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LP
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DKR 301LP
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Repressed. "We are overjoyed to present this album, another one from our bucket list and another one to set the record straight and illuminate the history of another much loved, but until now mysterious group. The Invaders made some of our all-time favorite records -- back in 2013 we issued five 45's of their brilliant, sometimes plaintive, sometimes hopeful and sweet early roots music. Their sound touches folk and gospel in lovely subtle ways that elevate them above the many harmony groups of the early roots reggae era. Since the start of DKR we were striving to learn more about the group -- and despite being able to license a portion of their output for reissue, and get anecdotes about them here and there, we were never able to connect with the group themselves. But we never gave up asking about them, and finally in 2024 we were able to link with Delroy 'Bongo Pat' Forde, the surviving member of the group. Unfortunately other Invader, Lloyd 'Paddy' Campbell passed on several years back. To hear and learn their full story, you need to check out this album and read the liner notes. This 13-song LP corrals much of their output -- some of the tracks we previously issued but have been long out of press, some more never before reissued, and some great related solo works by the duo. And to cap it all off we've added two new voicings on a couple of our favorite vintage rhythms, by Invader Bongo Pat himself, live in 2024, singing two Invaders songs written way back in the early 1970s but never recorded back then. All together this is a long overdue document of one of the 1970s finest groups and one dear to our heart. LP comes with double sided insert sheet of history and photos." --DKR
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LP
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DKR 277LP
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"Ten-song compilation LP featuring Jughead, Dutch Man, Little John, Frankie Paul, Little Chukie, Prince Oret, Lee Crystal, Early B, Baker B. Little John is one of the most loved and prolific '80s dancehall artists. He started as a child artist in 1979 and by the mid-1980s had recorded for every major producer. In 1984 at age 14 he already knew the ropes of the business and started to produce 45s on his own Romantic label, which he continued sporadically releasing tunes on up until 1993. This is one of the coolest looking labels of the latter 1980s, and has a handful of hard to find killer 45s, mostly obscure and mostly slept on. So naturally Digikiller needed to corral these for another all killer no filler compilation. True to his own roots, Little John's label mostly features fresh youthman artists, though a handful of veterans, like Frankie Paul and Early B who are both featured here, also recorded for him. The ten songs on this comp are favorites from the label, featuring a selection of killer rhythms spanning the heavy mid-'80s style, the proper late-'80s digital style, and the more uptempo early-'90s style. Hardcore DKR heads take note -- this features three cuts on that most hallowed 1987 digi rhythm."
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7"
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DKR 293EP
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"Time for the second release in this series with the super OG, Mr. Bobby Aitken. Bobby and his band the Carib Beats produced a whole lot of stuff for release thru WIRL back in the late-'60s. One of the best is this great rocksteady adaptation of Curtis' classic 'Keep On Pushing,' with Lloyd (Robinson) and Glen (Brown) on vocals. On the flip side of this is one of the rarest Carib Beats tunes, titled 'Soul Special.' This is a cool instrumental with some charming flute playing, only ever released as the flip of 'Crying Time', a brutally rare 45 that only exists in tiny numbers as a UK test pressing, never making it to full release."
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7"
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DKR 300EP
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"A special moment here with this one. This record has it all -- one of the best rhythms of the entire '80s let alone the early digital canon, laced with lasers, killer synths, dive bombs, vocoder, screeching across the border, militant lyrics, gigantic drums, perfect claps, the list goes on and on. An absolutely perfect record for the period and for the ages. Hopeton Lindo lets loose an awesome vocal -- his salute to the heroes and martyrs of the militant struggle against South African apartheid -- Benjamin Moloise, Stephen Biko and of course Nelson Mandela. If you don't know, read up on these men ASAP. This tune was made at Tubby's on a wild mix of the original King Tubby's tempo riddim, and was originally released on the very short-lived Aqua label due to some producer runnings back in the day. Now recut from the original master tape, this is one of those joyous occasions where this new issue actually sounds better than the original, which suffered from being made at the notoriously quality plagued GG's pressing plant. Fans of late '80s digital and militant reggae take note - this is your perfect storm. A long time searching for this one, finally here."
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7"
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DKR 283EP
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"Another one from Lloydie Slim, this time on his Ivanhoe the Conqueror label. This is the horns cut of his killer lick of drum song, by sax man Lennox Brown. A different mix of this was released on the flip side of the New York pressing of Tappa Zukie's cut, where it was titled Ivanhoe Strikes Again. This mix, with its dub version, were put to tape for a single release titled Danger Zone which never happened at the time in the late-'70s. Another previously unreleased heater, now you can play this one alongside the other cuts of this rhythm appearing on the Record Smith compilation albums."
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7"
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DKR 304EP
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"From the infamous 1980 production run of Sly & Robbie and their Taxi label. Keen followers of the dubplate runnings of yore know that in '80 going into '81, the spare, piledriver sound of Taxi drum and bass at Channel 1 was one of the, if not THE ruling sound on dubplate. Some tunes, like 'Heart Made of Stone' and several Black Uhuru tunes were eventually released on wax and became hits. Others, like 'Warrior' and 'Rocks and Mountains,' never got that far, only unearthed after decades of infamy as dubplates. So to kick off the return to this sound, here's one that was never released and very few ever had the privilege of playing, even on steel. 'Don't You Cry' by the Viceroys is raw, haunting roots with a monster drum and bass workout of a version. Straight from the dub room at 29 Maxfield Avenue to your living room, another DKR special delivery."
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7"
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DKR 246EP
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"Killer tune produced by Sly & Robbie at Channel 1 in the early '80s. Never released at the time, but it was played by some sounds on dubplate and has become hunted by steel seekers ever since. Great lyrics and the early Taxi trademark spare, heavy mix elevates this tune to something more. Warning for the punters, this is mastered from dubplate -- loud and raw."
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2LP
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DKR 286LP
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Sold out, repress in the spring... "This compilation is dedicated to the memory of the late great 'Prince' Philip Smart -- the first apprentice of King Tubby and the first engineer at Tubby's studio besides Tubby himself. Alongside Tubby, Philip was integral to the innovation that took place at Tubby's studio in the mid-1970s, where the mixing of new roots reggae revolutionized the sound of Jamaican music and created styles and techniques that are still being echoed today, nearly 50 years later. Though rarely credited on records in comparison to Tubby, Philip also mixed a lot of the paramount music produced by those close associates of Tubby's studio such as Bunny Lee, Yabby You, and Augustus Pablo. Philip was closely tied to Pablo due to their childhood friendship and was a partner in his stylistically significant early production works. In the early years of Tubby's studio, both men were making and cutting custom dubs there for their sound systems before starting to produce their own tunes from scratch, and Philip becoming the second chair engineer. Several of the songs on this compilation are a selection of the aforementioned work. All of the songs here are sourced from Philip's personal tape archive, and basically all of these mixes and versions have been scarcely if ever heard, and never released before. This double album comprises a rare and genuine glimpse into the dubplate workings of the inner circle of Tubby's studio in the mid-1970s, where the prime players and emerging giants of reggae music production and sound system versioned, remixed and voiced rhythms for custom and exclusive cuts. Some of the cuts heard here were formerly exclusive power plays on King Tubby's own legendary sound system, and unlike some previous issues of such material, these are genuine mixes done at the time. Some other tracks clearly exude the youthful enthusiasm of the participants. Rest in power Prince Philip Smart." --RB/DKR, Summer 2023
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12"
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DKR 281EP
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"New twelve inch of vintage Wackie's on City Line. The A-side features two of the best Wackie's deep roots tunes previously only released on compilation, which have long needed single release. Stranger Cole's somber 'Capture Land' about the reality of squatting in the ghetto, followed by Wanachi's instrumental cut of the brilliant rhythm you might know from Azul's 'Black Rose.' The B-side features a really unique previously unreleased tune from one Moon Dread. Operatic, semi-acoustic and haunting, if you like early Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, this tune offers a maybe less spiritual and more theatrical but still compelling take in that vein from about a decade later in the late 1970s. Comes in new Wackie's company sleeve."
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7"
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DKR 290EP
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"Here's the first dip into previously unreleased heat from Parish. Fire late '80s Everton Chambers, riding a wicked lick of the tonight riddim. Another one proving yet again that Parish is one of the finest labels of the era."
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7"
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DKR 279EP
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"Back with another selection from the Don, one of Digikiller's favorite artists. This one is the only tune he voiced for Bullwackie's, and it is of course killer. Only ever released on a compilation, now on 45 for the first time backed with dub of the rhythm, well-loved from the Love Joy's tune 'Studio Man.'"
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7"
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DKR 285EP
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"Here's the inaugural release in a new series from the archives of the late great engineer and producer Philip Smart. Philip's resume is impeccable -- early friend and collaborator of Augustus Pablo, radio host and DJ, first apprentice of King Tubby, and founder, producer and engineer at one of the major reggae studios of New York City history, HC&F. Many years back label Goldshop did a series of 45 reissues of the dancehall classics from Philip's Eclipse label. This first release is a must -- produced by Philip during his time as engineer at Tubby's studio, this is an awesome rockers style take on the moody Paragons classic. The flip features a classic blueprint mid '70s Tubby's style dub, HPF in effect with the first Prince, Philip Smart at the helm. Originally released thru Brooklyn's legendary Keith's record shop back around the time it was recorded."
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LP
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DKR 274LP
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"Continuing Digikiller's Park Heights series, here's another all killer no filler compilation LP in DKR style. Ten great tracks from Park Height's productive late '80s period, where Mr. Francis produced a lot of great early digital reggae both in Jamaica and right here in NYC. Here are eight great never before reissued tracks from the catalog, plus two previously unreleased gems. As always, housed in a fresh jacket with the vibes of the time."
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LP
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DKR 276LP
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"New compilation and long overdue next entry in the long running Jah Children Invasion compilation series! This volume focuses on Wackies' foray into digital reggae, with a killer selection of tracks from the late '80s and early '90s. There are three previously unreleased tunes alongside seven others culled from prior rare and long out of print releases. In DKR style this comes in a two-sided hand silkscreened jacket. Featuring: Chosen Brothers , Chris Wayne, Horace Andy, Jackie Mittoo, Jerry Harris, Milton Henry, Various Artists, and Wayne Chin."
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7"
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DKR 289EP
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"Hard piece of stepping digital from 1989 with the masters of the era on the rhythm track, Steely & Clevie. Likewise, Conroy is one of the iconic artists of the late '80s digital era with numerous classics to his name."
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7"
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DKR 291EP
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"Peak 1987 all time, top tier digital reggae. Killer one-away rhythm and awesome militant vocal from Hopeton Lindo. An all-time favorite politically conscious reggae tunes, still relevant today. Better still, this release is taken straight from the original master tape and is nearly a full minute longer than the original release, wherein Hopeton drops a bit of dancehall vernacular. Real hardcore DKR heads will know when they hear it."
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7"
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DKR 287EP
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"John Holt & Alton Ellis' 'Live & Love/Version' 7". Killer combination roots tune from these two legends. Released in 1986, but the music sounds more in a 1980-81 Roots Radics style. Backed with hard dub version."
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7"
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DKR 278EP
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"DKR's been overdue to let off a modern gem from the Wackie's vaults. Another favorite 12 Tribes related artists, the late great Judah Eskender Tafari, on a hard and moody but uplifting digital stepper straight from the Bronx. B-side features a great ghostly raw rhythm version from Bullwackie."
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7"
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DKR 272EP
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"A-side is a previously unreleased mix. Killer female roots vocal on the tuff lick of the 'Java' rhythm that we released other cuts on (see above links). This tune was originally released on 12" on Park Heights' Son of a Gun label, under the name Park Heights Angel aka Angel Hoytt. This is the first release on 45, and the A-side vocal cut is an alternate previously unreleased mix."
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7"
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DKR 271EP
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"Previously unreleased. Killer mid '80s 'live digital' tune made at Aquarius Studio, released for the first time ever. A rarity to get Dunkley on this type of rhythm, this one was great to unearth."
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7"
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DKR 280EP
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"Finally here, the first release in our long planned Parish label reissue program. Students of late '80s digital reggae know that Edgar Whyte's Parish label is one of the finest labels of the period, issuing many singles and albums, with a unique selection of artists and a bunch of killer original rhythms. Digikiller has been working on this program a long time and are very pleased it's finally here. It's only fitting to start off with what is likely the most in demand Parish single for '80s digital collectors, and from one of the label's signature artists. Everton Chambers' 'This Love of Mine' came out in 1988 and is extremely tough to find, a ruff piece of stepping digital, even favored for play by the late great Jah Shaka."
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12"
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DKR 260EP
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"Digikiller returns to its long-running Tasha reissue program with a unique pair of 12" releases, each with something old meeting something new. The second of the pair features one of Digikiller's personal favorite artists, Icho Candy. The A-side 'Get Up Natty' was cut at Channel 1 in the mid '80s with the Gifted Roots Band, like much of Tasha's best material. It is released here for the first time. The B-side features a new tune, recently recorded, with Icho still in fine voice, over a tuff new rhythm licked by Danny Bassie of Firehouse Crew and long-time Channel 1/Tasha associate, the one and only Barnabas.'
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12"
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DKR 210EP
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"Moja Nya's Freedom For Trots EP. Killer Wackie's from 1978, originally released on the Jumbo Caribbean Disco label run by Brooklyn's African Record Center shop. Deep roots discomixes on both sides. Essential and finally back out."
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7"
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DKR 262EP
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"One of a pair of absolute killer late '80s singjay reality tunes, originally released back to back on one notoriously rare 12". Despite being from '87 these tunes have a wicked mid 80s style 'live digital' sound with a band on the rhythm. These tunes were produced in Jamaica by Delroy Francis for his Claypot imprint. Delroy is better known as the producer behind the Park Heights label and record shop, one of Brooklyn's foundational players in the record biz. This batch of releases kicks off a long-planned program of Park Heights productions, featuring as always rarities and previously unreleased tunes. These Nuthead tracks are recut from the mixdown master tape, the original '87 mixes for maximum pressure; a previous reissue of these tunes from a decade ago featured new mixes done at that time."
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12"
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DKR 259EP
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"Digikiller returns to its long running Tasha reissue program with a unique pair of 12" releases, each with something old meeting something new. The first one features the roots veteran Prince Alla, school mate of producer George Nicholson. 'Can't Fool I' has Alla voicing over a killer rhythm cut at Channel 1 with the Revolutionaries back in 1978, at Tasha's first ever recording session. Finally voiced and mixed again over 40 years later, to great effect. The flip side 'Easy Skanking' has Alla in fine style over a great new rhythm licked by Danny Bassie of Firehouse Crew and long-time Channel 1/Tasha associate, the one and only Barnabas"
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