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.

''Sulla Rotta Dei Venti'' (On the Route of the Winds) is the brand-new album of Italian ska-jazz maestros North East Ska*Jazz Orchestra (NESJO). A collection of eleven own-penned original tracks, written and composed between 2020 and 2023, that frames a new chapter in the ten-year career of the band. In this record, NESJO bravely explores other worlds through music, which, as we know, is always also an inner quest. It is at the same time an effort to place their own music at the centre of the time and space in which they live, even at the cost of going beyond the stylistic limits linked to the band's chosen musical genre. Although, these new 11 cuts are built around rhythms that are undeniably of Jamaican origin, melodies are tainted with music from other traditions and sometimes also feature pop elements. Somehow, in this new album, NESJO has chosen to let the jazz big-band out of the orchestra pit and to mix with the popular sound of the street. Through the tracks of the record, NESJO creates mixed ensembles with the use of instruments such as strings, accordion, flute, clarinet, horn, tuba… together with the band's regular branding of sax, trumpets and trombones. Another novelty of this work is that the non-instrumental tracks are sung in Italian by the three singers Freddy Frenzy, Michela Grena and Rosa Mussin. And the musical journey takes us to exotic but at the same time very close sounds in 21st century Europe: Balkan (“Piazza Della Liberta”, “CiganSka #1”), Arabic (“Petrolio”), African (“Nimi Muzima”), Italian (“Roma Tokyo Paris”), and ska (“Donna Di Chi”) and a sophisticated ska-jazz suite (“Sulla Rotta Dei Venti”). The opening words of the first track of the album give us a glimpse of the feeling of vindication, brotherhood and hope contained in this set of songs: "Where is the empathy for those in difficulty / in the streets of Trieste that shout with vitality / indifference hearts of stone / dense black Balkan agony".

CompilationLimited Edition Reissue

180g Audiophile Vinyl

Originally released in 1971. Remastered Reissue

Livin' on free food tickets Water in your milk from a hole in the roof Where the rain come through What can you do, uh-huh Tears from your little sister Cryin' because she doesn't have a dress without a patch For the party tonight But she knows she'll get by 'cause she's Livin' with the love of the common people Smile from the heart of the family man Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can, as she can It's a good thing you don't have bus fares It'll fall through the hole in your pocket And you'll lose it on the stone on the ground Gotta walk into town to find a job Tryin' to keep your hands warm When the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through And it chills you to the bone So now you'd better go home, where it's warm, and you'll be Livin' with the love of the common people Smile from the heart of the family man Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to Mama's gonna love you as much as she can, as she can Livin' on a dream ain't easy but the closer the knit The tighter the fit and the chill stay away Keep the man's strive, the family pride You know that faith is your foundation With a whole lotta love and a warm conversation But don't forget to turn Makin' you strong where you belong and you're Livin' with the love of the common people Smile from the heart of the family man Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can, as she can written by John Hurley & Ronnie Wilkins

- Violet Viny

- Limited New Edition - Special Colour Vinyl- Download Code

Limited EditionRed Vinyl

- Limited Edition (2000 Copies)- Red Black Swirl- Includes MP3 Download Card

- Smokey Coloured Vinyl- 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl- Limited Individually Numbered Edition (1000)

• Bunny Lee was the first to actually use reggae in the title of a record with ‘It’s Reggae Time’ Striker’s propensity for creating hit records during this period was unmatched and he was awarded the prestigious “title of Jamaican Producer Of The Year in 1969, 1970, 1971 & 1972” the years covered by this new Boss Reggae focused compilation.• Striker’s complete mastery of the new reggae rhythms and “versioning them over” are showcased on this release with the emphasis placed on the outstanding contribution of the cream of Kingston’s session musicians