This rare Canadian roots reggae 7” features Crasher (G. Murray)—a Jamaican-born singer whose journey began in church choirs and Caribbean show bands before contributing deeply to Canada’s reggae scene in the 1980s.
On side A, Amazon offers a melody and rhythm steeped in roots reggae tradition — deeply conscious, heavy-snare, syncopated guitar skank and organ flourishes that echo the Kingston studios of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
On side B, Bad Moon Rising reinterprets the John Fogerty/Creedence Clearwater Revival classic, indicating a creative reinterpretation or thematic nod, but within a roots reggae / dub-influenced context.
The coupling of these two tracks makes this single particularly interesting for collectors, DJs and reggae connoisseurs — a fusion of Jamaican roots flavour with Canadian independent production.
Crasher’s influence stretches beyond smooth vocals—his presence in Canada helped bridge authentic Jamaican sounds with Canadian reggae, reflecting an era when reggae music was gaining ground outside Jamaica and influencing pockets of sound system culture in cities like Toronto and Montreal.
Pressed on GMM Productions, this title is sought after for both its musical and collectible value, offering listeners a glimpse into reggae’s evolution in North America during the early 1980s.
Why this pressing stands out:
- Independent label release: GMM Productions was founded by Crasher himself, illustrating an artist-led production model, rare for reggae singles made outside Jamaica or the UK.
- Canada manufacturing: Canada remains a less common country of origin for roots reggae singles, making this an unusual and collectible item.
- Cross-cultural roots reggae: The recording bridges Jamaican musicianship with the Canadian reggae scene, highlighting the global spread of the roots sound.
- Collector appeal: With limited pressings and geographical uniqueness, this single is highly sought after among roots vinyl collectors.
