"King Size Reggae" [1970] by VARIOUS ARTISTS including Leslie Kong Productions (November 2018 UK Doctor Bird Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue - Andy Pearce Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Give You My Love..."

Tapping into the 50th Anniversary celebrations for Trojan Records UK - 2018 has seen Doctor Bird Records (part of Cherry Red UK) bombard us ravenous Reggae and Ska lovers with fantastic 'Expanded Edition' CD reissues of albums disappeared from our record shop racks four and even five decades ago – many of which in truth weren't widely available in the first place.

Centred round the magical output of Trojan’s catalogue from the late 60ts up to about 1975 (see list below) - these CD reissues are not haphazard cash-ins. Each is tastily done, reasonably priced, have properly expanded booklets with newly researched and updated liner notes, often offer two albums onto 1CD or one-album with a huge number of bonus tracks - and some give label rarities their digital debut after decades languishing in the vaults. And all of it mastered from best sources by one of the top Audio Engineers out there – Andy Pearce – a name more commonly known for his decades of work on a huge array of artists under the Universal umbrella.

For this release we get one of Trojan's lesser-seen LP compilations – the Leslie Kong produced "King Size Reggae". First UK issued 1970 as a 12-Track Various Artists budget compilation on Trojan TBL 140 – here it loses three songs - "Soul Shake Down Party" and "Cheer Up" by The Wailers (no doubt contractual reissue refusal is the cause for these two Bob Marley tracks being absent) and what was the opening song on Side 1 - "Drums Of Freedom" by Ken Boothe. That tune has already been issued November 2017 as the opening track on the "Hot Shots Of Reggae" CD reissue (Doctor Bird DBCD-08 – Barcode 5013929270831) – a complimentary Various Artists set of the same period hence its exclusion here. Of the 9 tracks that are present, most were Trojan singles with Leslie Kong Productions or tie-ins and the three losses are more than compensated with by a massive 19 bonus cuts from the period.

This Doctor Bird CD reissue is also a first digital outing for "King Size Reggae" and amidst the 19 Bonus Tracks are three songs not originally available in the UK (Tracks 13, 15 and 25) and one Previously Unreleased (Track 28). Here are the Soul Sisters...

UK released Friday, 23 November 2018 - "King Size Reggae" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Doctor Bird DBCD-026 (Barcode 5013929272637) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue of that 1970 compilation LP offering fans 9 of the original 12-songs alongside a further 19 bonuses (74:53 minutes):

1. (God Love You) Soul Sister – THE GAYLADS

2. It's Gonna Take A Miracle – KEN BOOTHE

3. The Bitterness Of Life – BRUCE RUFFIN

4. (Come) Rock It With Me – THE MELODIANS

5. Money Day – THE PIONEERS

6. Gave You My Love – DELROY WILSON

7. Now I Know – KEN BOOTHE

8. Staircase Of Time – TONY BREVETT

9. Tell The Children The Truth – THE GAYLADS

Tracks 1 to 9 are most of the 12-track compilation LP "King Size Reggae" originally UK issued 1970 on Trojan Records TBL 140 (see notes above re track list)

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Cecilia – BRUCE RUFFIN

11. I Can Remember – THE TENNORS

12. Got To Get Away – DELROY WILSON

13. I'm A True Believer – TYRONE EVANS & BRUCE RUFFIN

14. I'm Black – THE EPICS

15. Night Flight (aka "Sentimental Journey") – ANSEL COLLINS

16. Who's Gonna Be Your Man – BRUCE RUFFIN

17. Collie And Wine – GLEN BROWN

18. Tribute To Prince Ruff – THE MONSTER & THE BEVERLEY'S ALL STARS

19. Baby Don't Do It – THE CLARENDONIANS

20. You Were So Much In Love – THE TENNORS

21. Ooh Child – BRUCE RUFFIN

22. Run Fattie – THE SLICKERS

23. Fat Cat – ANSEL COLLINS

24. I'm Gonna Make It – THE KINGSTONIANS

25. Let Them Stay – TYRONE EVANS

26. The Bells Of Freedom – THE EPICS

27. Candida – BRUCE RUFFIN & BEVERLEY'S ALL STARS

28. Bull Rush – ANSEL COLLINS [Previously Unreleased]

Like all the others in this series - the 12-page booklet is a fantastic affair - new liner notes by ANDY LAMBOURNE [aka Charlie Chalk] and MARC GRIFFITHS of Boss Sounds. Each page is festooned with tape boxes, the two label sides of the original LP on Trojan TBL 140, photos of Bruce Ruffin, Ken Boothe, The Gaylads, The Melodians (and more) and of course Leslie Kong, nine label repros for singles on Trojan alongside another nine for associated labels like Beverley’s Records, Summit and Blue Mountain and even the Elephant rear artwork. But best of all is one of my fave-rave Audio Engineers at the helm - ANDY PEARCE - who along with his engineer partner Matt Wortham has done Lee Perry, The Upsetters, Treasure Isle box set and wads of huge Rock names like Free, Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Wishbone Ash, ELP, Spooky Tooth, Mott The Hoople and so on...

Fantastic cuts like "(God Loves You) Soul Sister", "Money Day" and "Tell The Children The Truth" all stem from 1970 Trojan 45s (TR 7771, TR 7781 and TR 7783) - but I also dig "Baby Don't Do It" by The Clarendonians amidst the extras - a sexy little shimmy originally issued February 1970 on Trojan TR 7719 and written by Peter Austin about his girlfriend Hortense Lewis of The Soulettes. Those ever popular Kingstonians throw in their tuppence worth with a Leslie Kong composition called "I'm Gonna Make It" - a B-side to "I'll Need You Tomorrow" in January 1970 on Trojan TR 7708. And on it goes...

You could argue that the three missing songs compromise the original listen too much – but frankly in all the years I was trading rare records and albums at Reckless in Berwick Street – I've never laid eyes on this LP – so to have it here at all is all right by me. Recommended my Soul Sisters and Reggae Brothers...

2017 and 2018 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues
(Featuring Larges Amounts of Trojan Records, Treasure Isle, Pama 60s & 70s etc)

1. BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS - Young, Gifted And Black/Pied Pier (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-014 - Barcode 5013929271432)

2. ERROL BROWN/THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Dubb Everlasting/Dub Expression [1977 and 1978 High Note 2LPs on 1CD] (November 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-07 – Barcode 5013929270732)

3. DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS – Double Barrel (June 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-016 - Barcode 5013929271630)

4. DESMOND DECKER & THE ACES – Action!/Intensified (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCD-025 – Barcode 5013929272538)

5. DESMOND DEKKER – You Can Get It If You Really Want (September 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-015 - Barcode 5013929271531)

6. DESMOND DEKKER – Double Dekker [1973 UK 2LP set onto 1CD] (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-018 – Barcode 5013929271838)

7. PHYLLIS DILLON – One Life To Live (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-021 – Barcode 5013929272132)

8. ETHIOPIANS – Reggae Power/Woman Capture Man (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-10 – Barcode 5013929271036)

9. MARCIA GRIFFITHS – Naturally/Steppin’ [1978 and 1979 2LPs on 1CD] (August 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-002 – Barcode 5013929270237)

10. DERRICK HARRIOTT & THE CRYSTALITES – Psychedelic Train (October 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-05 – Barcode 5013929270534)

11. HARRY J. ALL STARS - Liquidator (June 2008 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-012 - Barcode 5013929271234)

12. JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – From Jamaica With Reggae (February 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-09 – Barcode 5013929270930)

13. THE KINGSTONIANS – Sufferer (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-03 – Barcode 5013929270336)

14. THE MAYTALS – Monkey Man/From The Roots (July 2018 2LPs on 1CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-017 – Barcode 5013929271739)

15. THE PIONEERS – Long Shot/Battle Of The Giants (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-019 – Barcode 5013929271937)

16. THE UNIQUES - Absolutely The...Uniques (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-011 - Barcode 5013929271135)

17. THE UPSETTERS – The Upsetter/Scratch The Upsetter Again (October 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-022 – Barcode 5013929272231)

18. THE UPSETTERS – Return Of Django/Eastwood Rides Again (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-013 - Barcode 5013929271333)

19. VARIOUS – Dancing Down Orange Street [Trojan 1969 LP] (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-04 – Barcode 5013929270435)

20. VARIOUS – Gay Feet, Every Night (October 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-06 – Barcode 5013929270633)

21. VARIOUS – Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae/Reggay At Its Best (October 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-030 – Barcode 5013929273030)

22. VARIOUS – Hot Shots Of Reggae (November 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-08 – Barcode 5013929270831)

23. VARIOUS – King Size Reggae (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-026 – Barcode 5013929272637)

24. VARIOUS – No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do? [2LPs from 1969 and 1970 onto 1CD] (August 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-01 – Barcode 5013929270138)

25. VARIOUS [Duke Reid and Treasure Isle Productions] – Soul Of Jamaica/Here Comes The Duke (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-024 – Barcode 5013929272439)

2019 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues

1. ROLAND ALPHANSO & THE ORIGINAL ORCHESTRA – ABC Rock Steady (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 43 Bonus Tracks, Doctor Bird DBCDD-023 – Barcode 5013929272330)

2. DENNIS BROWN – Just Dennis/Deep Down (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-027 – Barcode 5013929272736)

3. ERROL BROWN & THE REVOLUTIONARIES – Culture Dub & Medley Dub (12 July 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 25 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-038 – Barcode 5013929273832)

4. ERROL BROWN & THE SUPERSONICS – The Treasure Dub Albums Collection (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with Eight Previously Unreleased, Doctor Bird DBCDD-043 – Barcode 5013929274334)

5. ALTON ELLIS – Greatest Hits/Mr. Soul Of Jamaica [known as Greatest Hits in the UK] (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 47 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-045 – Barcode 5013929274532)

6. THE ETHIOPIANS – Engine No. 5 (17 May 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 17 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-035 – Barcode 5013929273535)

7. THE GAYLADS – Fire And Rain (14 June 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 13 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-036 – Barcode 5013929273634)

8. JOHN HOLT – Like A Bolt (January 2019 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-029 – Barcode 5013929272934)

9. THE MELODIANS – Rivers Of Babylon (9 August 2019 Expanded 1CD Set with 15 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-041 – Barcode 5013929274136)

10. DERRICK MORGAN – Moon Hop/Derrick Morgan In London (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-032 – Barcode 5013929273238)

11. DERRICK MORGAN – Derrick Morgan And His Friends (12 July 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 24 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-039 – Barcode 5013929273931)

12. SONIA POTTINGER – Put On Your Best Dress: Ska & Rock Steady 1966-1967 (14 June 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-037 – Barcode 5013929273733)

13. LORD TANAMO & FRIENDS – Festival Jump-Up [1965] (15 November 2019 Expanded 2CD Reissue of 1965 LP with 40 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-046 – Barcode 5013929274631)

14. LINVAL THOMPSON – The Linval Thompson Trojan Roots Album Collection [including two LPs by Big Joe & The Trinity called “African Princess” and “Rock In The Ghetto” and one Linval Thompson LP called “I Love Marijuana”) (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 10 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-044 – Barcode 5013929274433)

15. LINVAL THOMPSON & THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Negrea Love Dub/Outlaw Dub [1978 and 1979] (15 November 2019 Reissue featuring 2LPs onto 1CD (no bonus), Doctor Bird DBCD-047 – Barcode 5013929274730)

16. THE UPSETTERS featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY – Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-034 – Barcode 5013929273436)

17. VARIOUS – The Down Town Albums Collection [Down Town Label] (February 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-020 - Barcode 5013929272033)

18. VARIOUS – Gay Jamaican Independence Time – Boom Sha-Ka-La (17 May 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-028 – Barcode 5013929272835)

19. VARIOUS – Greatest Jamaican Beat... (March 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-033 – Barcode 5013929273337)

20. VARIOUS – Independence Jump Up Calypso (9 August 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 46 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-040 – Barcode 5013929274037)

21. VARIOUS – The Treasure Isle Ska Albums Collection (January 2019 2CD Set [4LPs and more], Doctor Bird DBCDD-031 – Barcode 5013929273139)

22. VARIOUS – You Can’t Wine/Music Alone Shall Live (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 33 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-042 - Barcode 5013929274235)