Dancehall’s period in Reggae\’s History can be dated back to the very start of the 1980’s. The beat had slowed right down to suit the followers of the Sound System Dances of which it had taken its name. They demanded a slower rhythm to strut their stuff to and Dancehall supplied it with great enthusiasm.

The Dancehall period has always been aligned with the digital sound of the drum machine. But Dancehall was well established some five years before the 1985 massive wave change that was Wayne Smith’s, King Jammy produced ‘Under Me Sleng Teng’. The beat had already slowed down to the one-drop snare sound that allowed the DJ’s more room to express their thoughts on everyday life. Songs also found room to breathe in this bass & drum arena. You could call this the early period in Dancehall Culture before the digital rhythm opened up the sound to one and all who wanted to express themselves and now the technology allowed them entry.

We have taken this early period when groups like Soul Syndicate and the Roots Radics were working this slowed down rhythm in fine form and just as the first touches of the drum machine was showing itself. One producer who was right on his game at the very start of Dancehall was Ossie Thomas under his production umbrella Black Solidarity. Ossie Thomas was in many cases the first producer to record some of the artists that were to go on and rule Dancehall. Such names as Triston Palmer, Robert French, Papa Levi, Puddy Roots, Earl B, all cut their musical teeth under his guise.

We have selected some great cuts that highlight that this somewhat over looked section in reggaes history still carried some fine tunes…Hope you enjoy the dance….. Limited 180 gram VINYL.