The Observer Master Mix Collection

Released: 16th August 2024. After first being introduced in the early 70s, the 12' single had become the format of choice for many of Jamaica's leading producers by the decade's close, with few Kingston-based music makers more attracted to its range and flexibility than Winston Holness AKA Niney the Observer. Between 1977 and 1978, Niney released a series of 'disco-mix' singles in both Jamaica and the UK, with a number of these coming housed in eye-catching 'Observer Master Mix'-branded picture sleeves. Popular among DJ's and record buyers on both sides of the Atlantic, the singles showcased the work of some of reggae leading artists, whose number included such Jamaican music luminaries as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Horace Andy, Junior Byles and Freddie McGregor. Yet despite the widespread popularity of these extended mixes, most have remained officially unavailable on any format since their original issue almost half a century ago. Now at long last, the best of these recordings can finally be enjoyed once more without the need to pay a small fortune for the privilege, with this anthology comprising a veritable feast of superior roots, dub and DJ sounds.