{"title":"Keith Hudson","description":"\u003cp\u003eKeith Hudson was born into a musical family in Kingston, Jamaica in 1946. His musical education began as Hudson worked as a sort of roadie for Skatalite and Jamaican trombone king Don Drummond. By age 21, Hudson, who had been trained as a dentist, sunk his earnings into his own record label, Inbidimts, and had a hit with Ken Boothe's recording of \"Old Fashioned Way.\" Not long after this chart success, the suddenly hot Hudson was producing some of the biggest names (and soon-to-be biggest names) in reggae -- John Holt, Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, and the great toasters U-Roy and Dennis Alcapone, all of whom benefited from what would be Hudson's trademark production style: groove-centered, bass\/drum-dominated, lean and mean stripped-down riddims. By the mid-seventies, Hudson began releasing more solo work, hitting paydirt from the start with his 1974 debut, \"Entering the Dragon\" and his intense second record, \"Flesh Of My Skin\" for Brent Clarke's Tottenham based Atra imprint. This 1974 set was the first real solo flowering of Hudson as \"The Dark Prince Of Reggae\", the overriding atmosphere was sombre and brooding, but also righteous and proud. In 1976, Hudson relocated to New York City and worked pretty much nonstop, producing as well as recording solo records up until 1982. He succumbed to lung cancer on 14th November 1984, at age 38.\r\n\r\nAssociated record labels: [l188100], [l263082], [l1117904], [l231148], [l131623], [l109757], [l431836], [l221017], [l384453], [l450875].\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pick-a-dub","title":"Pick a Dub","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePick a Dub\u003c\/i\u003e showcased the enduring strength and pivotal importance of the rhythm to the development of reggae music. Keith Hudson’s complete mastery of the genre and the unqualified praise that followed its release was fully justified. The album’s \"austere sonic qualities” are awe inspiring, the superb rhythms are given full rein, unencumbered by extra effects and studio trickery. The overall effect is as mesmerising now as it was over forty years ago. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth CD and double LP set contain bonus tracks featuring eight vocal cuts of the featured dub including two previously unreleased tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VP Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2","offer_id":50396383609163,"sku":"2169740","price":47.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50396381577547,"sku":"2050294","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50396380397899,"sku":"1000641","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50396380627275,"sku":"1000642","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b4a7f67c-2f91-485e-b39e-c3a6228e6335_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1726481486"},{"product_id":"playing-it-cool-and-playing-it-right","title":"Playing It Cool and Playing It Right","description":"\u003cp\u003eKeith Hudson was a one-of-a-kind musical innovator with an impeccable track record from the start: his first studio recording involved former Skatalites, and his earliest releases provided solid-gold hits for Ken Boothe (“Old Fashioned Way”, 1967), John Holt, Delroy Wilson, U-Roy and the others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith \u003ci\u003ePick A Dub\u003c\/i\u003e Hudson produced one of the best dub albums ever, and with \u003ci\u003eThe Black Breast Has Produced Her Best, Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood\u003c\/i\u003e he released the first concept album in reggae history, bringing his all-around talents to full fruition as early as 1974. Thematically dedicated entirely to Black history, the latter of these two albums is a masterpiece that captivates with an atmosphere that is as dark as it is deeply spiritual, charged by Hudson's eccentric vocals. Like Lloyd Bullwackie Barnes, his splitting from tradition was dynamic and all his own. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs his career moved on, Hudson found himself working outside of Jamaica, more frequently in London and New York studios and for transatlantic audiences, his dark experimentalism becoming increasingly better suited to the LP than the cardinal 7” reggae format.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlaying It Cool and Playing It Right\u003c\/i\u003e was released in 1981 on the Joint International label, in NYC, with Lloyd Bullwackie Barnes as the executive producer. The Love Joys and Wayne Jarrett, stalwarts of Barnes' record label, Wackies, would also inimitably feature Hudson at the microphone. Like Bullwackie, Hudson was a devotee of Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One and \u003ci\u003ePlaying It Cool and Playing It Right\u003c\/i\u003e follows Dodd’s then strategy of overdubbing his signature rhythms. The Studio One sides were aimed at the dancefloor and Hudson’s reworkings of tracks like “Melody Maker” are more psychological. Here, deep Barrett Brothers rhythms are made deeper with reverb, filters and distortion; everything pitched down and overlaid with new recordings of guitar, percussion, keyboard, and voice, often heavily treated. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlaying It Cool and Playing It Right \u003c\/i\u003econtinues Hudson’s psycho-acoustic journey into the abysses of existence, and overwhelms with the beauty of artistic self-empowerment. \"Too much formula,\" sings Hudson, whose voice is occasionally reminiscent of Sly Stone or even Tom Waits. \"Darkest night,\" answers an echoing background choir elsewhere. Even more fascinating is Hudson's production, which reflects Black history in even the smallest sound detail, the flashing whip of the slave driver still echoes in the sound of the snare drum. Rarely has a roots sound been made so electrifying, so expansive in all directions, so crystal clear, so bass-warm and echophonic as on these 30 minutes of music. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlaying It Cool and Playing It Right\u003c\/i\u003e is legendary, strange, utterly compelling music that has possibly never been more topical than it is today.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Week-End Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50454949298507,"sku":"2210520","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":57792044663115,"sku":"R0350-2620","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Playing_It_Cool__Playing_It_Right_93b5e09e_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727187143"},{"product_id":"rasta-communication","title":"Rasta Communication","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt last repressed on vinyl They called him the man with the musical message and nowhere was the full effect of Keith Hudson's mighty, brooding Rasta vibrations felt then in the 1978 release of 'Rasta Communication'.  Recorded at Randy's, Channel One and Chalk Farm with a final tweek from Prince Jammy at King Tubby's, 'Rasta Communication' featured a top line up of Jamaica's finest musicians including Family Man and Carlton Barrett and Sly and Robbie. Essential!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greensleeves","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50464258916683,"sku":"380667","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/11380405-0c70-4aad-b6cb-1a8847c6815b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727272068"},{"product_id":"tuff-gong-encounter","title":"Tuff Gong Encounter","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis previously unreleased album came out in 2015 and features recordings \u003cstrong\u003eKeith Hudson\u003c\/strong\u003e did with members of \u003cem\u003eThe Wailers\u003c\/em\u003e from 1984.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album also includes tracks from the \u003cem\u003eTuff Gong Encounter\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJammys Dub Encounter\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VP Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50465274429771,"sku":"396124","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e4948df7-91c2-46b7-9b3b-a64a1827bbd6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727284661"},{"product_id":"flesh-of-my-skin-blood-of-my-blood","title":"Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemastered with bonus tracks. The original 1974 release of Keith Hudson's \u003ci\u003eFlesh Of My Skin\u003c\/i\u003e showcased the enduring strength and pivotal importance of the development of reggae music, Keith Hudson's complete mastery of the genre and the unqualified praise that followed its release was fully justified. This superb re-master features the original mix available or the first time since the 1974 Mamba pressing and comes with the addition of the 45 only 'Darkest Night Version' and the restoration of the lost 'My Nocturne' omitted from the 1988 and 2004 remix versions. Also includes the previously unreleased 'Hunting Version' as a hidden track. Inner sleeve with liner notes are written by Keith Hudson's official biographer Vincent Ellis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The most moving, satisfying piece of Jamaican music I've heard since \u003ci\u003eCatch A Fire\u003c\/i\u003e and surpasses that album, this is the album of the year without a doubt.\" Carl Gayle, Black Music Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"one of the best albums to be released this year, it combines strong, heavy rhythms with strong, heavy lyrics.\" Chris Lane, Blues And Soul.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VP Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50466788278603,"sku":"1131752","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50466788049227,"sku":"1131753","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7405017e-f0cc-4ff9-9f18-b4a8ea6b5ffd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727321900"},{"product_id":"rasta-communication-in-dub","title":"Rasta Communication in Dub","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePunch for Punch\u003c\/em\u003e is a dub companion to the iconic album \u003cem\u003eRasta Communication\u003c\/em\u003e. It was recorded at Randy's, Channel One, and Chalk Farm, with \u003cstrong\u003eSly and Robbie\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSoul Syndicate\u003c\/strong\u003e in full effect.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greensleeves","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50467648176459,"sku":"385449","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/efcf4f89-e6e5-4e3b-bfac-b9657e9d2218_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727340249"},{"product_id":"nuh-skin-up-felt-we-felt-the-strain","title":"Nuh Skin Up \/ Felt We Felt the Strain","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst time repress Greensleeves 12” classic from 1979 - two roots anthems back to back! Deep and heavy extended workouts from ‘The Dark Prince of Reggae’. Both sides made big impressions on the sound system scene on raw dub-plate, continued heavy Jah Shaka rotation means they remain in-demand to this day. Produced by Keith Hudson.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greensleeves","offers":[{"title":"Black 12\"","offer_id":50516425900363,"sku":"1093236","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/6b603c7a-5375-4931-9137-32a2a3de2052_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727941765"},{"product_id":"torch-of-freedom","title":"Torch of Freedom","description":"\u003cp\u003eLimited edition 2LP set - for the first time together the complete \u003cem\u003eTorch Of Freedom\u003c\/em\u003e sessions. The acclaimed follow up to the classic \u003cem\u003ePick A Dub\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eFlesh Of My Skin\u003c\/em\u003e albums. Original raw Mamba label Jamaica mix plus Keith's UK re-mix and re-sequence. Includes bonus dub 'Crying' previously only available on rare import 7\" single.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeatures the classic 'Turn The Heater On' as covered by New Order.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eExtensive sleeve notes by Keith Hudson biographer Vincent Ellis.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"17 North Parade","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Black","offer_id":57162053550411,"sku":"R0602-7024","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/KeithHudson-TorchofFreedomArtwork.jpg?v=1777536699"},{"product_id":"melody-maker","title":"Melody Maker","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare anthology of early productions from one of Jamaica’s most revered music-makers, \u003cstrong\u003eKeith Hudson\u003c\/strong\u003e. Launched after his Inbidimts Records breakthrough in 1969 with \u003cstrong\u003eKen Boothe\u003c\/strong\u003e’s hit \u003cem\u003eOld Fashioned Way\u003c\/em\u003e, this 2CD set traces Hudson’s rise into the early 70s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy the new decade, Hudson had become one of Jamaica’s most inventive figures, responsible for some of early reggae’s most popular and exciting recordings. Despite his lasting reputation among reggae fans, compilations of this period are scarce, with \u003cem\u003eHudson Affair\u003c\/em\u003e from 2004 long deleted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection brings together many of his finest productions from reggae’s golden age, with numerous tracks new to CD. Across 49 cuts, it features essential sides by \u003cstrong\u003eU Roy\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eDennis Alcapone\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Holt\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eAlton Ellis\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHorace Andy\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJohnny Clarke\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Heptones\u003c\/strong\u003e and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Doctor Bird","offers":[{"title":"2CD","offer_id":57891282551115,"sku":"R0798-0322","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot2026-07-17at18.09.25.png?v=1784318641"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_f4a10c75_thumbnail_4096_ddc50e8f-12d9-433c-81b0-2a05afc2a485.jpg?v=1726020484","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/keith-hudson.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}