Roots Archives Forum

....all these re-issues, OMG...I came into buying reggae vinyl in mid to late 80's...by then, many 60's and 70's were hard to find - no ebay, no online shop. You had to travel to all these record stores worldwide to build a good collection - was fun, but "hard" work - or be lucky to find someone selling his collection...

Nowadays, so much cool stuff to collect "online". Of course, with downloads (legal or not), one could argue that the need to have the plastic things isn't as "vital" anymore.

Released these past days, for example:

Barry Brown - Prince Jammy Presents Barry Brown Showcase / LP on Greensleeves
Johnny Osbourne - Folly Ranking / LP on Greensleeves
Mighty Diamonds - Gates of Zion....the real thing, the 12" on Greensleeves

Not to mention all the other labels doing an amazing job: onlyroots, pressure sounds, the (expensive) japanese stuff, sunspot etc.etc.

...I also see WACKIES vinyl gradually out of stock....wonder if these will be re-re-issued or if that's it...

Another new trend: the re-issue labels that weren't considered that much when originally pressed - heartbeat, makasound - are starting to command premium prices...!!! Try finding the gorgeous Mighty Three silkscreened Rasta Business 12", for example, or the superb Freddie McGregor Heartbeat Bobby Bobylon double LP....

Good points Vlad. As a relative new-comer to the vinyl collection game, I often find myself deliberating between different releases of albums (original? 90's reissue? new re-reissue?) but I suppose that is a great problem to have.

A big part of why I started scooping up reggae records in the first place was because of the abundance of inexpensive re-presses of classic LPs. I don't have deep pockets at this point in my life so to be able to pick up something like Run Come Ya Man for 12 bucks is what keeps me coming back. Of course, I still try to hunt down affordable originals when possible.

Oh, and that Barry Brown Showcase will be on my player soon enough, I'm sure.