Originally released in 1988 as a tribute to Tenor Saw, this is the dancehall singer at his most powerful. His grieving, heartfelt vocal is woven through with the haunted quotation of his friend's finest moments. The rhythm is driving, hard and sombre, with nervous, grubbing synths and ringing claps, and a lethal bass-line. Both vocals come with dubs.
This is a stone classic.

Dug Out is a new label devoted to reggae reissues, run by Mark Ainley and Mark Ernestus.

The former is co-owner of the Honest Jon’s record shop in West London, established in 1972. Besides the releases on the shop’s own label, reggae-wise he put together most of the Studio One series for Soul Jazz, the album Darker Than Blue with Blood And Fire, and various issues for two other imprints he managed, PK and Basic Replay.

The latter set up the Hard Wax shop in Berlin in 1989. As one half of the recording projects Basic Channel, Main Street, Maurizio, and Rhythm And Sound, he has worked regularly with the singer Paul St. Hilaire aka Tikiman, also with reggae legends like Willi(e) Williams, Cornel(l) Campbell and Sugar Minott. He co-managed the latest, extensive Bullwackies reissue programme, as well as Basic Replay.

Dug Out will be centred on high-quality vinyl reissues, especially from the digital era (though there will be CDs and downloads, roots and other reggae genres). Restoration will be done at Abbey Road Studio; mastering at Dubplates, by the co-owner CGB; and the records will be manufactured at Pallas.