The Wailers – Back Out / Can't You See (7")
€12.90*
Jamwax Records proudly presents this historic reissue, featuring two
timeless tracks from The Wailers’ legendary album The Best of The
Wailers: "Can't You See" and "Back Out". While these songs have long
been cherished as classics, this marks the first time they have ever
been available on a 7-inch vinyl single. Even though some books about
Bob Marley & The Wailers list them as having been released on
7-inch, I have never seen a copy for sale. Produced by the visionary
Leslie Kong with co-producer Warwick Lyn, the album captures The Wailers
at their soulful, raw best. These songs predate the group’s later
partnership with Lee Perry and Island Records, offering a purer, more
unembellished sound. The harmonies are flawless, the arrangements simple
yet deeply powerful, and the performances utterly timeless. "Back Out"
highlights Bob Marley's unmistakable voice, brimming with the confidence
and charisma that would later make him a global icon. Bunny Wailer and
Peter Tosh's harmonies add depth to a track that perfectly embodies the
spirit of early reggae. "Can't You See" showcases Peter Tosh on lead
vocals, supported by the sublime harmonies of Bob Marley and Bunny
Wailer. These recordings, crafted with a four-track setup and featuring
some of Jamaica’s finest musicians—including Mickey ‘Boo’ Richards on
drums, Jackie Jackson on bass, and Winston Wright on organ—are testament
to a moment in time when reggae was still raw, revolutionary, and
evolving.
Feel Free Hi Fi – Voyageur / Underground (7")
€12.90*
It says a lot about the interconnectedness of the global dubwise
underground that it took downtime with Bristolian Neek in Portland to
spur the link between ZamZam and Feel Free Hi Fi out of the Minneapolis
Twin Cities. Once he put us on to them we were hooked- not only by their
brilliant music but by their rigorously DIY approach and aesthetic.
Heavily inspired by the more esoteric angles of early digi-era JA
dancehall and UK dub (Shaka, Disciples, Mixman and Gussie P being some
touchstones) the duo create a sound both reverential and unique, steeped
in the traditions but striking out hard left into idiosyncratic
territory all their own. Releasing all of their works up to this point
on their own fantastic Digital Sting label, we’re excited to showcase
them on ZamZam.
In “Voyageur” an ominous mid-range figure, heaving synth bass and
complex intertwining melodies drive the tune into heavily cinematic
territory, thick atmospherics and strange synthetic animal calls like a
lost John Carpenter soundtrack-in-dub. The duo says, “Voyageur in its
title speaks a bit to the mythic, mysterious, but also very real wild
places of the North Country where we live… and how it all rubs up
against the contemporary urban environment.”
“Underground”s opening stabs, bassline and drums could have
time-travelled from Unity Sounds or Jammys, but bring an eerie darkness
in their deployment that is unmistakably now. Feel Free Hi Fi explain,
“Underground in its title is a tribute to the spirit of underground
music, of the DIY non commercial ethos… So the tunes together kind of
speak to time and change, and the struggle of what’s going on now.
Trying to preserve the environment and and also the wild places of
basement and warehouse gigs, and the outsider mentality of underground
music that also seems like it’s fading away but hopefully isn’t lost.”
Laurel Aitken & The Soulmen – Last Night / Don't Break Your Promises (7")
€12.90*
Jamwax proudly presents the reissue of Laurel Aitken’s iconic 1966 single, showcasing two R&B dancefloor gems: Last Night and the soulful classic Don’t Break Your Promises. Originally released on the Rainbow label in the UK, this 7-inch record captures the essence of Aitken’s versatility and his pivotal role in bridging the Jamaican and British music scenes. Last Night draws direct inspiration from the sounds of The Mar-Keys (1961) and Georgie Fame (1966), reflecting the influence of R&B rhythms on Aitken’s work. This release marked a milestone in his career as he gained increasing popularity in the UK, particularly among the mod and skinhead subcultures. As for Don’t Break Your Promises, it is a cover of Milson Luce’s 1956 release on the Argo label. The song was already a hit in Jamaica, having been licensed the same year by Dada Tewari on his Downbeat imprint. Following Aitken’s rendition, the song inspired several Jamaican covers, including versions by Dandy (1972, Trojan), The Chosen Few (1973, Studio One), and John Holt (1973, Bunny Lee). Nicknamed the "Godfather of Ska," Laurel Aitken was born Lorenzo Aitken on April 22, 1927, in Cuba. He moved to Jamaica at the age of 11 and became a central figure in the development of ska during the 1950s and 1960s. Before shaping the emerging ska sound, he recorded mento and calypso, laying the foundation for his ground breaking contributions. His prolific recording career in England included numerous singles on legendary labels such as Blue Beat, Pama Records, and Trojan Records. Aitken’s legacy as a pioneer of Jamaican music and his influence on British subcultures firmly establish him as a key figure in the global evolution of ska and reggae.
Bob & Marcia / Marcia Griffiths – Young Gifted And Black / Working To The Top (7")
€12.90*
Bob & Marcia's Young Gifted & Black album on Trojan came back in
1970 and was produced by Harry J. It included the title track, which
was a UK top five hit that has remained a favourite. The cool and breezy
groove carries a potent socio-political message and lo-fi drums that
lodge deep. It is reissued here on anew 45rpm that is featured alongside
Marcia Griffiths' soulful 'Working To The Top' which mixes authentic
reggae and slightly more swaggering ska vibes and heartfelt, steady
groove. Together, these tracks take it back to a golden age of reggae
and are perfect for loud plays on sound systems this summer.
VA – Big Bamboo Sample (LP)
€34.90*
- Limited Edition-
Green vinyl
Wicked collection of early 70s Studio One
tunes w/ highlights including alternate takes of Ken Boothe's Moving
Away and Im and David's classic Heavy Beat. Also includes The Mystic
Revelation of Rastafari's So Long Rastafari, The Heptones Suspicious
Minds plus lots of rarities.This album was meant to come out on
Bamboo in the UK in 1971 as a sampler for Studio One tracks released in
the UK on Bamboo but never came out as the company went bust - but was
instead released on Attack in 1974. Has been out of print for 50 years -
Studio One are releasing the original album also with 2 bonus tracks.
What's not to love?
Keith Hudson & Soul Syndicate – Nuh Skin Up Dub (LP)
€34.90*
Keith Hudson’s Nuh Skin Up Dub is a deep, heavyweight dub album that
stands as one of the most potent statements in the genre’s history.
Released in 1979, this sonic masterpiece showcases Hudson’s signature
dark, almost mystical production style, where heavy basslines,
echo-drenched drums, and ghostly fragments of vocals swirl together in a
hypnotic haze. Unlike the more polished, accessible dub records of the
time, Nuh Skin Up Dub is raw, unfiltered, and experimental, pushing the
boundaries of rhythm and space. Tracks like "Nuh Skin Up" and "Felt We
Felt the Strain" pulse with an eerie, almost menacing energy, while
Hudson’s masterful use of reverb and delay creates a soundscape that
feels simultaneously expansive and claustrophobic. Often referred to as
the “Dark Prince of Reggae,” Hudson had an uncanny ability to craft
music that was both deeply meditative and unsettling, and Nuh Skin Up
Dub is a prime example of his genius. It's a record that rewards deep
listening—every spin reveals new layers of sonic detail, hidden
textures, and dub wizardry. For fans of heavy, atmospheric dub, Nuh Skin
Up Dub is an essential listen, a landmark recording that solidifies
Keith Hudson’s status as one of the most visionary figures in reggae
history.
Prince Buster – Funky Jamaica (LP)
€34.90*
Rock A Shacka presents the long-awaited third release of Prince BUSTER's
treasured music! The album contains a total of 12 songs, covering
everything from Jamaican funk to rock steady to early reggae. Including
seven previously unreleased or alternate versions of songs, the
selection is more than funky and does not betray its title. Buster chose
the ghetto cemetery where the Rude Boys who had gone before him were
laid to rest. He was a legendary man who never forgot his rude boy
spirit until the end.
The Inciters – Bring Back The Weekend / If I Could Only Be Sure (7")
€19.90*
-
With Comic Book
-
Color VinylDie sensationellen Soul Stompers aus Santa Cruz sind mit einer
aufregenden neuen Veröffentlichung zurück: Diesmal hat die Band eine
neue Aufnahme des Titeltracks ihres gefeierten 2023er-Albums "Bring Back
the Weeken"d im Gepäck, bei dem die Combo dem Northern-Soul-Klassiker
"If I Could Only Be Sure" von Nolan Porter aus dem Jahr 1972 ihren
unverwechselbaren Stempel aufdrückt. Und nicht nur das: Zu dieser
fabelhaften neuen Single gibt es eine Sonderausgabe eines 12-seitigen,
vollfarbigen Comics, in dem die Texte der A-Seite mit freundlicher
Genehmigung von Gerald Stryker in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Songwriter Rick
Kendrick von The Inciters in lebendigen Illustrationen dargestellt
werden!
Babylove & The Van Dangos – Leave Me To My Quixotic Moods (LP)
€17.90*
Das brandneue 7. Album der dänischen Rocksteady-Combo:Leave Me Here
To My Quixotic Moods“ enthält elf neue Originalsongs in der bandeigenen
Mischung aus Ska, Reggae, Soul und Rocksteady
Prince Istari – Riddim Dub School 6th Grade / Mwendoskasi (Hot Drum Spicy Bass) - I Dub Further (Bass Upon The Wicked) (7")
€9.90*
The last grade of the elementary Riddim Dub School. If you like it hot
you go for Mwendoskasi and so Prince Istari did for the first side on
the 6th Grade. Brass driven hot stepper dub on this one with a killer
bass line as allways. Flipside ‚I Dub Further‘ dives in deeper territory
of percussion solos and fans of organ licks and brass sections have
their treat on this heavy dub rocker.
The Inciters – I Give You My Soul (LP)
€18.90*
Santa Cruz's sensational soul stompers The Inciters are back once again
with the new five-song EP I Give You My Soul on Pirates Press Records.
The veteran 10-piece band have kept very busy since their fan-favorite
2023 LP Bring Back the Weekend, and they entered the studio with a batch
of fresh new material that was still taking shape, allowing each
member's contributions to truly shine!
Keith & Tex – Gun Life (LP)
€18.90*
Many
reggae music historians feel that the rocksteady period of Jamaican
music only lasted for a brief period of time from the years 1966 to
about 1968. Clearly, they have not been in tune with what the legendary
rocksteady duo of Keith & Tex have been up to in this modern era of
reggae music. Since reuniting in the late 1990’s, Keith & Tex have
released four albums of original material grounded in the solid
foundation of the sound called rocksteady, with their newest album, ‘Gun
Life’, being number five, following that same traditional path. During
this reformation and reconnection of these longtime childhood friends
from Kingston, Jamaica, Keith & Tex have traveled the globe
thrilling audiences in the US, Mexico, South America, Japan and across
the European continent with their version of modern rocksteady. Their
performances are full of mega hits of the 1960’s like 'Stop That Train,'
‘Tonight’, 'Don’t Look Back,' and 'Down The Street,' as well as the new
songs they have penned, embrace timeless themes that always play well
to audiences young and old.
‘Gun
Life' is another collaboration with the highly regarded and proficient
producer from Spain, Roberto Sanchez, and his Lone Ark Riddim Force. The
band backs Keith & Tex with authentic, bubbly, driving rocksteady
riddims freshly created for this project. The music carries the gamut of
universal topics of life such as the trials and tribulations of love
with songs like 'She’s Gone' and 'Gave You My Heart.' The track 'Give Me
One Reason,' where Babylon has taken the resources of Africa under
false pretenses -- 'Give me one good reason to trust you...the good book
in one hand and a weapon in the other'-- is an example of a song that
gives a common theme a new twist.