Tuff Gong Pressings: Repress or Original?

[Tuff Roots]

So I'm a fairly new record collector (started 2-3 years ago) and i've been collecting many JA pressings over this time. I have recently found myself a few Tuff Gong pressings but I haven't found any forum explaining the difference or how to differentiate an original pressing from a repress, so if anyone could shed some light on this topic for me I would really appreciate it.

I kind of have an idea now of how to differentiate by just looking at the label. I have attached a photo so hopefully it will be visible to everyone (this is my first time on a reggae forum or any kind of forum so i'm new to all this) but it shows a tuff gong repress of Redemption song. Now on discogs there has been a debate about whether this is a repress or not but I was always assumed that the Tuff Gong represses had the little Tuff Gong logo at the top of the record (as it can be seen in the photo) because I have a few original Tuff Gong LP's and they do not have this little Tuff Gong logo at the top of the record and without the logo they look a lot more original. Anyway here is the debate about Redemption Song being a repress if anyone is interested: https://www.discogs.com/release/1620666 ... ory#latest

And also, would there be any way to tell what year? Any indications in the run out matrix? I presume this record is made in the 80's but is there any way to prove this? Discogs states the redemption song record in the picture is the original from 1977 from but it is obvious that this is not correct. I would love to hear everyone's opinion about it.

[Lick It Back]

TG 086A/B came out in 1980.

If memory serves there was only one pressing of this...it's the band mix, not the 'hit' UK mix.
The only Disco that was repressed on several occasions was Punky Reggae Party. Generally the JA disco's weren't repressed though some re-issues did come out in the 1990's. Bob's Island recordings weren't that big in JA, where Tuff Gong had the rights to manufacture, not Island

My book Bob Marley: His Musical legacy should help!

[jumbo]

it is a repress. the original press mentions Hope road, this one has Marcus Garvey drive as Tuff Gong's address.

up until Tuff gong stopped pressing, their regular back catalog included represses of the BMW Island album collection, 6 or so 45s and and these 12 inches:

-redemption song band version / zion express
-Punky reggae party /jamming
- I know
- One Love / Some much trouble
-Trench town
_Buffalo soldier

[Lick It Back]

original below: Jumbo's right - originals have at least 56, Hope Road as Distribution address & some have Manufactured at Ziggy's - which was the original name given to the Federal plant when they bought it in 1980/1. Later ones have Tuff Gong Int. but some also have Ziggy's...just to confuse.
The re-issue of One Love after Bob died has a Disco with 56 Hope Road address.
Ride Natty Ride (TGD 091) has very few credits on but appears to be from 1980 as well.
Whilst the Estate went through all kindsa internal wrangles in the 1980's there was very little vinyl - if any - vinyl pressed up. 1995 saw Punky, Buffalo, One Love & Trenchtown repressed on 12" and I guess we can add Redemption to that

[Gabranth]

My three Tuff Gong 12inches are all from Marcus Garvey Drive, not Hope Road (Trench town, I know, Buffalo soldier). I don't mind that they're represses, but it's nice to know.

A little off-topic... I must admit I read the word "disco" in that context only a few times on the internet, and I have no English friends to talk with about reggae.

Almost a stupid newbie question: Is disco a reggae-word? Or is it what all 12inch singles were called in the UK and/or US? In the 80s we Germans called them "Maxi Single".

[Lick It Back]

DISCO I believe started in the US and was adopted in the UK & Jamaica.
The first tunes were DISCO music tunes on the 12" 45 format as you could have both longer songs and far better bass with a 12" 45.
People like Perry started producing longer songs but also the format could hold 4 cuts of a rhythm: Vocal / DJ / Version / Dub etc

The ability to record more powerful bass was of coursed welcomed by the reggae world. 45's, especially in the States, had to sound good on the radio and so were were mid and top focused as the speakers in Car & home radio's had very poor bass capabilities.

[6anbatte]

A little off-topic... I must admit I readAlmost a stupid newbie question: Is disco a reggae-word? Or is it what all 12inch singles were called in the UK and/or US? In the 80s we Germans called them "Maxi Single".

Interestingly (possibly) I used to buy a "pop" magazine when I was a kid called....."Disco 45".

The first issue was published in December 1970 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_45

[Lick It Back]

Interesting music magazine...Discotecs were the places in those days....

[99thfloor]

I have recently found myself a few Tuff Gong pressings but I haven't found any forum explaining the difference or how to differentiate an original pressing from a repress, so if anyone could shed some light on this topic for me I would really appreciate it.

Some of the the JA Marley singles seem to have been repressed again and again using the same stampers, with them getting successively more worn out over the years, so this means looking at the matrix might not help in many cases.

Examples of repressings that I have bought new (doesn't nesessarily they were recent pressings) in the last ten years are, on 7”: "Rastaman Live Up", "Blackman Redemption", "Ambush In The Night", "One Drop", "Coming In From The Cold" and "Bad Card”, and on 12”: ”Punky Reggae Party”, ”Jammin’”, ”Redemption Song”, ”Buffalo Soldiers” and ”Trench Town”. There are also similar Tuff Gong 7” pressings of posthumously released tracks(mixes/versions).

All of the above have the ”Marcus Garvey Dr.” adress, and either of the phone numbers ”92-39380-4” or ”923-3980-4”, and ”the little Tuff Gong logo at the top of the record”, so they look similar to your example. The only one of them that is different is actually ”Redemption Song”, where mine has a ”923-9380-2" phone, and a ”923-4657” fax number, so that is a more recent repress than the others.

Older pressings I have with the same general label design either have the "56 Hope Road" address, or no adress at all, some instead have a picture of Bob or a David's star.

Another thing most of these repressings have in common is dreadful sound, but it's the only easy way to get some of these mixes and versions. Back when the Deluxe editions of Marley's albums were coming out there was also talk of a singles compilation, but it never materialized, that would have been welcome.

[Gabranth]

Nice infos, thanks! So can the guys from the UK and the US confirm that the word "disco" was commonly used in the 80s to refer to non-reggae 12inch singles also? Let's say for example my "Axel F" 12inch from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack? Was this called a disco? Or is it an exclusive word for 12inch reggae versions with DJ/Dub?

Sorry for being so off topic here.