Aswad (Black History Month 2023)

Stunning debut album by the legendary British reggae band, released in 1976 on Island Records. Arguably their early material is the finest roots reggae to emerge from the UK, highlighting the plight of immigrant Jamaicans in the unfamiliar and often hostile environment of 1970s London. The first single 'Back to Africa' was released that year and hit number one on the UK reggae singles chart, scoring another hit with 'Three Babylon' soon after. Other album highlights include 'Can't Stand the Pressure', the epic 'Concrete Slaveship', as well as the excellent, slinky instrumental 'Ethiopian Rhapsody'. Features two bonus tracks - the single version of 'Three Babylon' and the previously-unreleased dub version of the track. This Black History Month version remastered at Abbey Road.