Blood & Fire

Back in the eighties, talking to Steve Barrow on a regular basis – one theme that he always returned too, was the need for reggae music to be given the respect it deserves. High quality sleeves, great pressings, and for the people who actually made the music to be paid!!!

He tried his very best at Trojan to achieve this. Trojan however had a way of doing things – there ideas were still very much connected to the sixties.

So. Steve’s ideas were put on hold. Until Mick Hucknell and his management team (Bob Harding, Elliiot Rashman . And Andy Dodd) decided to start a Reggae re-issue label. By 1994, the first set of releases started to be released.

‘If Deejay Was Your Trade’, ‘Dub Gone Crazy’. Keith Hudson’s ‘Pick A Dub’, Burning Spear ‘Social Living’ and ‘Yabby U ‘King Tubby Prophesy Of Dub’.

Reggae music had never seen anything like it. All what Steve had been talking about back in the eighties finally materialised. There was also a very popular Sound System ‘Blood & Fire’ that brought in the great foundation deejays like Dillinger, Trinity, Dennis Alcapone, Ranking Joe, and U Brown.

Steve was also very keen to release new music – so two fantastic ‘One Rhythm’ albums were released one in 2004 ‘The Tree Of Satta’ from the Abyssinians, and ‘Fisherman Style’ in 2006 from the Congoes. Which were very received,

Sadly due to distribution problems in the US, and in Europe. The label closed down in 2007. It was hoped that the label would be revived – but worsening economic problems in Europe and America have prevented that from happening. But the 50 odd albums that Blood and Fire released from 1994 to 2007, showed that reggae music – given proper resources had a past and a future to proud of.

Various Artists - Dub Wise & Otherwise 2 - Blood & Fire - CD

The principle of the V/A album was to be cheap and cheerful. The 'Tighten Up' 'Club Reggae' volumes released on Trojan was a huge success in the early seventies and people remember them fondly. Greensleeves, VP and Jetstar now dominate this area for new releases. When it comes to oldies no one does a better job of bringing old reggae classics back to life better than Blood and Fire. There sound quality and packing is second to none. And another vital part is that the artists and the producers get paid. Not just the man who compiled the set, or who wrote the sleevenotes, or who provided a photo, or who did the design work. The acutal people who sang the songs get paid. Until this becomes the norm reggae music will forever stay in the hole that it dug for itself. I think this set sells for around £5.00 so what do you get. 17 tracks. That include classics from Junior Byles 'Chant Down Babylon', Gregory Isaacs 'Slavemaster', The Tamlins 'Baltimore', Leroy Smart & I.Roy 'Jah Is My Light', Max Romeo 'Valley Of Jehosaphat'. Incredible.

The Dubmasters - X Ray Music -CD.

Its amazing to think that no record company as come up with idea before, which is a various engineers dub album. Looking at the credits on this 16 track set, which includes dub mixes from King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Phillip Smart, Scientist, Errol T, Jo Jo Hookim & Lee Perry is like checking a role call of dub. Sylvan Morris and Errol Brown are missing from the list, but you can't include everyone. And part two of this excellent set could be just around the corner. Then you could also include Chemist, and Solgie and…

Step It Up In Dub - Prince Jammy

Dub The Right Way - King Tubby

Dub There - Prince Jammy

There's Dub - King Tubby

Morpheus Special - King Tubby

Extraordinary Version - Errol Thompson

Noah Sugar Pan - Lee Perry

Rally Dub - Lee Perry

Cool This Dub - Phillip Smart

Bag A Wire Dub - King Tubby

King Tubby's Answer - Scientist

Shining Dub - Karl Pitterson & Clive Chin

Pegasus Rock - King Tubby

The Champion Version - Prince Jammy

Moses Dub - Jojo Hookin

Dub Is My Occupation - Prince Jammy

Various Artists - Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown - 1973 -1980 - Blood & Fire

Different company same idea. Just as good. Although with Blood & Fire there are some twists, like the incredible stringless cut of 'Is It Because I'm Black' from Ken Boothe, I've never heard that before. Sameway with Carl Bradney 'Slipping Into Darkness' in fact I've never heard of him before come to that. Freddie McGregor's 'Get Involved' was one of his early hits if I remember correctly, although it was very hard to get hold of, not being released in the UK. A great selection - truly essential.

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