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

[Billy Boom]

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

Wow, every one of those albums are great suggestions and really difficult to come by. A few I'd even say are in my top ten most wanted LPs. I'll add:

Mr. Spaulind - Twelve Tribes Of Israel
Ozone - First Edition

[Funky Punk]

The Viceroys - We Must Unite?

Or a compilation of Viceroys stuff that's actually really them singing on there?

[Pots n Pans]

Is it only original albums you are planning to re-release?

Because a well-selected compilation of Derrick Harriott or Sonia Pottinger productions, done properly, would be killer! And could range from rocksteady through early reggae and dub and onto roots. That'd be tasty.

Also, an affordable collection of good Ethiopians songs is pretty hard to come by at the minute - all the old Trojan ones seem to sell for daft money on Amazon. An underrepresented group with loads of great songs.

Are you looking to do singles (7s or 12s)? Digikiller, and to a lesser extent, Dug Out, Basic Replay and Pressure Sounds have all re-released some amazing singles, and I guess the outlay isn't as much for a single.

Good luck with your venture!

[vtov]

If you can get the original master tapes, then I would favour some Showcase style compilations by label or artist.

[drive instigna]

You are only going to make loss on that...(look how many repress labels dissapeared and went bankrupt.. like Blood and Fire for example..) Unless you can repress a whole catalog of something. Like happened with basic-channel/wackie's.

There is a reason why so many repressings come out on 7" and 12" and way less on LP..Even the website of pressure sounds is filled with 7"es these days..

And also you got to be able to deal with a whole lot of irrational if not insane behavior from former artists/producers, whoever was involved.

Also I've seen some suggestions here. They might be very good but I do know some of those wouldn't sell at all.. even at budget/bargain prices..

[drive instigna]

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."

Yes and No. Some former producers or artists are simply not interested in putting out stuff or they are old and completely retired. I also know some producers keep unreleased material as some sort of personal trophies in their attic.
I do 'know' a son of a producer who was shot in the mid 1980s. He got the tapes but he doesn't do anything with it.. too emotional..difficult issue.

Many personal, emotional reasons also for putting out stuff or not

[Franco Nero]

1500 copies? What time frame are you planning on selling 1500 copies?

How about reissuing The Kingstonians Sufferer LP? It's OOP, goes for around $100 everytime it shows up on eBay. And it's an awesome record.

I guess Trojan put it out originally, followed by a release on Attack. I wonder if Universal owns the rights? If so, they might be sympathetic to a vinyl reissue but will split the profits somewhere down the line. The upside is you get wider distribution. I think this would do well in Europe. You could sell it for $18.99. I'd buy it.

Then tackle the Maytones. Release some of that Burning Sounds catalog. Great stuff.

Good luck.

[MatejkoFarI]

If you are really going to do this, please release versions and dubs of Toots and The Maytals records (1965-1978) I'm sure I'm not the only one, who'd like to buy this! I'm huge fan of Toots, but I'm missing his dub versions. I know there are plenty of them, but I just don't seem to find them...

[GreedyG]

Crab Race - The Morwells (with some extended mixes)

Open The Gate - The Ethiopian

Living Man - Lambert Douglas

Crime Act - Ashanti Waugh

Some compilations of killer 12" mixes from labels such as Negus Roots, Cha Cha and Burning Sounds inna roots style.

4 Volume sets of Wittys, Techniques and Harry J/Sunset/Roosevelt labels in the same style as the Jammys and Powerhouse sets.

An album of the Olympic label rock steady sides.

An album of Prince Buster's rock steady productions such as I'm A Lover - Kingston Pete, Red Eye Gal - Freddy McKay, Sit Down And Cry - Clinton Rufus, etc.

G

[Digikiller]

couple things mentioned in this thread are in progress.

re: the Steve Knight LP

we are currently re-releasing most of the Tasha catalog and 3 of the songs from the LP have already been released on 7" with dubs and available now, with more to come.

we will not be re-releasing the LP though, only the songs as singles.