating with numerous European production houses to create high-quality recordings. Recent examples of his work include The Fittest for JahSolidRock Music and Natty Farming for Roberto Sánchez, as well as his 2022 album Higher Than I.Turning our attention to the second 12-inch single, we feature the Jamaican group Chalice, a band that emerged in the early 1980s. The group's formation was initiated by drummer Phanso Wilson and bassist Errol Moore, who were later joined by guitarist Wayne Armond, keyboardists Howard Messam and Desi Jones, saxophonist Dean Stephens, and lead singer Trevor Roper, among other members. Chalice cultivated a sophisticated musical style that blended reggae with elements of pop, rock, and soul. This fusion, while innovative, often failed to resonate with purist reggae fans, resulting in a lack of widespread recognition within that specific community. This relative lack of respect persisted despite the band's lyrics frequently addressing social issues. Chalice's 1981 debut album, Blasted, featured two hit singles, Good To Be There and I Still Love You. Renowned for their dynamic and high-energy live performances, the band garnered local and international acclaim. However, this vibrant energy was often not fully captured on their studio recordings. Their 1983 album, Standard Procedure, also yielded several hits, including Can't Dub and I'm Trying. Chalice toured extensively internationally and released more than twelve albums throughout their career. The band dissolved in 1996, following a period marked by several lineup changes. Approximately ten years later, a reformed version of the band reunited and released the album Let It Play in 2010. This particular 12-inch single was released internationally on the German Ariola label, which aimed to promote Chalice as a mainstream reggae act. The single features extended versions of what are arguably their most well-known tracks, Can't Dub and I'm Trying. Read the full article

Double 12" Spin #37 | Double Dose Of Reggae Greatness! Bunny Wailer's commanding Conqueror drops first. Then, feel the groove with Linval Thompson's Black Skin Girl. And don't miss Ranking Trevor's signature lyrical flow. This is a MUST-HEAR! #BunnyWailer #LinvalThompson #RankingTrevor #Double12Spin #vintagereggae #VinylOnly #12InchSingle #CrateDiggers #Vinyl #ReggaeHistory Read the full article

Double 12" Spin #36 | The King's Court: Eccleton Jarrett with Turn On The Heat & Don Angelo with Feelings reign supreme on popular Jammy riddims from the '80s. Must-Hear sounds! #Double12Spin #EccletonJarrett #DonAngelo #KingJammy #vintagereggae #VinylOnly #12InchSingle #CrateDiggers #Vinyl #ReggaeHistory Read the full article