Bend Your Back Riddim – Volcano Records

Produced by Henry Lawes for Volcano Records in 1979, Bend Your Back Riddim sits right at the point where late roots and early dancehall begin to overlap. The cut list is short and direct, with Barrington Levy’s Bend Your Back carrying the vocal side and Dub – Round 10 from 1980 handling the dub version, which keeps the focus on the rhythm rather than a crowded artist mix. Levy’s early Volcano recordings helped define his rise, and this one captures that young, sharp style over a spare, heavy groove. Volcano’s Henry “Junjo” Lawes was already shaping a sound that would become central to the era, and this riddim reflects that stripped, forward-moving approach.