From our “Single of the Week” 2 weeks back to a vinyl giveaway today, the roots reggae skank of Bunny Lion’s “Rat Trap” from the newly repressed Red LP had us from the initial needle drop. Rereleased on red vinyl from our friends at Fantasy Memory/ Captured Tracks—we’ve found a copy to send to one of you.
“Although his lack of touring kept him from being established as a major figure in overground reggae circles, Linval Thompson’s work as a singer, songwriter and producer is essential to Jamaican music. Between 1977 and 1979, he released five solo albums and produced countless artists on the side. Thompson acted as a mentor to many up-and-comers, including Junjo Lawes, Scientist, and Eek-A-Mouse.
As dancehall became more prominent in the late 1970s, Thompson began to offer up his rhythms to sound system deejays. The mysterious deejay LP, Red, was originally released on London’s Starlight records in 1979. Little was written about the album at the time; however, we have uncovered that Bunny Lion is in fact the legendary Puddy Roots of Killamanjaro Soundsystem fame. Red features ten grooving Thompson Sound rhythms voiced by Puddy. This is the earliest documented work of the criminally under-recorded Puddy Roots. It’s also the perfect gateway record for anyone curious about dub, roots reggae, or dancehall.
This is the first time that Bunny Lion Red has been available digitally and on CD, and the first 300 copies are pressed on red vinyl. The LP will include unreleased photos and interviews with PuddyLion and Linval Thompson.”
“Recently unearthed and available for the first time in decades, Bunny Lion’s Red is the perfect gateway record for anyone curious about dub, roots reggae, or dancehall. A mysterious deejay LP, Red was originally released on London’s Starlight records in 1979. Little was written about the album at the time; however, we have uncovered that Bunny Lion is in fact the legendary Puddy Roots of Killamanjaro Soundsystem fame. ”
Enter to win Bunny Lion’s Red—on red vinyl—by citing in the comments below a reggae act of Bunny Lion’s era, the ’70s, you spin to this day. (We’re a bit partial to Handsworth Revolution from Birmingham’s bold Steel Pulse.)
One winner with a North American mailing address will be chosen a week from today, February 3. Our winner will be notified directly via email.
