Dance Hall Showcase, Vol. II

Lincoln "Sugar" Minott is known as the godfather of dancehall. Not only playing a major role in the story of Jamaican music as a singer, songwriter, producer, label man and sound system instigator, his voice appeared on pretty much every major roots, reggae and dancehall record of the era. He was part of the Studio One renaissance of the late 1970s, and started his own Black Roots and Youth Promotion stables, nurturing young talent. These key four songs and their dubs - slotting in lovers, bubblers and rockers, originally appeared in 1983 as a picture-sleeve 10" on the Black Roots imprint. "Everyone played 'Informer,' all the sounds," recalls Rae Cheddie, who remembers selling more than 500 copies straight from the Wackies office in Soho, London. "It was international - a couple of boxes went to Japan, some to Mad Robbie at Fotofon." "Special dedication to all dancehall fans," it says on the label," and dancehall it is, with well-charged dub, great playing and Sugar brilliantly focused throughout. Including two bonus tracks from Jah Batta and Little John.