Book Of Rules Riddim – Jaywax, Mango, Shark

1973’s Book Of Rules Riddim pulls together a small but telling slice of early reggae history, centred on The Heptones’ classic Book Of Rules and issued across Jaywax, Mango and Shark with production credits tied to Harry J, Danny Holloway, Earl Morgan and Tascher. The lineup is brief but distinctive, with The Heptones returning in different versions across 1973, 1976 and 1985, plus Doctor Marshall’s The Ruling (Version) and the 1993 Heptones and Shaka Shamba cut The Book. The tune itself is closely associated with The Heptones’ harmony style and has long been one of their best-known songs, which helps explain why it kept resurfacing on later pressings and versions.