Joe Gibbs & The Professionals — Disco Love Dub
Disco Love Dub is a two-CD compilation bringing together 12” dub remixers, from 1978 to 1984- all created by respected reggae producer Joe Gibbs & his band The Professionals. The thirty-six track collection moves between more pared-back bass ‘n’ beats mixes, onto more dancefloor-focused fare, through to the more quirky/ wonky workouts.
This double CD release appears on Doctor Bird, the reggae sub-label of Cherry Red. The two discs come presented in a clear jewel case, which features a sixteen-page glossy inlay booklet with a rather groovy green and yellow swirled pattern design. Included is a new six-page write-up about the collection, as well as a great selection of colourful single labels/ cover art, track credits, and pictures of Mr Gibbs and the key members of The Professionals.
On the first disc, we move from the chugging organ. bass line thuds, looped electro wow wow/ sparking tones, and the bright, almost proto-electro-industrial feel of “Running Irie”. We have the wonky wavering feel “Above Rocks Bubbler” with its woozy beats ‘n’ bass & warped guitar/horns, all topped with a nursery rhyme mimicking harmonica. There’s the snapping/squiggling electro beats, sampled sassy trad jazz horn work, and chugging organ lines of “Passing On”. Or the mellow blues-tinged guitar line, strutting bass line, and floating, almost country reggae female vocals of “Don’t Feel Left Out”.
Over on disc two, we have the disco tom hits, hard slamming beats, and reverbing trail organs/ bass line of “I Need To See You”. There’s the layered instrumental strutting, bare bass moments, and tip-tap percussion detail of “Family Affair”. We have sampled taut horn tones, bass line & beat snap, and from time to time rough chants of “Rhythm Connection”. Or there’s the single note honk meets condensed horns/ organs, up front snapping beats of “Lovers Move”.
Disco Love Dub is another top-draw dub reggae remix compilation from Doctor Bird, with a wonderful selection & variety of tracks. It truly is astounding that much of what is featured here was sitting unreleased in the vaults, as there truly are some real sonic gems on display.