If you were to ask me, outside of Bob Marley and the Wailers, who is your favorite roots reggae collective? I would have to say “Well, The Congos of course.”

In my opinion, The Congos are the most spiritual of the acts that came out of that “golden age of roots reggae.” They are mandatory listening for me every day. Their debut album The Heart of the Congos is considered by many to be one of the most influential dub albums ever produced by one Lee “Scratch” Perry. Notwithstanding their debut masterpiece, Congo Ashanti is probably the best album to emerge from the “golden era.”

Sporting musicians like Sly Dunbar, Willie Lindo, Ernest Ranglin and Tommy McCook, its an impossibility that Congo Ashanti would be anything but an instant classic. Recorded at Harry J’s studio, the move away from Lee Perry gives the album a less dub-heavy sound allowing for Cedric Myton to fully explore his sublime falsetto.

I could talk for days about The Congos but I will spare you. I have included a link to a blog which contains downloads of the debut release by the Jamaican vocal harmony duo, released on a Lee Perry Upsetter Disco Cork 12″ and one of the best from the Black Ark Studio in Washington Gardens, Kingston.

Also included is text by David Katz, who’s books on Lee Perry and Reggae music are well worth getting hold of…

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12″ Disco Cork “Nickodeemus”

12″ Disco Cork “Solid Foundation”