Jam Down Rock - Joe Gibbs Dancehall Dub

Description

• 20 tracks new to CD.

• Includes dub versions of numerous major dancehall hits.

• Most tracks unavailable for over 45 years.

By 1980, the roots sound that had dominated Jamaican music for much of the 70s had been largely superseded by dancehall, a new, driving style that would remain in favour until the arrival of the digital era in 1985.

In the years leading up to dancehall’s arrival, few, if any of the island’s producers had enjoyed greater success than Joe Gibbs, whose hit-rate throughout the previous decade included international chartbusters from the likes of Nicky Thomas, Dennis Brown, Althea & Donna and Culture.

Determined to retain his position at the top of the Jamaica music tree, Gibbs was swift to embrace the new dancehall sound, securing the talents of its most accomplished exponents as well as almost every up-and- coming young artist of note. As a result, he remained one of reggae music’s premier producers until his dramatic retirement in 1984, by which time he had released numerous major hits in the style.

This set showcases 23 dub cuts of his most popular productions first issued between 1980 and 82, all of which showcase the musicianship of some of Jamaica’s finest instrumentalists and the mixing skills of Gibbs’s right-hand man and dub-master, Errol Thompson.

With all but four of the tracks unavailable on any format for over four decades, 'Jam Down Rock’ is a must-have for anyone who enjoys their music dark, deep and heavy.