ReggaeMATTic

As the days draw in and the warm weak November sun sweeps long apple tree shadows over the lawn of an English garden, Big Dave the Bank Manager's voice trickles from ReggaeMATTic's smartphone. "I think I may have had a bit of a hit, got some reggae. Probably about a hundred or so singles and a few twelves." With a speed that belies the pot-bellied silhouette strolling over that irradiated grass, the bald man vaults the garden gate and speeds off to Big Yellow in his second-hand BMW, windows open, trailing behind the faint echoes of a Harmonic Mood Music Library record, to grab a handful of rare German prog-rock issues decorated with logos of ears and brains with which to barter for this mythical stash.

The results, o my friends, are here for all to hear...

A brief handful of UK 45 releases stretching from 1961 to 1976, reggaeMATTic style...

Once again we have a selection of organised randomness for therapeutic purposes. Starting at one position in my 'to be filed' range of 45s I picked out every fith one and having got to 20, chose a new starting point and picked out every fifth from there. Discarded a couple that have already been included in the infamous 'Barb's Box' from a year ago and set out to organise. Personally, I'm pleased with the results: Variety, peppered with a few gems and not too many clunkers. From around 1972 to the end of the decade, lovers, roots, DJ's and dub - it's all here and if you can answer either of the questions I pose, mail me please !

Having expected to come back with at least something from a visit to the world's largest used record store (Amoeba in LA), I at least expected to come back with something, but I bought... nothing! The best thing I got in the USA was a new pair of safety boots.

After just over a month of intermittent travelling and some long days, I had to pull a few 45's (almost) randomly from the Jamaican pressings section, and put them into some kind of order. It was rewarding listening for me, I hope it will be for you too.

A prerecorded 80 minute podcast originally transmitted as part of the Best of British night on BluntBeats.com recently. There was just too much to choose from so this includes mainly 70's and 80's roots and dub, a dash of the politics of the day, moving to some fine examples of Lovers Rock and UK MC's.

Includes productions from Jah Shaka, references from the recently re-released on DVD film 'Babylon', early LKJ, Brown Sugar, Papa Levi and many more...