Studio One Roots is one of the cornerstone compilations in Soul Jazz Records’ Studio One series, a 16‑track set that focuses on the roots‑reggae side of Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd’s legendary Kingston label. First issued in 2001 and repressed several times—most recently as an orange‑vinyl double‑LP and remastered CD as part of Soul Jazz’s 25th‑anniversary celebration of their Studio One partnership—the album gathers seminal cuts and super‑rarities from the vaults at 13 Brentford Road. It features heavyweight artists like Freddie McGregor, Willie Williams, Cornell Campbell, Alton Ellis, Devon Russell, and Bunny & Skitter alongside crack studio bands The Sound Dimension, Brentford All Stars, The Skatalites, and New Establishment, presenting a deep survey of Studio One’s spiritually charged, Rasta‑leaning output.Musically, there “isn’t a weak number” across the compilation. Standout tracks include The Cyclones with Count Ossie’s Meditation, a genre‑defying Nyabinghi‑drums reimagining of Booker T. & the M.G.’s soul instrumental; Alton Ellis’s Blackish White, a surreal and powerful Afro‑centric dream of identity; Willie Williams’ awe‑inspiring version of Addis Ababa, reframing a Skatalites horn line into a full Rastafari anthem; Devon Russell’s heavyweight take on the Drum Song rhythm; Lenny Hibbert’s sparkling vibes showcase More Creation; and Sound Dimension’s Congo Rock, a deep, hypnotic roots instrumental. Original sleevenotes by reggae historian Lloyd Bradley, rare photos of Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, and inner‑sleeve studio shots of Dodd with musicians round out a package that critics call “of a rare, rare beauty,” essential for anyone wanting to understand how Studio One helped define roots reggae’s sound, spirituality, and global influence.
