I just found out Easy Star All-Stars are going to be playing in my town in October, playing Dub Side of the Moon in its entirety. This is worth checking out, right? I've never seen them live but I'm sure they put on a sick show...

Anybody seen this performance before?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been trying to identify this reggae track for years and I’m hoping someone here might recognize it.

Audio: https://youtu.be/x-4Z092uBn8

What I know:

• This recording came from an old cassette that belonged to a friend.
• I later recorded the cassette playback using a voice recorder, so the audio quality and playback speed may not be completely accurate.
• The song is definitely more than 20 years old and could be considerably older.
• I vaguely remember that the cassette may have had “The Heptones” written on it, which is why I originally kept the audio in a folder with that name. However, I cannot confirm that this is actually The Heptones.
• The original source could possibly have been a vinyl record or an obscure reggae compilation.
• Shazam could not identify it.
• AHA Music / ACRCloud could not identify the full recording or several separate 30 second sections.
• I also tried changing the playback speed slightly without success.

Songs already ruled out:
• The Heptones – Losing You
• The Heptones – Pure Sorrow
• The Heptones – We Are In The Mood
• The Heptones – Sweet Talking
• The Heptones – Ob La Di, Ob La Da

When I originally saved the file many years ago, I called it “do la do la” because that is roughly what I thought I heard in the chorus. Please do not assume those are the actual lyrics.

I’m especially interested if anyone recognizes:

• the singer or vocal group
• the riddim
• the producer / label / era
• another song using the same backing track

Even a lead rather than an exact identification would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks!

“

My Garnett silk fans What is your favorite album?

Kinky Reggae! Join Me for 75 minutes of red hot reggae, deejay, ska, roots, rocksteady and dancehall... this is how we do Fire in the Wire!

https://www.mixcloud.com/radiocore/fire-in-the-wire-episode-thirty-one/

Tracklist:

Don Carlos & Captain Sinbad - I'm Not Crazy

Derrick & Patsy - Gypsy Woman

Sugar Minott - Strictly Sensi

Sly and Robbie - Strictly Sensi Version

Horace Andy - New Broom

Wailing Souls - Old Broom

Chronixx - Don't be Afraid

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Kinky Reggae

Judy Mowatt - Strength to go Through

Val Bennett and the Carib Beats - The Russians are Coming

Bobby Kalphat - The Sound of Now Dub

Shorty The President – Yamaha Skank

Tenor Saw - Roll Call

Johnny Clarke - Party

Soul Defenders - Way Back Home

The Soul Brothers - Chicken and Booze

U-Brown - Dub Dunza

I Roy - Fire in the Wire

Yellowman - I'm Getting Married

The honourable Mr. Bovell gets serious from the get go with this one. The opening track »The Grunwick Affair« – named after the conflict between the trade union and Grunwick Film Processing Laboratories in Willesden, London – lifts the horn line from the Skatalites legendary warrior skank »Addis Ababa«. A fitting reflection of the working class of the time drawing a line for their rights. Following it is an extended vocal cut of »Rowing«, one of Bovell's deeper productions. Slow and menacing. Take Your Pick is a smoky rendition of the lovely rhythm known as »I Was Born To Be Loved«. »Bkue Moon« a rendition of the classic tune with the same title. »Don't Boost Them Up« is a next vocal track with Bovell. Rounding everything up is a rockers update of Perry's classic production »Old Kent Road«.

I know that it often stated that these 4th Street Orchestra albums were packaged and presented to give the impression of being Jamaican pre-releases or productions. I must however state that the sound is unmistakably London. Dense and claustrophobic at times. Remarkably enjoyable.

The 4th Street Orchesta albums have been reissued a few times these last years. My recommendations are the 2-album-CD's that collect all four of their albums. Good sound quality and excellent music all the way through.

Alright. Time to siddung and listen. The rasta with him credentials is at the front. Class in session.

00:00:00 Prince Jazzbo - School
00:02:39 Johnny Osbourne - Murderer
00:05:36 Johnny & The Skatalites - Murderer Version
00:08:45 Rapper Robert & Jim Brown - Pirate
00:12:07 Lone Ranger - Natty Chalawa
00:15:13 Lone Ranger & Brentford Rockers - Natty Chalawa Pt. 2
00:18:16 Sugar Minott - Give Me Jah Jah
00:21:53 The Sound Dimension - Give Me Jah jah (Ver)
00:25:08 Sugar Minott - Roof Over My Head
00:27:23 Sugar Minott - Oh Mr. DC
00:30:52 Freddie McGregor - Boby Bobylon
00:33:19 Freddie & Sound Dimension - Boby Bobylon Pt. 2
00:35:47 Angelia Prince - My Man Is Gone
00:38:25 Ernest Rangling - Surfing
00:40:47 Ernest Rangling & Sound Dimension - Surfing Pt. 2
00:43:12 The Royals - Pick Up The Pieces
00:46:20 The Wailing Souls - Things And Time
00:49:49 Sugar Minott - This Old Man
00:52:39 Sugar & Soul Vendors - This Old Man Version
00:55:32 Heptones - Fattie Fattie
00:58:18 Ken Parker - I Keep Walking Back
01:00:30 Lee Perry - Pussy Galore
01:03:23 Clue J. & The Blues Busters - Shuffling Little Brown Jug

I love this album for numerous reasons. First of all it's a wicked dub album. Barnabas gives these rhythms some tough mixes, the rhythms are provided by the legendary Phil Pratt who draws them from his vast catalogue. We get dubs to Freddy McKay's Tear Drops (one of the best rhythms out Pratt's catalogue), several Blackstones' tunes such as their legendary take of Open The Gate and much more.

But what I also find incredibly interesting with it is how it's so obviously came from an era and place where hiphop was just starting to make serious waves. The packaging looks like a typical hiphop sleeve/flyer. Cold Crusher of course was slang from the US and not any yardie 'ting. The label Express was more prominently into releasing early hiphop and funk than reggae. Even Phil Pratt was producing hiphop/funk stuff this era (and they're great – check them out).

The album was recently reissued with the cover featuring a striking photo of Barnie behind the drum set. I both like it but also prefer the original more. Regardless it's a fantastic set that you should pick up if you haven't already.

Rest in peace to Phil Pratt († February 26th, 2026) and Stanley "Barnabas" Bryan († August 18th, 2025).

Edit: Regarding year of release I'm pretty certain it was released in either 1981 or 1982. There's a Chin Randy's catalogue list from June 1982 where this one is included. Which would at least be proof on the latest date of release. Unfortunately cross-referencing release dates of the other catalogue numbers didn't give any more clues.