Joe Gibbs 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1

After serving fruitful apprenticeships under some of Jamaica’s most talented and idiosyncratic producers, former electrical engineer Joe Gibbs set about opening his own label and studio. Gibbs and partner Errol Thompson helmed innumerable recording sessions with the house band The Professionals and enticed Jamaican soundmen to play their recordings by releasing extended "discomixes" of their most successful tunes. Soundmen favored these discomixes due to their long runtimes and bass-heavy sounds. A discomix would typically feature a cut by a singer or vocal group, followed by a stripped-down instrumental punctuated by raucous DJ banter. This is the first in a five-volume series that compiles some of the discomixes released by Gibbs and Thompson between 1977 and 1982. They feature some of the era's finest Jamaican instrumental and vocal talent. Junior Murvin, The Mighty Diamonds, and Dennis Brown all make notable contributions, but it's DJs like I Roy and Trinity who lend a special flavor to the proceedings with their rabble-rousing dancehall chatter.