Mac Gregor
In Abidjan

True Persuaders is a group composed by Courtney Edwards, Peter Seal and Sammy Melbourn. Peter and Courtney are from Harbour View and Sammy is originally from Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica. They produced and released their first single called "Natty Lead The Way" on their own "Writers Of Rastafari" label in 1979. The song was recorded at the API (JIS) studio where Courtney Edwards worked for a short time after leaving High School. With the help of Bunny Wailer, they pressed and sold a few copies of this record.It's all about heavy roots rock reggae, a thing called "Roots Man Skank", the anthem of True Persuaders, the obscure reggae group that never released any album. The rhythm track was recorded by the great Sylvan Morris at Harry J and then it was voiced at King Tubby's studio with young Scientist as studio engineer in 1981. A Jah Shaka live dance mash down tune.

Stix Records is a sub-division of Favorite Recordings, recently launched with a first official single by Taggy Matcher Birdy & Nixon (STIX033), who pleased us with two Reggae-Rocksteady renditions of the famous Black Keys.Precisely specialized in the exercise of producing covers with a Reggae twist, the new label presents his first album entitled "Disco Reggae". Many artists faithful to the stable of Favorite Recordings and its various sub-labels are invited for the occasion: The Dynamics, Blundetto, Grandmagneto, 7 Samurai, John Milk or Taggy Matcher. All came and brought their respective touch to this first compilation, with among other things some of the rarest titles from their Big Single Records’ years, but also 4 new and exclusive productions.Each of them delivers a great Disco-Reggae version of classic hits by some artists as diverse as Madonna, Herbie Hancock, Justin Timberlake, The Commodores, The O'Jays, Curtis Mayfield, Harry Nilsson or Sugarhill Gang. Whatever the genre or the period, nothing can resist their inventiveness and creativity, to the point sometimes we confuse between originals and covers. Everything is remastered and cut at Carvery Records (UK), known for their expertise in Caribbean and Disco music.

English singer-songwriter Bridget St. John grew up in a musical family in Surrey, beginning on piano, viola and trumpet before picking up the guitar in high school. In the late 1960s she met the brilliant John Martyn who quickly became a fan and brought her music to a larger audience, which included the legendary DJ John Peel, for whose label Dandelion St. John recorded her first three albums. Our Swimmer is pleased to present this first-ever vinyl reissue from a UK songwriting hero.Jumble Queen, St. John’s fourth album, was originally released in 1974 on Chrysalis, following the dissolution of Peel's label. Featuring help from members of Jethro Tull, King Crimson alum Michael Giles, American guitarist Stefan Grossman, and, most surprisingly, founding Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden, the album is heady, dreamy folk-rock that stands up alongside the singer’s more well-known Dandelion albums.St. John’s voice – best described as a more refined Nico – is the focal point here. Her breathy, earthen tones perfectly complement the lovelorn lyrical content. With a more subdued sound than the rock-heavy backing group might suggest, Jumble Queen is an essential bit of UK folk-rock and singer-songwriter brilliance. After this album, St. John moved to the States and all but left the music business, not releasing another album for more than twenty years.

Afro funk and Political Soul from Togo.Recorded in the beginning of the 80's and self-produced by Itadi in 1983 , this obscure album contained deep soul and controversial rare grooves backed by the 5 band members called the “Afro Funk Band de Lomé”.Itadi's music is unique, in his second album, he kept the same recipe: a mixture of soul, reggae, hi-life and Funk, with heavy lyrics which sounds like slogans and caused him big trouble after its release. He was obliged to escape the country to USA. A real definition of a revolutionary musician!This deluxe LP contains also two unreleased tracks, interview, and photos and was fully licensed with his family.Remastered by Frank Merritt at Carvery Studio.

** Available exclusively at The Pusher **Nyami Nyami Records presents a reissue of a rare gem from the Gramma Records catalog , the historic Zimbabweean label. Dumisani Maraire, the leading creator of modern mbira, settled in the USA in the late 60s where he popularized the traditional music of the Shona people. Tichazomuona is the first album he recorded in liberated Zimbabwe, in 1986, with his wife Maichi and daughter Chiwoniso.You can hear the very young singer on lead vocals on the title track, long before she went on to perform solo on the international stage.We launched Nyami Nyami with her last recording Zvichapera and are happy to also release now her very first.

Weekend Loving from Jennifer Lara is a perfect blend of boogie funk, roots reggae and lovers rock. Produced by Black Solidarity Records in 1985, this album is a masterpiece from the Studio One princess. Recorded at Tuff Gong and Music Mountain studios in Jamaica, the rhythm tracks are played by some of the best musicians from the island in the sun: Lincoln ‘Style’ Scott (Drum), Errol ‘Flabba’ Holt (Bass), Robbye Lyn (Piano & Synthetiser), Dean Frazer & Ronald ‘Nambo’ Robinson (Horns). This reissue was carefully remastered from Black Solidarity master tape, now presented as a double LP 45 rpm DJ friendly edition. The original Limonious artwork was reloaded and a bonus track was added to complete the set: ’In My Time’, an obscure slow synth groove, full of hope and melancholy.Jennifer Lara was first taken to Studio One in 1969 by keyboardist Richard Ace, who was a session musician. She never left the Studio One family and became resident harmonist. She added backing vocals to the songs of some of the camp’s biggest names, including Delroy Wilson, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Sugar Minott. In 1974, Jennifer Lara recorded her debut album with Coxsone Dodd at Studio One in Brentford Road. The results of the sessions appeared on ‘Studio One Presents Jennifer Lara’, which was an instant success. Jennifer Lara was one of Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd’s protégés. One year after Coxsone passed, she died at the Kingston Public Hospital. She is survived by two children, daughter Ika and son Cheka. Jennifer Lara was a very likeable person, got on with everyone. She was involved in many benefit concerts to help to poor and the needy in Jamaica. May your soul rest in peace, we love you Jennifer.