Reggae Nights

An epic set of 15 tracks, Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 unites the deep roots grooves of reggae, dancehall and rocksteady with the scorching soul of Cuban son, timba and salsa. While connected by common African roots and colonial histories, the music of Cuba and Jamaica have traveled largely in separate directions. Their influence on the music of the world has been immeasurable, but their influence on each other has been less evident – until now.

Now That’s What I Call Music head back to the 1970s for NOW Yearbook 1977. In 4CD guise deluxe hardcover book and card sleeve versions this offers 80 tracks including Queen, Status Quo, Lake and Palmer, ELO, Leo Sayer, David Soul, Boney M, The Stranglers, The Clash, The Jam, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Bryan Ferry, Marvin Gaye, the Commodores, 10cc, Mike Oldfield, Kenny Rogers, and Paul McCartney and Wings. The 3LP blue vinyl edition delivers 49 tracks across its six sides of vinyl. Full tracklistings are below. Now Yearbook 1977 will be released on 1 November. 4 x CD, Compilation, Special Edition: Sony Music, Universal Music, Now Twic, EMI Records! As well as an addition to your collection and archives.

NOW That’s What I Call Music continue their occasional limited edition vinyl box set series with NOW Presents Disco. This is a 5LP set pressed on purple vinyl and features “the greatest 70s Disco tracks ever”. You can decide if you think that’s true, by perusing the tracklistings below. Certainly, it’s full of timeless classics, by Chic, Sister Sledge, Gloria Gaynor, Tavares, Village People, Grace Jones, Amii Stewart, Chaka Khan, LaBelle, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Tina Charles, Baccara, Boney M., Lipps Inc., Kool and The Gang and many more!

Tracks include Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’, Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’, The Village People’s ‘YMCA’, Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’, Diana Ross’ ‘Upside Down’, The Trammps’ ‘Disco Inferno’, Kool & The Gang’s ‘Ladies Night’, Baccara’s ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, Amii Stewart’s version of ‘Knock On Wood’, The Hues Corporation’s ‘Rock The Boat’, The Isley Brothers’ ‘That Lady, Pt 1’, The O’Jays’ ‘I Love Music’, Thelma Houston’s ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’, Tavares’ ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (Part 1)’, LaBelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’, Yvonne Elliman’s ‘If I Can’t Have You’ and many more. Full tracklisting is below. NOW Thats What I Call An Era Disco: 1973-1980 will be released 7 November 2025.

A collaboration between dub mixmaster/studio whiz King Tubby and dancehall tough Jah Screw, Dangerous Dub is a ten-track collection of some of the heaviest roots dub around. The two spent nights mixing tracks in King Tubby's studio located in the perilous, crime-rife ghetto of West Kingston – hence the name Dangerous Dub. Pounding, mind-blowing basslines and supple guitar tracks are provided by studio mainstays Flabba Holt and Bingy Bunny, both of whom appear on countless reggae and dub recordings. They provide a nice balance to the rat-a-tat ratcheting sounds King Tubby is famous for. The best cut by far is "Hungry Belly Dub," a remake of the classic reggae standard "Bandulo." Also featuring the track "London Bridge Special," Dangerous Dub is a great introduction to dub at its finest. ~Allmusic

For Dads that rock! Spoil your Dad this Father’s Day with this fantastic collection of songs designed to appeal to the coolest fathers on the block. From classic reggae, country, punk and rock to irresistible indie, Ultimate Dad is the perfect way to show your Dad you care, and that you know just how awesome he is. So crank up the volume and get your Dad dance on to Free, Thin Lizzy, the mighty Quo, The Damned, the Boomtown Rats, Johnny Cash, the Jam and many many more.

Samory I’s solo debut album, STRENGTH, comes out November 17, 2023, via Overstand Entertainment/Easy Star Records.

Jamaica's national motto, 'Out Of Many One People', could well be applied to the music that shaped the island's national sound, with modern reggae the result of many different musical forms coalescing to form a wonderfully unique 'one'. Fantastic Voyage's highly popular Sound System Classics series has already celebrated the American jump blues favoured at Jamaican dances in the pre-ska era, but contrary to widespread belief, US rhythm & blues and the indigenous style of mento were not the only types of music enjoyed across the island prior to the development of Shuffle Blues and Ska. In fact, the diversity of sounds that exerted a direct influence on popular Jamaican music throughout the 20th Century is astonishing, taking in gospel, blues, jazz, vocal groups, country, pop, film music and exotica, hailing from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Southern Africa and the British Isles, as well as America.