PRE-ORDER: Soul Revivers In The Vaults Of Hit Sound Vol. 1 [LP]

Huford Brown, better known by his performing name U Brown, was part of a new generation of reggae MCs who emerged in the late 1970s, building on the success of the genre's pioneers, most notably Daddy U-Roy. A prominent figure on the Jamaican music scene, Brown was signed early in his career to Richard Branson's Virgin Front Line label, recording at both Channel One and King Tubby's studios with many of the island's top musicians. At the same time, he established his own Hit Sound label, releasing soulful roots recordings that reflected his deep love of reggae's still-young history while also embracing the emerging sounds of dancehall. David Hill from Soul Revivers has put together this fantastic compilation, showcasing the very best of U Brown's production output, which appeared on a number of labels, including Hit Sound and Tanker. This is the first compilation of Browns work to appear on vinyl and includes previously-unknown dubplate mixes of cuts by Al Campbell, including his classic "Give The People." The album also features under-recorded vocalist Vincent Taylor, legendary vocalist Delroy Wilson, the lilting instrumental sound of Bobby Ellis & Deadly Headly, and a dancehall classic by Carlton Livingstone. This is the sound of a young producer hustling to get heard in the over-crowded Jamaican record scene, and it stands up with the very best of today.