Aswad (LP)

Stunning debut album by the legendary British reggae band, released in 1976 on Island Records. Arguably their early material is the finest roots reggae to emerge from the UK, highlighting the plight of immigrant Jamaicans in the unfamiliar and often hostile environment of 1970s London. Aswad (the name is Arabic for “black”) was formed in Ladbroke Grove, West London, in 1975. Their eclectic mix of styles melded elements of soul, jazz, and funk with hard roots reggae, lovers rock, and dub. The first single – Back to Africa, was released that year and hit number one on the U.K. reggae singles chart, scoring another hit with Three Babylon soon after. Other album highlights include Can’t Stand the Pressure, the epic Concrete Slaveship, as well as the excellent, slinky instrumental Ethiopian Rhapsody Features TWO bonus tracks – the single version of Three Babylon and the previously-unreleased dub version of the track. Remastered at Abbey Road. Long out of print on vinyl.