Comes And Goes by Reggae George is a sought-after roots reggae pressing released on the independent Canadian imprint S&W Soul King Records.
This Canadian issue captures a period when reggae was spreading rapidly beyond Jamaica, finding a strong foothold in diasporic communities in Toronto and Montreal. Independent labels like Soul King Records were vital in making roots reggae accessible to new audiences abroad, especially through small-batch pressings cherished today by collectors.
Stylistically, the single embodies the era’s deep roots sound, with steady one-drop rhythms, militant basslines, and heartfelt vocals. Releases like this were popular among UK and Canadian sound systems, which prized roots imports for their exclusivity and cultural resonance on the dancefloor.
Born in Kingston in 1950, George Daley—better known as Reggae George—first recorded in the duo George & Neville with Neville Beckford (later famed as Jah Woosh). His solo career began with the militant “Babylon Kingdom Fall,” followed by the successful “Fig Root” for Sonia Pottinger’s High Note label. His breakthrough came with “Trodding” for Winston “Niney” Holness, an international hit that secured him a spot on the reggae charts and sessions at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong studio, where Trojan Records soon took interest.
For collectors, Comes And Goes represents the cross-Atlantic circulation of reggae music in the early 1980s, when Canadian labels played a quiet but important role in amplifying Jamaican voices overseas.
