Salutations, Stubborn Massive! Life is good when your soundtrack is supplied by http://www.stubbornrecords.com. We've got fresh music to suit every mood, and in a wide variety of styles. This week we're featuring ALL IMPORTED MUSIC! None of the CD's or Vinyl we added this week were born on American soil. Listen to some Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, and Dub the way it's done in Jamaica and France.

FRENCH IMPORT CD'S

Orange Street - Pirates and Treasures Double CD Limited Edition Box Set (French Import) Orange Street have been rocking audiences in their native France and all over the world since 1997. Their focus has always been playing strictly authentic Jamaican-style music, and they're among the best at doing so. On this double CD set, the band delves into Jamaican music history and tackles every style of Jamaican music, from 1950's Mento through Dancehall. They hit every style in between, and do it with style. This is a truly epic Double CD!!

Alton Ellis live w/ Aspo - Workin' On a Groovy Thing CD (French Import) Jamaican legend Alton Ellis' soulful vocal delivery is inimitable, and an absolute pleasure to listen to. He is famous for interpreting many American Soul hits to Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae. His specialty is love songs, and his voice goes from sugary sweet to desperate and pleading from song to song. This live CD features Alton Ellis performing his biggest hits backed by Aspo, France's Traditional Ska all-stars. This CD is killer!

ASPO - In the Web of Love (Love Potion No. 2) CD (French Import) ASPO are one of the best Ska bands to ever come out of France. They do a great job playing energetic, authentic Ska and Rocksteady with a bit of Reggae for good measure. Their music is sexy, making the name of the album very fitting. We sold out of this record on Vinyl, and now we have the CD version. This CD is, as ASPO claims, "Sweet as a dream, cool as a breeze."

Jim Murple Memorial - Play the Roots CD (French Import)

Jim Murple Memorial - The Story of Jim Murple CD (French Import)

CLASSIC JAMAICAN IMPORT VINYL

The Soul Bros. - Carib Soul LP (Jamaican Import) The Soul Brothers were essentially the post-Skatalites Studio 1until 1967, when personnel shifted a bit more and they became The Soul Vendors. Notable Skatalites that formed The Soul Brothers include Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo, and Dizzy Moore. This LP contains some absolute classic Ska and Jamaican Soul tunes. Some are originals and some are covers of American R&B standards. This LP has Soul that rivals Booker T & The MG's, and Ska that is unrivaled!

Augustus Pablo - East of the River Nile b/w Version 7" single (Jamaican Import) Augustus Pablo's name is pretty much synonymous with Dub Reggae. This particular tune is one of the coolest tracks Pablo ever played Melodica on. It's about the funkiest Dub your ears will ever encounter! It's truly more of a funk track than reggae, but it's some sort of cross-breeding of the two styles that works unbelievably well. The dub elements of the tune really highlight the drum and bass, as well as some really cool guitar work. It has to be heard to be believed!

Slim Smith - Somebody to Love b/w Peter Tosh - The Crimson Pirate (Instrumental) 7" Single (Jamaican Import) Slim Smith was a legendary Reggae singer with a sweet, lilting falsetto and soulful voice. Smith modeled his singing style very much on Curtis Mayfield of The Impressions. He sang in The Techniques for a while before cutting a string of incredible Early Reggae sides for famous producer Bunny Lee. This is one of those cuts. This is super upbeat, soulful Early Reggae at its finest. The song itself was originally a big American Soul hit for both Solomon Burke and Wilson Pickett.

SKA AND REGGAE VINYL

The Slackers - Minha Menina b/w No More Cryin' (Ska Version) 7" Single (Dutch Import)

Derrick Morgan - Don't Play That Song b/w - Come What May 7" single (Jamaican Import)

Derrick Morgan - Rough Rider b/w - Augustus Pablo - Rough Rider Version 7" single (Jamaican Import)

Horace Andy - Better Collie b/w Gorgon Version 7" single (Jamaican Import)

T-SHIRTS

The Skatalites - Jamaica (4 Colors on Olive) T-shirt

SKA - NBA Skanker T-shirt

Version City - Skyline (Black on White) T-Shirt

Version City Rockers - Baseball Shirt Raglan 3/4 Sleeve T-Shirt

And we recently re-stocked these bad boys:

The Slackers - The Boss Harmony Sessions CD

The Slackers - Better Late Than Never Double LP

2-Tone - Walt Jabsco T-Shirt

Well, folks, Stubborn Records has a busy summer ahead of us. We've got a whole bunch of original Stubborn releases that will be coming your way in the not-so-distant-future. Version City Studio has been as busy as ever, with a ton of projects moving into the final stages, almost ready to reach your ears! We've got amazing Version City parties going on every month. Check out our Forum and Jukebox for more info and more good tunes! We'll be back with awesome news and more music for your listening pleasure soon.

Thanks!

-Stubborn Crew

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