Jimmy Cliff: The Voice That Carried Reggae Across the World
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Jimmy Cliff always sounded like sunlight pressed into wax — that bright, effortless lift in his voice that made even the heaviest songs feel like they had somewhere hopeful to go. From the early ska sparks to the full reggae blaze of “Many Rivers to Cross,” his records carried a kind of stubborn optimism you could feel through the sleeve. And then there was The Harder They Come, the film and soundtrack that kicked open reggae’s door to the world, with Cliff at the center of it all, cool as ever.
He left us on 24 November 2025, but his vinyl spins on: warm, melodic, and unbothered by time. Drop the needle on one of his early Island pressings and you still hear the same thing listeners heard in the ‘70s — a man turning struggle into soul, and soul into something you want to play again the next day.
RANDOM - Randomised
Metal Enterprises (ME 531), 1989
This 1989 blast of German Hard Rock/Heavy Metal catches RANDOM at full throttle—riff-driven, fast on its feet, and proudly rough around the edges. Rothes leads with a voice that cuts through the mix like neon through smoke, while the band leans into swagger and adrenaline over polish. A collector’s delight, "Randomised" delivers the exact kind of weird, energetic grit that makes these ME-era records unforgettable.
GRIM REAPER - Rock You to Hell
RCA PL86250 (Germany), 1987 • RCA Victor 6250-1-R (USA), 1987
“Rock You To Hell”, the band’s third and final studio blast, hit in 1987 when heavy metal was exploding worldwide. Grim Reaper pushed their NWOBHM power with searing falsetto vocals, razor-bright riffs, and big arena choruses. Released in Germany via RCA and in the USA through RCA Victor, this album marked their most international moment, carrying their Droitwich steel across both sides of the Atlantic.
HOLY MOSES - Finished with the Dogs (1987 Germany)
This slab of late-80s thrash snaps like a steel cable at full tension. Sabina’s razor-edged delivery pulls the whole thing forward as Holy Moses tear through riffs carved out of concrete. The 12-inch keeps everything raw and physical, like a front-row blast in some sweaty bunker venue. Finished With The Dogs stands tall as a collector’s trophy — fierce, unpolished, proudly untamed.
BOBBY RODRIGUEZ - Lead Me To That Beautiful Band
"Lead Me to That Beautiful Band" is the vibrant 1975 release by "Bobby Rodriguez Y La Compañia". Produced by the legendary Ray Baretto and Alux Masucci, this LP delivers a fusion of Latin rhythms that captivate the soul. Recorded at Good Vibrations Sound Studio, New York, and engineered by Jon Fausty, it features a talented ensemble including Bobby Rodriguez, Junior Cordova, and more. A sonic journey through Latin music excellence.
MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND - Somewhere in Afrika
Raw, restless, and politically loaded, “Somewhere in Afrika” pushes the Earth Band into tougher territory. African rhythms throb under its prog-rock backbone, while Chris Thompson tears through the vocals and Trevor Rabin fires off a guest solo that steals the spotlight. It’s a record that refuses to play safe and rewards every spin.
DOKKEN - Beast from the East
This album captures Dokken right before the wheels flew off, still firing with that razor-tight swagger. Don rides the melodies with a cool confidence, while George Lynch melts the paint off the amps with those trademark snarling riffs. The Japan shows give the whole thing a boosted atmosphere, turning every chorus into a near-arena-quake.
PETER TOSH - Equal Rights
This LP is Tosh at full voltage—sharp lyrics, fire-in-the-belly delivery, and a rhythm section so tight it feels carved from stone. Sly & Robbie drive the heartbeat while Tosh pushes the message forward, turning “Equal Rights” into a righteous storm that shaped reggae’s political backbone for decades.
FRANK ZAPPA & Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra - Lumpy Gravy
"Lumpy Gravy" is Zappa showing off his mad-scientist side, stitching spoken moments, orchestral bursts, and razor edits into one long, weird grin. It doesn’t behave like rock, jazz, or anything with a normal pulse—just pure Zappa logic. A playground of oddball transitions and surreal moods, it’s an early clue that he was playing a longer, stranger game.
HEART - Little Queen
With “Little Queen” Heart sharpened their folk-rock blade and swung it with real intent. Ann Wilson’s powerhouse voice leads the charge while Nancy’s guitar work twists the melodies into something earthy, urgent, and unmistakably theirs. A record that still feels alive, restless, and just a little rebellious every time the needle drops.
IRON MAIDEN - The Clairvoyant Cut To Shape Shaped Picture Disc
This shaped picture disc is Maiden at their eccentric peak—Eddie split between prophecy and meltdown, carved into jagged vinyl glory. It’s the kind of release that whispers “1988 was built different” while Bruce and the gang tear through one of their sharpest singles. A true oddity that somehow feels essential in every metal archive.
IRON MAIDEN - Fear Of The Dark
“Fear of the Dark” in full 2LP glory is one of those albums that reminds you why vinyl still feels like a living thing. Bruce Dickinson howls through the grooves with that familiar fire, while Steve Harris drives the pulse like a man refusing to age. Drop the needle, dim the lights, and let the analog ghosts do the rest.
ROLLING STONES - Black and Blue
“Black and Blue” catches the Stones mid-flight, recharging after years of excess with a mix of swagger and soul. The record grooves hard — slinky funk, smoky ballads, and flashes of reggae cool. Jagger and Richards sound hungry again, trading grit and melody like streetfighters in silk. It’s not polished perfection — it’s attitude on wax, and that’s exactly why it works.
DARK ANGEL - Darkness Descends
Darkness Descends (1986) hit the underground like a vinyl firestorm — pure velocity carved into wax. Don Doty’s vocals rip through the mix, and Gene Hoglan’s drumming pushes physics to its breaking point. Each track screams urgency, yet the band’s precision keeps it razor-sharp. It’s the sound of thrash metal growing teeth, louder, faster, and entirely without apology.
HELLION - Screams in the Night
Hellion’s debut LP hits like a live wire straight out of 1987—loud, dangerous, and gloriously unpolished. “Screams in the Night” doesn’t whisper; it claws its way out of the speakers, wrapped in high-octane guitars and Ann Boleyn’s flame-thrower vocals. It’s pure vinyl adrenaline, caught between Sunset Strip flash and true metal grit.
IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere In Time Collection: Worldwide Vinyl Editions
Travel through time with Iron Maiden’s legendary 1986 album Somewhere in Time. This collection brings together worldwide vinyl releases, each with its own unique characteristics—from the German DMM press to the French SACEM edition and the iconic UK & US releases. Featuring classics like "Wasted Years" and "Stranger in a Strange Land," this is a must-have for Maiden collectors!
AC/DC - High Voltage Genuine Australian Pressing
“High Voltage” is where AC/DC plugged straight into history — an unpolished, loud, and unapologetic debut that smelled of sweat and cheap amplifiers. Bon Scott’s vocals swagger with danger, Angus Young’s guitar slices like live wire, and every riff feels like it could short-circuit your speakers. This is where the legend started: no filters, no mercy, just current.
BARON ROJO - Volumen Brutal
“Volumen Brutal” stormed out of 1982 like a jet-engine blast of Spanish pride and heavy metal defiance. With their twin-lead guitars screaming in harmony and vocals that straddled rage and melody, Barón Rojo delivered an album both ferocious and melodic. It bridged continents and languages, proving that raw power and honest songwriting can make even the walls of London tremble.
BILLY IDOL - Charmed Life
Released in 1990, “Charmed Life” reintroduced Billy Idol as both survivor and showman. The album fused hard-edged rock attitude with sleek studio precision, carving radio hits out of near-disaster. Guitars shimmer, vocals sneer, and every track feels like a comeback announcement — proof that Idol could bend with the times without losing his bite.
QUEENSRYCHE - The Warning
Released in 1984, “The Warning” announced Queensrÿche as one of the sharpest new voices in American heavy metal. The album fused precision guitar harmonies with dark, prophetic lyrics that leaned toward science fiction rather than sleaze. It’s an LP that feels designed for headphones and midnight reflection, not beer and bar fights.
NINA HAGEN BAND - Unbehagen
A wild Berliner mix of Punk, Reggae und Drama — Unbehagen is Hagen at her peak: the shriek, the opera, the wicked grin. “Wenn ich ein Junge wär” crackles with raw defiance, recorded live in Saarbrücken, 1979. Every groove hums with rebellion and charm, the sonic equivalent of a punk cabaret in black lipstick and neon light.
WISHBONE ASH - Live Dates
“Live Dates” isn’t just a concert record — it’s the sound of Wishbone Ash carving their legend into wax. Recorded across England in 1973, the album roars with sharp fretwork, fluid harmonies, and the kind of control that only comes from endless nights on the road. Every track feels alive, sweaty, and honest — rock music without the studio perfume.
AEROSMITH - Get Your Wings
Released in 1974, “Get Your Wings” caught Aerosmith right as the fuse lit. Tyler’s vocals slither between sneer and soul while Joe Perry’s guitar cuts like a buzz saw dipped in blues. The album is raw but ambitious—equal parts swagger and sweat. It’s the sound of a band clawing its way from smoky clubs into rock history, with every groove daring you to turn the volume higher.
THIN LIZZY - Live and Dangerous 2LP
Thin Lizzy’s “Live and Dangerous” is pure voltage pressed in vinyl — two slabs of hard rock lightning caught in the late-’70s storm. Lynott’s voice swings between menace and charm, while Gorham and Robertson trade guitar lines sharp enough to cut glass. It’s a performance that sounds too good to be live, yet too alive to be studio-bound — the ultimate paradox of rock immortality.
GRAVESTONE - Back to Attack
“Back to Attack” is Gravestone’s boldest call from the German underground — a fistful of speed, melody, and rough charisma. It came out swinging in 1985 when every small town suddenly had its own guitar heroes. The vocals soar, the rhythm section never quits, and the whole record carries that reckless energy of a band determined to be remembered, even if the world wasn’t listening yet.
MANOWAR - Sign of the Hammer
Manowar, an American heavy metal band, released their fourth studio album "Sign of the Hammer" in 1984. The album features eight tracks, including some of the band's most popular songs, such as "All Men Play on Ten" and "Thor (The Powerhead)."
AC/DC - Back in Black
AC/DC’s “Back in Black” (1980, Atlantic ATL 50735) roared out of tragedy into triumph, introducing Brian Johnson’s powerhouse vocals after Bon Scott’s passing. Produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, this hard-rock landmark from Germany blends electrifying riffs, precision production, and iconic tracks like “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
BUDGIE - Power Supply
Budgie’s “Power Supply” is the comeback that shocked 1980 with pure, metallic clarity. No frills, no fuzz—just molten riffs, pounding rhythm, and Burke Shelley’s unmistakable howl cutting through like live current. This album plugged the band straight into the heavy metal revival, proving the old guard could still torch the newcomers. A lean, thunderous statement from a band reborn under bright voltage.
ATTENTAT ROCK - Strike
Released in 1985, “Strike” roars with youthful defiance and a touch of glam chaos. Attentat Rock fuse catchy hooks with pounding riffs, building an album that feels both streetwise and cinematic. The guitars duel like fireworks while Marc Quee commands the front lines with sharp precision. It’s raw, bold, and unashamedly European — a collector’s delight born from France’s loudest metal dream.