Joe Gibbs Discomixes Vol. 1 compiles a selection of Dennis Brown’s extended 12-inch mixes recorded for producer Joe Gibbs, one of the key architects of the late 1970s roots and early dancehall sound. These sessions were originally cut at Joe Gibbs’ Recording Studio on Retirement Crescent, Kingston — the same studio responsible for classic productions by Culture, Althea & Donna, Marcia Aitken, Prince Far I and many others.
The “discomix” format — a single track extended with its dub version or DJ cut — became a defining feature of Jamaican 12-inch releases in the late ’70s. Dennis Brown was one of its greatest interpreters, delivering soulful roots vocals that flowed naturally into the heavy dub mixes crafted by Errol Thompson, Gibbs’ longtime engineer. Their partnership (often called The Mighty Two) is widely regarded as one of the most influential duos in reggae history.
This compilation gathers several of those iconic extended mixes, remastered from the original sources. Expect warm vocal takes, deep Rockers-style basslines, militant drums and spacious dubs that highlight Brown’s phrasing and the unmistakable Joe Gibbs sound. These recordings belong to the same era that produced Dennis Brown’s landmark albums Visions (1978) and Words of Wisdom (1979), a period that helped establish him as the “Crown Prince of Reggae.”
Essential for collectors of Joe Gibbs productions, fans of Dennis Brown’s late-70s roots period, DJs seeking authentic discomix cuts, and anyone following the evolution of Jamaican 12-inch culture.
Read the biographies of Dennis Brown and Joe Gibbs.
