Blood and Fire is a British

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

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the prod ...

specialising in reissues of 1970s dub.

History

Steve Barrow, Bob Harding,

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 Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the honoring of God, called Jah b ...

, dub and DJ

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

s 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. 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 ...

produced material but the label subsequently reissued material produced by

Yabby You Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work. Biography Jack ...

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, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

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

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

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

riddim Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm". In the context of reggae and dancehall, it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the ...

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 fir ...

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

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

U Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

, Luciano,

Tony Tuff Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...

and Dillinger. The label also had a sound system which has featured original Jamaican artists such as Dilinger, Trinity,

Ranking Joe Ranking Joe Little Joe (born Joseph Jackson, 1 July 1959, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s. Biography Jackson was initially inspired towards a musical career by ...

, U Brown, Horace Andy, Dennis Alcapone, 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, Joh ...

, 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 publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...

, 18 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 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 greatly influenced the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s. Tubby's innovative studio work, which saw him elevate the ...

's – ''If

Deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobil ...

Was your Trade'' *BAFCD/LP002 –

and Friends – ''Dub Gone Crazy'' *BAFCD/LP003 –

Keith Hudson Keith Hudson (18 March 1946 – 14 November 1984),Thompson, p.311 was a Jamaican reggae artist and record producer. He is known for his influence on the dub movement. Biography Raised in a musical family, Hudson attended Boys Town School i ...

– '' Pick a Dub'' *BAFCD/LP004 –

Burning Spear Winston Rodney 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 and one of the most influential and long-standing roots ar ...

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

Prophesy In religion, a prophecy is a message that has been communicated to a person (typically called a ''prophet'') by a supernatural entity. Prophecies are a feature of many cultures and belief systems and usually contain divine will or law, or pret ...

of Dub''

1995

*BAFCD/LP006, BAFLP007 –

– ''In The Light'' / ''In The Light Dub'' *BAFCD007 – Various Artists – ''Heavyweight Sound'' *BAFCD/LP008 – Tapper Zukie – ''Tappa Zukie in Dub''

1996

*BAFCD/LP009 – The Congos – '' Heart of the Congos'' (2-CD) *BAFCD/LP010 –

Jah Stitch Jah Stitch (born Melbourne James, 27 July 1949 – 28 April 2019) was a reggae deejay best known for his recordings in the 1970s. Biography After an introduction to music singing in a yard with the likes of The Wailers, The Heptones, Roy Shi ...

– ''Original Raggamuffin 1975-1977'' *BAFCD1001 – King Tubby &

Scientist A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophica ...

– ''

Greenwich Farm Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Interna ...

Rub-A-Dub'' *BAFCD/LP011 – King Tubby & Soul Syndicate – ''Freedom Sounds in Dub'' *BAFCD/LP012 – Scientist – ''Dub in the Roots

Tradition A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays ...

'' *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 Roy Samuel Reid (28 June 1942 – 27 November 1999), better known as I-Roy, was a Jamaican deejay who had a very prolific career during the 1970s. Biography Born in 1944 in Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica, Reid graduated from Dinthill Technical C ...

– ''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 – U Brown – ''Train To

Zion Zion ( he, צִיּוֹן ''Ṣīyyōn'', LXX , also variously transliterated ''Sion'', ''Tzion'', ''Tsion'', ''Tsiyyon'') is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole (see Na ...

'' *BAFCD/LP021 –

– ''

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...

Dread 1972-1977'' (2-CD) *BAFCD/LPO22 –

Yabby you Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work. Biography Jack ...

– ''Jesus Dread 1995-1997'' (2-CDE)

1998

*BAFCD/LP022 – Impact Allstars – ''Forward The Bass: Dub From Randy's 1972-1975'' *BAFCD/LP023 –

Junior Byles Kenneth Byles (born 2 February 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica), also known as "Junior Byles", "Chubby", or "King Chubby", is a Jamaican reggae singer.Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, Biography The Versatiles Na ...

and Friends – ''129 Beat Street: Ja-Man Special 1975-1978'' *BAFCD/LP024 –

Johnny Clarke Johnny Clarke (born 12 January 1955) is a Jamaican reggae musician, best known for his recordings with producer Bunny Lee in the 1970s. Biography Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town and attended Jamaica College.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 Cornel Campbell aka Don Cornel or Don Gorgon (born 23 November 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae singer, best known for his trademark falsetto voice, and his recordings at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee i ...

– ''I Shall Not Remove 1975-1980'' *BAFCD/LP031 –

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the ...

– ''Shanty Town Determination'' *BAFCD/LP032 –

Linval Thompson Leval Alphonso Thompson (born 12 October 1954, Kingston, Jamaica), also known as Linval Thompson, is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and record producer. Biography Thompson was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but spent time with his mother in Q ...

– ''Ride on

Dreadlocks Dreadlocks, also known as locs or dreads, are rope-like strands of hair formed by locking or braiding hair. Origins Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization, one of Europ ...

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 Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer (born George Boswell, 1951, Montego Bay, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, . is a Jamaican record producer and singer who was a key figure in the cre ...

– ''Microphone Attack 1974-1977''

2002

*BAFCD/LP038 –

– ''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 lo ...

– ''The

Promised Land The Promised Land ( he, הארץ המובטחת, translit.: ''ha'aretz hamuvtakhat''; ar, أرض الميعاد, translit.: ''ard al-mi'ad; also known as "The Land of Milk and Honey"'') is the land which, according to the Tanakh (the Hebrew B ...

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 –

– ''Zion High'' *BAFCD/LP044 –

Tommy McCook Tommy McCook (3 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 One S ...

– ''Blazing Horns / Tenor in Roots''

2004

*BAFCD/LP045 –

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

– ''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