Agony Riddim – Various Labels

Agony produced by Gyasi Addae, Kenneth Black, E.J. Robinson, Wayne Ottey, Michael Ottey, Steely, Hugh James, King Jammy, King Tubby, Harold McLarty for Skengdon, Fashion, Redman International, Jammy’s, Oneness, Waterhouse, World Enterprise, Flexitime in 1987

Agony Riddim comes out of the 1987 dancehall era, with production spread across names like Gyasi Addae, Kenneth Black, E. J. Robinson, Wayne Ottey, Michael Ottey, Steely, Hugh James, King Jammy, King Tubby and Harold McLarty for labels including Skengdon, Fashion, Redman International, Jammy’s, Oneness, Waterhouse, World Enterprise and Flexitime. The rhythm turns up here with a deep bench of voicings, led by Admiral Bailey’s Big Belly Man and backed by cuts from Chicken Chest, Derrick Irie, Don Angelo, Horseman, Cutty Ranks and Chaka Demus. It captures that late-’80s Jamaican sound where heavy bass, sharp digital swing and streetwise lyrics sat side by side, and the mix of producers and labels shows how widely the riddim travelled through the scene.

Agony Riddim Tracklist:

1. Dub – Slim Belly Man Version 1 (1987)
2. Dub – Slim Belly Man Version 2
3. Admiral Bailey – Big Belly Man (1987)
4. Carlton Reid & Sappo D – Bamboo Stick (1988)
5. Chaka Demus – Gimme Your Love
6. Chicken Chest – Don’t Kill Entertainer (1987)
7. Cutty Ranks – Kill Her With The Agony
8. Darrison – Take Your Time (2009)
9. Derrick Irie – Slide And Wine (1987)
10. Dominick – Mini Van Drama (1987)
11. Don Angelo – Computer Seh So (1987)
12. Horseman – Fat Belly Man (1987)
13. Jah Lion – Hail To The King Anointed
14. Johnny Osbourne – This Old Man (1987)
15. Johnny P – Magnet And Steel
16. Junior Wilson – Ganja Man (1988)
17. King Kong – Do Noh Get High
18. Lady Junie – Slim Belly Man (1987)
19. Lieutenant Stitchie – Learn Fe Read An Spell (1987)
20. Little John – Gal Yu Mud Up (1987)
21. Little Ricky – Dracula Bite (1988)
22. Little Twitch – Make Us A Life (1987)
23. Lloyd D Stiff – Condom (1988)
24. Louie Culture & Wayne Ranks – Circle Africa
25. Major Worries – Mi Nuh Response (1987)
26. Mikey Ranglin – Agony Agony Instrumental (1988)
27. Mikey White – Slim Belly Man (1988)
28. Pan Bird – I Don’t Care (1987)
29. Papa Levi – Earth (2009)
30. Phantom – Pick Yu Cherry (1987)
31. Phil Dexton – More Peace
32. Pinchers – Agony (1987)
33. Pompidoo – Synthesizer Voice (1987)
34. Red Dragon – Size
35. Risto Benjie – Don’t Pirate It (1987)
36. Robby Dangerfield – She Pum Pum (1988)
37. Screwdriver – Poor People Love
38. Shabba Ranks – Must Love Reggae (Get Up And Move) (1987)
39. Shabba Ranks – Try A Thing (1988)
40. Shaka Shamba – Carry Something Fi Me (1987)
41. Simpleton – Stop Mock De Dread
42. Singing Melody – Love Inside Of You (1987)
43. Super Black – Dem A Sign (1987)
44. Super Cat – Teach Them Something
45. Super Classic – Come Fi Lick It Down (1988)
46. Super Classic – Sound Boy Business (1988)
47. Terry Ganzie – One Bright Morning
48. The Firehouse Crew – Computer In Dub (1987)
49. Thriller U – Time After Time (1987)
50. Tippa Irie – Get Away (2009)
51. Tonto Irie – Slim Belly Man (1987)
52. Tulloch T – Think Me Did Gone (1987)

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