Starting A Reggae Re-Issue Label - Thoughts and Ideas Please!!!

[MellowMan]

Hey guys, this is my first post, I’ve been lurking on these boards for a while,
so I’d like to say hello.

I am considering starting a reissue label for reggae albums that aren’t currently available. I have the means and resources to set up this label, which includes financial backing , distribution etc, so a lot of the business side is already in hand.

I am putting the feelers out for some experts to get involved by suggesting some albums that could do with a reissue that have a good chance of doing well. The best option in the early stages is to try and get something out by quite well known artists rather than unknown ones, as it gives us a better chance of selling a few more units to the less die hard collectors market.

The criteria is of this project includes:

*The albums have to have a reasonable chance of selling well. Over 1500 copies sold is ok, over 3000 worldwide is great.

*We have to be able to contact and get permission from the rights holders of the repertoire. The real shame about reggae is the fact that finding the rights holders to the music can be really difficult, as back in the day there was little paperwork involved in the Jamaican music industry. I have an inkling that the reason why so many albums are unavailable is because legally it’s been a minefield to license reggae and without being able to find or prove the rights holders, this has rendered many albums lost to any kind of re-issue.

*Find a way of finding masters, if they still exist at all, or otherwise coming across an alternative format to master from.

I’m sure there are other things I should mention, but no doubt they will come up in due course.

This project is in it’s early days, but I do have the go ahead from the powers that be to start this label, provided I can get all the bits and pieces like finding rights holders and come up with a decent plan to get the records shifting units. If the first few titles are successful, it leads to being able to do more and more and create a label that people will look out for.

If anyone can offer some ideas of what albums and artists we could look at doing that would be great. If anyone can suggest any albums that have a dub version as well, this could be a good thing to package together, much like the Marcus Garvey / Garvey’s Ghost package put out by Island.

Hopefully if it works out I can call on some experts from here to help out with sleeve notes, supplying of photographs, artists interviews etc.

There is so much great stuff out there that the public can’t get their hands on. And as an enthusiast, I would love this to get off the ground.

What is everybody’s view on this plan??? I guess you could call this market research.

Hopefully I get some good feedback from y’all.

[star]

I think where you'll find trouble is bonus tracks. It's got to be hard to find a high quality source for singles.

Sound quality is the most important thing when doing re-issues.

Also make sure you always release the complete album. Re-issues missing 1 or 2 of the original tracks are worthless.

I also can't stand it when someone releases a single without the original version.

[Funky Punk]

No albums released with King Tubby, or Scientist's name on the front - unless they actually mixed the music contained thereon!

[Norbert]

I would buy immediately a compilation of Higgs & Wilson tunes and the album "Mr. Sunshine" of Wiss!

Norbert

[Funky Punk]

Junior Murvin's 'Badman Posse' (think it was his 2nd album). IIRC, it's the only one of his albums that's never been reissued. I'd buy that as soon as it was available.

Edit: and I don't know what the legal situation is with this now (other than that there has been legal issues), but Scientist's Greensleeves-era albums really could do with being put back into print - and staying there.

[soulfire]

Some suggestions
Keith & Tex album: rare and plenty of killer tunes
More Relation LP
Desi Roots album
Freddie McGregor - Mr McGregor

[Mosiah]

There's many I'd like to see get a good reissue, and regarding titles I'm sure would sell, "Drift Away From Evil" by Cultural Roots is the first that comes to mind. Dignitary Stylish's "Jah Send Me Come" and Delton Screechie's "Living In The Ghetto" would probably do quite well too.

And concerning personal picks, I would be most extremly thrilled if any of these LPs were made available again:

Barrington Levy - Life Style
Rappa Robert - Come In A Dis
Lee Van Cliff - Reggae Sunsplash
Earth & Stone - Back To Africa
Barry Brown - I'm Still Waiting
Steve Knight - Orphan Child
Colour Man - Cool Profile

[jerry0503214]

Junior Murvin's 'Badman Posse' (think it was his 2nd album). IIRC, it's the only one of his albums that's never been reissued. I'd buy that as soon as it was available.

[gbougard]

you could talk to Roy Francis, who owns the Phase One label
lots of stuff of top quality
email me gbougard@gmail.com for more details

[imet]

humble commission showcase
mwanamke mwfrika
seke molenga and kalo kawongolo & lee perry
desi roots doing it right

to name a few