Blood and Fire was a British

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

record label active from 1993-2014, specialising in reissues of 1970s dub.

History

Steve Barrow, Bob Harding,

Simply Red Simply Red are an English soul music, soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1985. Band leader, singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall was the only original member left by the time Simply Red initially disbanded in 2010. They have released thir ...

Mick Hucknall Michael James Hucknall (born 8 June 1960) is an English singer and songwriter. Hucknall achieved international fame in the 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter of the soul-influenced pop band Simply Red, with whom he enjoyed a 25-year caree ...

, Elliot Rashman and Andy Dodd formed the record label in Manchester in 1993 with the objective of reissuing

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...

, dub and DJ albums with the integrity of jazz reissues.Meschino, Patricia (2014)
VP Records Relaunches Classic Reggae Label Blood and Fire
", ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'', 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014 In the process, Blood and Fire influenced the overall aesthetic of other labels issuing archival Jamaican recordings in the 1990s and beyond. The company logo and album covers were designed by Intro. Initial releases drew on mid-1970s

Bunny Lee Edward O'Sullivan Lee OD (23 August 1941 – 6 October 2020), better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee, was a Jamaican record producer. He was known as a pioneer of the United Kingdom reggae market, licensing his productions to Trojan Records i ...

produced material but the label subsequently reissued material produced by Yabby You and

Glen Brown Glenmore Lloyd Brown (1943 or 1944Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013)Tough Times for Glen Brown", ''Jamaica Observer'', 15 July 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014Larkin, Colin, ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', 1998, Virgin Books, . – 4 O ...

along with the

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, songwriter and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development ...

produced Congos set '' Heart of the Congos'' and a three-CD

Big Youth Manley Augustus Buchanan (born 19 April 1949, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, better known as Big Youth (sometimes called Jah Youth), is a Jamaican Toasting (J ...

set, '' Natty Universal Dread''. Despite the reissue objective, the label released two one-riddim albums. The first was ''Tree of Satta'' (2003) which used the original " Satta Massagana"

riddim In Jamaican dancehall music, a riddim is the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the term consist of the ''riddim'' plus the ''voicing'' (vocal part) sung by the deeja ...

featuring a mixture of new and vintage voicings over the riddim along with the original version of the song by

The Abyssinians The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics. History The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins and Donald Manning. Their fi ...

. The second, ''Fisherman Style'' (2006), used The Congos' "Fisherman" riddim and featured new material from a variety of singers including

Horace Andy Horace Andy (born Horace Keith Hinds, 19 February 1951) is a Jamaican roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as " Skylarking", as well as "Government Land", "Angel", "Spying Glass", and "Five Ma ...

, U Roy,

, Luciano, Tony Tuff and Dillinger. The label also had a

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

which has featured original Jamaican artists such as Dilinger, Trinity, Ranking Joe,

U Brown Huford Brown (born 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984. Biography Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Du ...

, Horace Andy,

Dennis Alcapone Dennis Alcapone, born Dennis Smith, is a Jamaican reggae Deejay (Jamaican), DJ and Record producer, producer. In 2018, he received the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation from Andrew Holness.Johnson, Richard (2018)'Clean up your act!'", ''Ja ...

, U Roy, Spikey Tee, Country Culture, Raggamonica along with Steve Barrow and Dom Sotgiu. In July 2006 the sound went to Japan with U Roy on a three date sell out tour. In 2007, news leaked out via the company's popular message board that Blood and Fire had stopped trading as an active company. The loss of their American and French distributors due to bankruptcy as well as some unfortunate management decisions, combined with an industry-wide decline in sales, were to blame. Although the company declined to make any official announcement, it was effectively out of business. In 2014 it was announced that the label would be relaunched in conjunction with

VP Records VP Records is an independent Caribbean-owned record label in Queens, New York. The label is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca. VP Records has offices in New York City, Miami, London, Kingston, Tokyo, ...

, with Barrow overseeing future projects.Minsker, Evan (2014)
Reggae Label Blood and Fire Records Relaunches
,

Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music magazine founded in 1996 by Ryan Schreiber in Minneapolis. It originally covered Alternative rock, alternative and independent music, and expanded to cover genres includin ...

, 18 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014 Only one release was produced in this incarnation, a twelve inch single of Gregory Isaac's "Mr Know It All" for Record Store Day 2014.

Discography

1994

*BAFCD/LP001 – The Dreads at

King Tubby Osbourne Ruddock (28 January 1941 – 6 February 1989), better known as King Tubby, was a Jamaican sound engineer who influenced the development of dub music in the 1960s and 1970s. Tubby's studio work, in which as a mixing engineer he achiev ...

's – ''If Deejay Was your Trade'' *BAFCD/LP002 –

and Friends – ''Dub Gone Crazy'' *BAFCD/LP003 – Keith Hudson – '' Pick a Dub'' *BAFCD/LP004 –

Burning Spear Winston Rodney Order of Distinction, OD (born 1 March 1945), better known by the stage name Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer-songwriter, vocalist, and musician. Burning Spear is a Rastafarian movement, Rastafarian and one of the ...

– '' Social Living'' *BAFCD/LP005 – Yabby U – ''King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub''

1995

*BAFCD/LP006, BAFLP007 –

– ''In The Light'' / ''In The Light Dub'' *BAFCD007 – Various Artists – ''Heavyweight Sound'' *BAFCD/LP008 –

Tapper Zukie Tapper Zukie (or Tappa Zukie) (born David Sinclair, 1955, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica) is a roots reggae Deejay (Jamaican), deejay and record producer, producer.Greene, Jo-AnnTapper Zukie Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-02-15 Biog ...

– ''Tappa Zukie in Dub''

1996

*BAFCD/LP009 – The Congos – '' Heart of the Congos'' (2-CD) *BAFCD/LP010 – Jah Stitch – ''Original Raggamuffin 1975–1977'' *BAFCD1001 – King Tubby & Scientist – '' Greenwich Farm Rub-A-Dub'' *BAFCD/LP011 – King Tubby & Soul Syndicate – ''Freedom Sounds in Dub'' *BAFCD/LP012 – Scientist – ''Dub in the Roots Tradition'' *BAFCD/LP013 – King Tubby & Prince Jammy – ''Dub Gone 2 Crazy'' *BAFCD/LP014 – Prince Alla – ''Only Love Can Conquer'' *BAFCD/LP015 –

& King Tubby – ''Termination Dub 1973–1979''

1997

*BAFCD/LP016 – I-Roy – ''Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff 1972–1975'' *BAFCD017 – Various Artists – ''2 Heavyweight: Another Blood and Fire Sampler'' *BAFCD/LP018 – Morwell Unlimited Meet King Tubby's – ''Dub Me'' *BAFCD/LP019 –

– ''Good Vibes'' *BFCDS903 – Various Artists – ''Dubwise and Otherwise: A Blood and Fire Audio Catalogue'' *BAFCD/LP020 –

– ''Train To Zion'' *BAFCD/LP021 – Yabby You – ''Jesus Dread 1972–1977'' (2-CD) *BAFCD/LPO22 – Yabby you – ''Jesus Dread 1995–1997'' (2-CDE)

1998

*BAFCD/LP022 – Impact Allstars – ''Forward The Bass: Dub From Randy's 1972–1975'' *BAFCD/LP023 – Junior Byles and Friends – ''129 Beat Street: Ja-Man Special 1975–1978'' *BAFCD/LP024 – Johnny Clarke – ''Dreader Dread 1976–1978''

1999

*BAFCD025 – Various Artists – ''Heavyweight 3: A Blood and Fire Sampler'' *BAFCD/LP026 – King Tubby & Friends – ''Dub Like Dirt 1975–1977'' *BAFCD/LP027 – Max Romeo – ''Open The Iron Gate 1973–1977'' *BAFCD028 – The Chantells & Friends – ''Children of Jah 1977–1979'' *BAFCD/LP029 – Inner Circle & The Fatman Riddim Section – ''Heavyweight Dub / Killer Dub'' *BFCDS904 – The Dubmasters – ''X-Ray Music: A Blood and Fire Dub Directory''

2000

*BAFCD/LP030 – Cornell Campbell – ''I Shall Not Remove 1975–1980'' *BAFCD/LP031 –

Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...

– ''Shanty Town Determination'' *BAFCD/LP032 – Linval Thompson – ''Ride on Dreadlocks 1975–1977'' *BAFCD/LP033 – Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – ''Lamb's Bread International''

2001

*BAFCD/LP034 –

– '' Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979'' (3-CD) *BAFCD035 –

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

– ''Mr Isaacs'' *BAFCD/LP036 – '' Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown, 1973-1977'' *BAFCD/LP037 – Niney the Observer – ''Microphone Attack 1974–1977''

2002

*BAFCD/LP038 – Yabby You – ''Dub it to the Top 1976–1979'' *BAFCD/LP039 –

Dennis Brown Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD (1 February 1957 – 1 July 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of l ...

– ''The Promised Land 1977–1979'' *BAFCD040 – Prince Alla & Junior Ross – ''I Can Hear The Children Singing 1975–1978'' *BFCDS905 – Various Artists – ''Dubwise And Otherwise 2: A Blood and Fire Audio Catalogue''

2003

*BAFCD041 – Ja-Man Allstars – ''In The Dub Zone'' *BAFCD/LP042 –

Jackie Mittoo Donat Roy Mittoo (3 March 1948 – 16 December 1990), better known as Jackie Mittoo, was a Jamaican-Canadian keyboardist, songwriter and musical director. He was a member of The Skatalites and musical director of the Studio One record label. ...

– ''Champion in the Arena 1976–1977'' *BAFCD/LP043 – Ranking Joe – ''Zion High'' *BAFCD/LP044 –

Tommy McCook Tommy McCook (4 March 1927 – 5 May 1998) was a Jamaican saxophonist. A founding member of The Skatalites, he also directed The Supersonics for Duke Reid, and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or with The Revolutionaries at Channel ...

– ''Blazing Horns / Tenor in Roots''

2004

*BAFCD/LP045 –

and Friends – ''The Tree of Satta Vol 01'' *BAFCD/LP046 –

Presents Prince Jammy – ''Umoja / 20th Century DEBwise''

2005

*BAFCD047 – Blood and Fire All Stars – ''Run It Red'' *BAFCD/LP048 – Willi Williams – ''Messenger Man'' *BAFCD/LP049 –

Prince Far I Prince Far I (23 March 1945 – 15 September 1983) was a Jamaican reggae deejay and producer, and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics abou ...

– ''Silver & Gold 1973–1979''

2006

*BAFCD/LP050 – The Congos and Friends – ''Fisherman Style'' *BAFCD/LP051 – Yabby You – ''Deliver Me From My Enemies''

2007

*BFCDS906 – Blood and Fire Allstars – ''Singerman!''

2014

*VPBAF6524 – Gregory Isaacs – "Mr. Know It All/War of the Stars" (12")

References

External links

* {{Authority control British record labels Reggae record labels Record labels established in 1993 Music in Manchester