VP group set to drop reggae treat

Reggae fans are in for a treat this November as VP Music Group digs deep into the vaults for a heavyweight reissue rollout spanning VP Records, Greensleeves, Gorgon, and Skengdon.

Leading the charge is The Congos' Reggae Revival, a prophetic anthem from their 1997 album Revival, which called for a return to the spirit of reggae's golden age.

Played and recorded live in true roots tradition, the track went on to inspire the very name of the 2010s Reggae revival movement led by artistes such as Protoje, Chronixx, Jah9, and Jesse Royal.

On November 7, VP cranks up the vibes with a batch of digital-first releases from the Skengdon and Power House archives. Cutty Ranks' Christmas Time, first released on 7-inch vinyl back in 1986, returns as a festive dancehall scorcher featuring Bunny Tom Tom at the mixing board and keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo leading the Skengdon All-Stars.

Half Pint's Greetings, a defining digital anthem from George Phang's Power House label will also be re-released on November 7. With Sly & Robbie flipping the classic Heavenless riddim into a fierce new groove, the track cemented Half Pint's rise and marked a turning point in Jamaican music's transition into the digital age.

In mid-November, Greensleeves and King Jammy will take centre stage with Superstar Hit Parade, the 1986 compilation that captured the birth of computerized dancehall. Featuring heavyweights Dennis Brown, Johnny Osbourne, Junior Delgado, and Al Campbell, the album epitomized the 'juggling' era, when multiple artistes voiced the same riddim - in this case, the immortal Real Rock and No Warrior.

The same day sees the long-awaited digital return of Eek-A-Mouse's Wa Do Dem - Volcano Singles Mixes, delivering the original 7" and 12" versions of his quirky, genre-defining hit, powered by the Roots Radics and produced by the great Junjo Lawes.

The sweet, soulful side of reggae also gets its shine as Gregory Isaacs and Jackie Mittoo team up for Love Without Intermission, a lovers rock masterpiece from the Skengdon vaults. With Isaacs' effortlessly cool delivery and Mittoo's smooth organ solo, it's a timeless reminder of Jamaica's musical elegance.