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Lincoln “Sugar” Minott (May 25, 1956 – July 10, 2010) is known in Jamaica and around the world as one of the greatest and most beloved figures in reggae music. From his initial work with The African Brothers, to his genre-defining early dancehall work at Studio One, to his rub-a-dub at Channel One and beyond, Sugar wasn’t just part of reggae, he was at the center of it.
Sugar was also much more than a vocalist – he was a producer who led many of his own recording sessions, ran labels and distribution, and also worked with sound systems. His legendary Youthman Promotion sound is still known today not just for the music it produced, but for the long list of young vocalists it raised.
In celebration of his 65th birthday, VP Records drew for a mix from some of the best in the western US. Virgo Hi-Power is a long-time sound crew featuring DJ Boomshot (Maui, Hawaii) and DJ Solid Rock (San Diego, California). Their focus in this 80-minute tribute is mostly early 80s, with flashes of more style.
The mix includes just some of Sugar’s hits, LP cuts, singles, hidden gems, a few dubs, and excerpts from Carter Van Pelt’s Sugar Minott WKCR Memorial Broadcast (available at archive.org). As always, Sugar is nice, rough, timeless, bubbling, and sweet.
This is SWEETER STILL – Sugar Minott at 65.
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DJ Boomshot (Virgo Hi-Power/Ruff Neck Posse/Request Records) – selection, concept, mix
DJ Solid Rock (Virgo Hi-Power/KNSJ 89.1 FM San Diego/Vinyl Junkies) – selection, concept, production
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Track List:
1. Dancehall Style (The Roots Lover 1978-83 - Moll Selekta LP)
2. Musical Murder (Leader For The Pack - World Enterprise LP 1985)
3. All Kind Of People (Black & White 7” 1981)
4. Uptown Girl (Bebo’s 12” 1983)
5. I Man Have No Luck In Gambling (Music Rock 12” 1983)
6. Dancehall We Deh (Witty 12” 1984)
7. Good Thing Going (RCA 12” 1981)
8. Rub A Dub Sound (Taxi 7” 1984)
9. Virgo Hi Power Dubplate (Tune In Riddim) (Sugar Minott & Johnny Osbourne)
10. In A Rub A Dub (Black Roots 12” 1981)
11. Lover’s Rock (Black Roots 12” 1980)
12. Billie You And I (Wackies 12”)
13. Style And Fashion (Style/Fashion 12” 1984) (Baba Leslie & Sugar Minott)
14. Tek A Set (Wackies 12” 1983)
15. Hang On Natty (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
16. Roof Over My Head (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
17. Come On Home (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
18. Fight Against Dread (Uptempo 10”)
19. Please Be True (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
20. Party Time (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
21. Give Me Jah Jah (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
22. Virgo Hi Power/Boomshot Dubplate (Breaking Up Riddim)
23. Love Gonna Pack Up (At Studio One - Soul Jazz LP)
24. Mr Fisher Man (Black & White 7” 1980)
25. Right Track (Warrior 12” 1979)
26. Mind Your Motion (Black Roots 7” 1980)
27. Uptown Ghetto (Black Roots - Mango LP 1979)
28. Try Love (The Best Of Vol 1 - L&M/Black Roots LP)
29. Victim Of Society (Inna Reggae Dancehall - Heartbeat LP 1986)
30. Show Me That You Love Me Girl (Channel One 12” 1982)
31. So We Love It (Wackie’s/Black Roots 10” 1983)
32. Level Vibes (Tad’s 12” 1983)
33. Herbman Hustling (Black Roots 12” 1984)
34. Virgo Hi Power/Solid Rock Dubplate (Heavenless Riddim)
35. One Sunday Morning (One A Way Style - Top Rank LP)
36. Nah Follow Fashion (Youth Promotion 7” 1985)
37. Ease Up (Time Longer Than Rope - Greensleeves 1986)
38. Gi-Me The Tu Shung Peng (SMJ 12”)
39. Lick Shot (Brand X 12” 1984)
40. Love Up Love Up (Show-Down Vol 2 -Channel One LP 1983)
41. Worries And Problem (Double Dose -Blue Trac 1986)
42. Cell Block One (Rockers Award Winners -Greensleeves 1985 LP)
43. Hard Time Pressure (Sufferers Heights 12” 1979)
44. Love We Have (Double Dose -Blue Trac 1986 LP)
45. Run Come (Witty 12” 1986)
- Genre
- Reggae