Various - Soul Jazz Records Presents: Studio One Roots 2 Various

Released: 20/10/23

Vol 1 was mighty fine, presenting rare and deep recordings from Studio One's mid-70s heyday. Hard to believe the Vol 2 is even better¦ As with all Soul Jazz material, the vinyl is heavyweight, with fine packaging and good liner notes. Reggae music doesn't get much better than this: buy immediately and play loud - David Katz, FACT

New one-off press transparent green double vinyl edition of Soul Jazz Records' long unavailable Studio One Roots 2', which features classic tracks recorded at Studio One. 

Studio One Roots 2' delves deep into the vaults of the legendary Jamaican Reggae label and features rare and classic roots as well as an unprecedented seven unreleased tracks that up till now had never seen the light of day. Roots and Rastafarian music was being recorded at Studio One by Clement Sir Coxsone' Dodd from the early 1960s onwards to the 1990s and this album reflects the depth and diversity of roots music at the label. From the slow-ska of Dudley Sibbley, to the deep instrumental jazz cuts of Cedric Im Brooks over classic roots rhythms such as Satta Massagana to Winston Mathews stunning eerie version of Bob Marley and the Wailers' Sun Is Shining'. The Zion All Stars features the Burro Rastafarian drumming of Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.  This album features many of the classic Studio One artists - Willie Williams, Tommy McCook, Cedric Brooks, The Gladiators, Vin Gordon - as well as many less well known artists - all who produced classic roots music under the guidance of producer Clement Sir Coxsone' Dodd and recorded at the legendary Studio One Records.

This will be hard to beat in the Studio One series in my humble opinion, amazing stuff. Too many good tunes on here to pick. Check this out you will not be disappointed. - RYM

Soul Jazz still crank out the best. Non-completist, non-purist, but always 100% killer. - Mojo 

If anything, Studio One Roots 2' is even better than the first volume and has some superb (and rare) tracks. - Record Collector