Subtitled as ‘14 gems from the vaults of Amalgamated, Black Swan, Blue Cat, Doctor Bird, High Note, Trojan and many more’, the new release from Harlem Shuffle Records has pulled together its first compilation, following on from the string of much needed reggae recordings from the 1960s onwards.
Taken from releases dating from 1967 to 1975, its a brilliant collection of the not so available yet still killer. Highlights are plenty throughout, right from opener Stranger & Patsy and the ska-skank of Tell It To Me, through the sinewy, organ infested ‘I Love the Reggae’ from the Gaylads, the laid back sunshine instrumental of Willie Lindo & The Charmers Band’s Drum Song, to the original Upsetters band Hippy Boys incredible dubby cut ‘Nigeria’. But, and here’s the thing thats particularly killer about Hot Sauce Vol 1, there’s not a track that even comes close to getting you out of your chair and moving the arm of your record player (if, like us, you get the vinyl edition, complete with poster on a limited run)
So if you need something to truly pin your reggae flags to, that includes, in addition to the above, the likes of The Cobbs, Glen Miller, The Italy’s, Dave Collins and Audrey, then this is the mast you need.
Volume 1 suggests many more to come. On this evidence, we can’t wait.
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