Blood and Fire (record label)

Blood and Fire
Blood and Fire
Founded	1993
Founder	Steve Barrow, Bob Harding, Mick Hucknall, Elliot Rashman, Andy Dodd
Distributor(s)	VP Records
Genre	Reggae
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Location	Manchester
Official website	www.bloodandfire.co.uk

Blood and Fire is a British reggae record label specialising in reissues of 1970s dub.

History

Steve Barrow, Bob Harding, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall, Elliot Rashman and Andy Dodd formed the record label in Manchester in 1993 with the objective of reissuing roots reggae, dub and DJ albums with the integrity of jazz reissues.^[1] In the process, Blood and Fire influenced the overall aesthetic of other labels issuing archival Jamaican recordings in the 1990s and beyond.

Initial releases drew on mid-1970s Bunny Lee produced material but the label subsequently reissued material produced by Yabby You and Glen Brown along with the Lee "Scratch" Perry produced Congos set Heart of the Congos and a three-CD Big Youth set, Natty Universal Dread.

Despite the reissue objective, the label released two one-riddim albums.^[1] The first was Tree of Satta (2003) which used the original "Satta Massagana" riddim featuring a mixture of new and vintage voicings over the riddim along with the original version of the song by The Abyssinians. The second, Fisherman Style (2006), used The Congos' "Fisherman" riddim and featured new material from a variety of singers including Horace Andy, U Roy, Big Youth, Luciano, Tony Tuff and Dillinger.^[1]

The label also had a sound system which has featured original Jamaican artists such as Dilinger, Trinity, Ranking Joe, U Brown, Horace Andy, Dennis Alcapone, U Roy, Spikey Tee, Country Culture, Raggamonica along with Steve Barrow and Dom Sotgiu. In July 2006 the sound went to Japan with U Roy on a three date sell out tour.

In 2007, news leaked out via the company's popular message board that Blood and Fire had stopped trading as an active company. The loss of their American and French distributors due to bankruptcy as well as some unfortunate management decisions, combined with an industry-wide decline in sales, were to blame.^[1] Although the company declined to make any official announcement, it was effectively out of business.^{[citation needed]}

In 2014 it was announced that the label would be relaunched in conjunction with VP Records, with Barrow overseeing future projects.^[1]^[2]

Discography

1994

BAFCD/LP001 – The Dreads at King Tubby's – If Deejay Was your Trade
BAFCD/LP002 – King Tubby and Friends – Dub Gone Crazy
BAFCD/LP003 – Keith Hudson – Pick a Dub
BAFCD/LP004 – Burning Spear – Social Living
BAFCD/LP005 – Yabby U – King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub

1995

BAFCD/LP006, BAFLP007 – Horace Andy – In The Light / In The Light Dub
BAFCD007 – Various Artists – Heavyweight Sound
BAFCD/LP008 – Tapper Zukie – Tappa Zukie in Dub

1996

BAFCD/LP009 – The Congos – Heart of the Congos (2-CD)
BAFCD/LP010 – Jah Stitch – Original Raggamuffin 1975–1977
BAFCD1001 – King Tubby & Scientist – Greenwich Farm Rub-A-Dub
BAFCD/LP011 – King Tubby & Soul Syndicate – Freedom Sounds in Dub
BAFCD/LP012 – Scientist – Dub in the Roots Tradition
BAFCD/LP013 – King Tubby & Prince Jammy – Dub Gone 2 Crazy
BAFCD/LP014 – Prince Alla – Only Love Can Conquer
BAFCD/LP015 – Glen Brown & King Tubby – Termination Dub 1973–1979

1997

BAFCD/LP016 – I-Roy – Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff 1972–1975
BAFCD017 – Various Artists – 2 Heavyweight: Another Blood and Fire Sampler
BAFCD/LP018 – Morwell Unlimited Meet King Tubby's – Dub Me
BAFCD/LP019 – Horace Andy – Good Vibes
BFCDS903 – Various Artists – Dubwise and Otherwise: A Blood and Fire Audio Catalogue
BAFCD/LP020 – U Brown – Train To Zion
BAFCD/LP021 – Yabby You – Jesus Dread 1972–1977 (2-CD)
BAFCD/LPO22 – Yabby you – Jesus Dread 1995–1997 (2-CDE)

1998

BAFCD/LP022 – Impact Allstars – Forward The Bass: Dub From Randy's 1972–1975
BAFCD/LP023 – Junior Byles and Friends – 129 Beat Street: Ja-Man Special 1975–1978
BAFCD/LP024 – Johnny Clarke – Dreader Dread 1976–1978

1999

BAFCD025 – Various Artists – Heavyweight 3: A Blood and Fire Sampler
BAFCD/LP026 – King Tubby & Friends – Dub Like Dirt 1975–1977
BAFCD/LP027 – Max Romeo – Open The Iron Gate 1973–1977
BAFCD028 – The Chantells & Friends – Children of Jah 1977–1979
BAFCD/LP029 – Inner Circle & The Fatman Riddim Section – Heavyweight Dub / Killer Dub
BFCDS904 – The Dubmasters – X-Ray Music: A Blood and Fire Dub Directory

2000

BAFCD/LP030 – Cornell Campbell – I Shall Not Remove 1975–1980
BAFCD/LP031 – Trinity – Shanty Town Determination
BAFCD/LP032 – Linval Thompson – Ride on Dreadlocks 1975–1977
BAFCD/LP033 – Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Lamb's Bread International

2001

BAFCD/LP034 – Big Youth – Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979 (3-CD)
BAFCD035 – Gregory Isaacs – Mr Isaacs
BAFCD/LP036 – Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown, 1973-1977
BAFCD/LP037 – Niney the Observer – Microphone Attack 1974–1977

2002

BAFCD/LP038 – Yabby You – Dub it to the Top 1976–1979
BAFCD/LP039 – Dennis Brown – The Promised Land 1977–1979
BAFCD040 – Prince Alla & Junior Ross – I Can Hear The Children Singing 1975–1978
BFCDS905 – Various Artists – Dubwise And Otherwise 2: A Blood and Fire Audio Catalogue

2003

BAFCD041 – Ja-Man Allstars – In The Dub Zone
BAFCD/LP042 – Jackie Mittoo – Champion in the Arena 1976–1977
BAFCD/LP043 – Ranking Joe – Zion High
BAFCD/LP044 – Tommy McCook – Blazing Horns / Tenor in Roots

2004

BAFCD/LP045 – The Abyssinians and Friends – The Tree of Satta Vol 01
BAFCD/LP046 – Dennis Brown Presents Prince Jammy – Umoja / 20th Century DEBwise