Hopeful Village Riddim – Treasure Isle

Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle cut Hopeful Village Riddim dates to 1969 and pulls together a sharp little rocksteady-to-early-reggae selection anchored by The Tennors’ Hopeful Village (Molly Oh), Tommy McCook and The Supersonics’ White Rum, and U Roy’s Hot Pot. The release catches that late-Treasure Isle moment when Reid was still shaping polished studio sides with strong vocal harmony, clean horn work, and the early toasting style that U Roy helped bring forward. It’s a compact snapshot of the label’s sound at the end of the decade, with enough swing and melody to make it recognisable as classic Duke Reid production.