Reggae Anthology: The Channel One Story Chapter Two

Though less glamorous than the eccentric Lee Perry, and less innovative than King Tubby, Joseph Hookim was a prolific craftsmen who produced some of the most important music of the roots era. VP Records’ two-disc set, The Channel One Story Chapter Two, the second in an ongoing series, does a fine job of exploring the vast legacy of this tremendously influential studio. Superstar crooners like John Holt and Horace Andy are represented here alongside the rough but impassioned work of DJ’s like Ranking Trevor, incendiary roots vocalists like Leroy Smart, and soulful harmony groups like the Heptones and The Tamlins. The stylistic variety on display here is staggering, but every tune is graced by the rock-solid backing of the Channel One house band, whose drum- tight rhythms would provide the foundation for countless dubs and versions, many of which have become classic recordings in their own right. Channel One Story works as a compelling introduction to Joseph Hookim’s vast and influential body of work.