Quality:M-

„The Mighty Striker Shoots At Hits“ is the fourteenth album release by MOLL-SELEKTA.Continuing our successful compilation “The Bunny Lee Rocksteady Years” (released 2005)it picks up again the work of this outstanding producer, focussing on his most famous phase, the time after Rocksteady and the marriage of Roots Reggae from 1973 – 1979. His passion for Westerns, which he watches endlessly on a six foot wide screen in his living room lead to the title of the sampler.Bunny Striker Lee was introduced to the music bussiness by Derrick Morgan in 1962, starting out as a “record plugger” for Duke Reid (Treasure Isle) before becoming a producer in 1967. After countless hits in the Rocksteady area, his star was shining even brighter in the 70’s where he revolutionised Roots Reggae with the Aggrovators and Sly & Robbie with their flying cymbal sound. He was one of the first to spot the extraordinary potential of King Tubby and his new creations in Dub and gave his records to him for the final mix. These days, as well as disseminating his songs and looking after his vast archive of Jamaican musical history, he also runs a repairs workshop for lorries.“The Mighty Striker Shoots At Hits“ collects some of the most essential and rare songs from the Roots area in a better sound quality than ever before. Big names like Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke and Delroy Wilson characterize the album which differs widely from other Bunny Lee compilations on the market due to the explicitely influential and extremly seldom recordings from Lee’s extremly big archives. These are songs that should be a delight for every fan, especially when they come along in the original-maxisingle-length like Horace Andy’s “I Don't Want To Be Left Outside”. Honey Boy’s wonderfull hommage-ballad “Jamaica” fits nicely to the tougher Roots-steppers by Barry Brown and the Lovers Rock of “I’m Still In Love With You”, Alton Ellis’ great Studio One-hit sung here by his sister Hortense. Johnny Clarke’s cover version of Hopeton Lewis’ „Rocka Shocka“ is enlargened by the rare DJ-cut by Prince RAS Murray so that the diverse styles of Roots from Singer/Songwriter-tunes to Dub are featured and the whole range of Bunny Striker Lee’s work in the key-phase is covered up.

For more than four decades, Cornel Campbell has added jewel after jewl to the crown of Jamaican musical history, songs that can be heard in any good dancehall today, whether they come out of reggae, R&B or ska. Top of the list, the hits "Queen Of The Minstrels" and "Stars", recorded for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at the legendary Studio One with the "Eternals". Known as the "Sam Cooke of Reggae", due to his unique soul-infused falsetto timbre, Campbell remains remarkably unknown outside of his native Caribbean."Original Blue Recordings 1970-1979" showcases many of his best tracks, soulful lovers renditions and more Rasta influenced roots songs. Compositions by Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and particularly Curtis Mayfield figure among the timeless soul, lovers and roots evergreens to be found here. The compilation also features the hit "Just One Kiss (Magic Spell)", the single "Jah Jah Me No Horn Yah" and the - even on single - previously unreleased dub version of „Devil In Bed“ (on the CD only).Renowned bands The Aggrovators, Soul Syndicate and the High Time Players provided the backing at Channel One, Harry J‘s, Randys and Dynamics whilst the mix was done at no lesser than King Tubby‘s. Bunny 'Striker' Lee, one of the Islands’ most important producers, who worked with Campbell in perhaps his finest and most prolific days in the Seventies, was responsible for production.Relive the crowning years of Kingston, Jamaica, 1970 to 1979 with Cornel Campbell at the peak of his powers. A must for serious reggae fans and a perfect introduction for the more casual observer.

Quality: M-