Various Artists — Brixton Cat( CD Boxset)

Brixton Cat is a three-CD set celebrating the work of Joe Mansano- a Trinidadian producer/label owner who moved to London in the early 1960s- to become a key figure in the early Ska and reggae scene. The set brings together 1969’s Brixton Cat, which was the debut album of his project Joe's All Stars, and two compilation discs, Funky Reggae 1969- 1970, and Skinhead Revolt 1970.

The release appears on Doctor Bird, part of the Cherry Red family of labels, which focuses on reggae reissues. The set is presented in a brown glossy flip-side box with yellow, orange, and red texts, with the cover of the box reproducing the cover of Brixton Cat, showing a woman in a red coat standing looking at  Brixton market. Each CD comes in its own sleeve with artwork for each. The set comes presented with a sixteen-page glossy inlay booklet- this features a page write-up about Mansano, and his impact- then we get a five-and-a-half interview with the producer himself, as well as a good selection of pictures & vinyl labels.

Joe Mansano was born in Trinidad and Tobago- he moved to the UK in 1963 to study accounts, and while in the UK, he became a record producer, setting up a sub-label with Trojan called Joe, and opened a record shop in Brixton called Joe’s Record Centre. He returned to his home country in 1980, but while in the UK, he produced/ recorded/released a decent amount of work- this collection takes in sixty-four tracks over its three discs.

So first up on disc one, we have the Brixton Cat LP, as well as eight bonus tracks. The album was first released in 1969- it’s a fourteen-track affair, which features eleven Mansano penned tracks, as well as three covers.  We go from “Reggae On The Shore” which is a grooved/ sped-up version of the Acker Bilk easy listening classic. Onto joyful trumpet swoon, manic organ key jiving, and tight beat strutt of “The Bullet”. Over to the title track with its jaunting organ tone, DJ shot-outs, and rattling/ snaking percussion. Though to the urgent tapping piano keys, horn wails, and shaking ‘n’ rapidly stepping percussion of “Reco’s Torpedo”. It’s a nicely tasteful opening album from Joe's All Stars- highlighting Mansano's ability to write a good tune/ groove, as well as selecting players who certainly knew how to make great reggae.

Moving onto disc two- this is entitled  Funky Reggae 1969- 1970, and it takes in both tracks from Mansano related projects, as well as artists who produced. It’s a twenty-one-track collection, which is varied/ consistent throughout. We move cascading ‘n’ darting organ, strutting guitar/ beat, sassy trumpet blooms, and chatting/shout-out male vocals of  “Muscail Feet” by Pama Dice & Joe’s All Stars. Onto the horror reggae of “Dracula, Prince Of Darkness” by King Horror- with its blend of speeding bass/ organ/percussion, and slight ghoulish/ yet sing-song male vocals. There’s the steady simmering/ strutting of “Solitude(Instrumental)" by Joe’s All Star- with organ runs ‘n’ jives, and steady soulful groove. We have the strutting slightly blues-bound guitar work, tinkling ‘n’ stirring percussion, and stoned mumblings of “Tea, Patty, Sex & Ganja” by Sexy Frankie & Nyah Shuffle. Or the rocksteady beat, trumpeting horn meets singing/ simmering organ of “Skinhead Revolt” by Joe The Boss & Joe’s All Stars.

Finally, on disc three, we have Skinhead Revolt 1970- again, this is a compilation, taking in twenty-one tracks, which brings together Mansano projects with those he produced.  This is again a decent collection, though maybe not quite as varied/ consistent as the last disc. We go from steady strutting beats, blues guitar licks, click-clacking percussion, and vocal hisses/ scatting of “Son Of Al Capone” by Joe The Boss. Onto the rock ‘n’ roll ballad goes reggae of “Don’t Play The Song” with its soul male vocals & swooning female backing vocals. Through the scraping percussion, tight jiving keys, moody/ deep trailer man vocals, and gunshot sound effects of “Bad Day At Black Rock” by The Cimaron Kid.

If you enjoy late 60s/ early 70s reggae with a playful, at times fairly creative edge, this boxset is most certainly something you’ll be wanting to track down. Another very worthwhile release from Doctor Bird.