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I-Roy
Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff [1972-75]
Blood and Fire
Library Mark: 63.2 IRO

Champion DJs From Studio One
Studio One
Library Mark: 63.2

Roland Alphonso
Something Special: Ska Hot Shots
Heartbeat
Library Mark: 63.2 SKA

It's a never ending project documenting Hackney Library's Greatest Hits. Having borrowed a couple of Joe Gibbs albums last time when I came to return them I picked up three more Jamaican CDs. Two of them cover the DJ phenomena: the I-Roy album mentioned above with what has to be one of the best titles ever, the other Champion DJs From Studio One which features a host of Clement Dodd produced DJ tracks -- and the final CD's a Roland Alphonso Studio One compilation Something Special: Ska Hotshots on Heartbeat that predates the other two but was part of the rhythmical basis that made the whole DJ thing possible.

Tenorman Roland Alphonso was hugely influential on the sound of Jamaica with a career dating back to the start of recorded music on the island and remains most closely associated with the Skatalites but played a prime role in various session bands produced (again) by the legendary Clement Dodd. There's plenty of old time party music -- covers of the theme from James Bond and From Russia With Love -- but on first listen Jah Shakey jumps out which, besides being an excellent track in its own right, is one of the most heavily versioned tunes around -- appearing notably on Willie Williams' Master Plan.

Champion DJs opens with the equally irresistible Nice Up The Dance, Michigan & Smiley's hit of 1979 which employs a similar old-time backing, the Soul Vendors' 1967 Rocksteady instrumental Real Rock, which is in turn better known in the UK as providing the basis for Willie Williams' (later) Armagideon Time which in its turn became one of The Clash's stand-out covers. (There's an excellent Heartbeat Willie Williams' album called Armagideon Time with both tracks mentioned on it. The track also appears in Jim Jarmusch's film Ghost Dog.) There's a mix of styles and lyricism from the Lone Ranger (Big Match) and Brigadiere Jerry (Every Man a Mi Brethren) to luminaries such as King Stitt (Be A Man) and Dennis Alcapone (Riddle I This and Home Home) but it feels that there's just too much filler (Josey Wales Feel Like Skanking is one notable exception), particularly when there's Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff around.

There's definitely no fat on the I-Roy from the opening Sidewalk Killer on a Tommy McCook rhythm through murderous tracks like the catchy Buck and the Preacher (A Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier movie) and Don't get Weary Joe Frazier to the previously unreleased Holy Satta from around 1975. Essential.