Linval Thompson - Ride On Dreadlocks 1975 - 1977 (1995)

As a vocalist, Linval Thompson may not have been the equal of Johnny Clarke and Cornel Campbell, who, along with Thompson, were favorite singers of the great producer Bunny Lee. But the songs he cut for Lee in the mid-'70s remain some of the most influential of the period -- "Ride on Dreadlocks" and "Cool Down Your Temper" still show up frequently on dub compilations and various-artists collections. This album compiles 11 classic Thompson singles with their dub versions in showcase style; most are Bunny Lee productions and feature his signature "flying cymbals" drum sound, but "12 Tribes of Israel," "Jah Jah Is I Guiding Star," and "Can't Stop Natty Dread Again" were produced by Thompson himself (and, interestingly, tend toward a less militant one-drop feel); Thompson would later go on to more fame as a producer than he had achieved as a singer. As always with Blood and Fire releases, the sound quality is superb and the packaging an obvious labor of love.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Linval Thompson - Jah Jah The Conqueror (6:12)
1.02 - Linval Thompson - Long Long Dread Locks (6:36)
1.03 - Linval Thompson - Ride On Dreadlocks (6:10)
1.04 - Linval Thompson - Don't Cut Off Your Dreadlocks / Joyful Locks (6:26)
1.05 - Linval Thompson - Twelve Tribes Of Israel (7:07)
1.06 - Linval Thompson - Everybody Needs Money (5:40)
1.07 - Linval Thompson - Don't Try To Rob I (5:34)
1.08 - Linval Thompson - Cool Down Your Temper (5:49)
1.09 - Linval Thompson - Big Big Girl (4:54)
1.10 - Linval Thompson - Jah Jah Is I Guiding Star (5:50)
1.11 - Linval Thompson - Can't Stop Natty Dread Again (7:12)