Conquering Lion Riddim – Various Labels

The Conquering Lion Riddim sits right in that heavy mid-’70s roots pocket, all dusky bassline and militant bounce, with Yabby You/Vivian Jackson’s fingerprints all over it. Augustus Pablo sounds especially sharp on “Pablo Dread In A Red” and “Tippa Tone Blues, ” where the melodica cuts through the rhythm like a siren, while Big Youth’s “Yabby Youth” and “Lighting Flash” lean into the deejay pressure and keep the whole thing moving. Devon Russell and Dicky Burton add a couple of deeper pulls too, and the King Tubby cuts push the riddim into dub territory without losing that stern, hymn-like feel. Recorded across 1974 to 1976 and spread across various labels, it catches that exact moment when roots reggae was getting leaner, darker, and more devotional.

Conquering Lion Riddim Tracklist:

1. Augustus Pablo & Vivian Jackson – Pablo Dread In A Red
2. Augustus Pablo – Augustus Pablo & Vivian Jackson Pablo Dread In A Red
3. Augustus Pablo – Tippa Tone Blues
4. Big Youth – Big Youth & Vivian Jackson Yabby Youth
5. Big Youth – Lighting Flash Weak Heart Drop
6. Big Youth – Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop)
7. Devon Russell – Race Track Riot (7)
8. Devon Russell – Rat & Bat (7)
9. Dicky Burton – Dicky Burton God Is Watching You
10. King Tubby – King Tubby’s Rock
11. King Tubby – Lord Dub
12. King Tubby’s – Big Youth Fights Against Capitalism
13. The Prophets All Stars – Lazy Mood
14. Tommy Mccook – Tommy Mccook & Don D. Jnr. Fisherman Special
15. Toyan & Errol Scorcher – Natty Roots
16. Trinity – Jamal Foundation
17. Trinity – Samson The Strongest Man
18. Wayne Wade – King Of Kings
19. Yabba You – Yabby Youth
20. Yabby U & King Tubby’s – Rock Vibrations
21. Yabby You & The Prophets – Beware
22. Yabby You – Conquering Lion [smith & Mighty Remix]
23. Yabby You – God Is Watching Dicky Burton
24. Yabby You – Vivian Jackson & The Ralph Brothers Conquering Lion
25. Yabby You And The Prophets – Beware Dub