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Vinyl pressing, reissue and export

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Pressing plants, catalogue reissues, mail-order shops and online stores carried Jamaican records from Kingston streets to global collectors and sound systems.

Discover

A Jamaican music atlas needs manufacturing and distribution history: pressing plants, labels, distributors, reissue labels, mail-order retailers and digital catalogues explain how music moved after the studio session.

Explore

A Jamaican 7-inch rarely stopped moving once it was cut. A local pressing might get picked up for a UK release on a completely different label and catalogue number, later gathered onto an album compilation, and decades after that restored for a specialised reissue label - the VP-owned 17 North Parade imprint, launched in 2007 specifically to give 1970s-80s Jamaican recordings archival-quality reissue treatment, is one clear example of that last stage. Each step - pressing plant, original label, overseas distributor, reissue house, and now streaming platforms - changed who controlled the record and how listeners could find it, which is exactly why a single song's "release date" in Jamaican music can mean several different things depending which version and territory you're citing.

Research

Source trail: VP Records official history; Wikipedia (VP Records); Discogs/Roots Archives matrix and pressing data. Specific pressing-plant and mail-order-retailer history beyond VP/17 North Parade (the original draft's other named sources) needs its own verification pass rather than being stated with the same confidence.

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Official or rights-aware external references linked to this story. The atlas embeds references; it does not re-host media without permission.

Open source ↗

Tuff Gong Music — Vinyl

WEB · rights discovery only · official source

Official Tuff Gong source for Kingston vinyl factory context.

Source link ↗
Open source ↗

The Vinyl Factory — Tuff Gong pressing plant

WEB · rights discovery only · press source

Press source for Tuff Gong pressing-plant revival context.

Source link ↗

Inside the re-opened Tuff Gong vinyl pressing plant

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · video source

YouTube discovery-only video reference for Tuff Gong vinyl-plant coverage; verify channel before public embed.

View transcript · 216 lines

Automatic captions — a machine draft pending editorial review.

  1. 0:00[Music]
  2. 0:02[Music] all of these songs can give you some
  3. 0:05all of these songs can give you some
  4. 0:05all of these songs can give you some kind of inspiration to add something in
  5. 0:07kind of inspiration to add something in
  6. 0:07kind of inspiration to add something in your life the music is the message you
  7. 0:10your life the music is the message you
  8. 0:10your life the music is the message you know and it's like myself I don't censor
  9. 0:13know and it's like myself I don't censor
  10. 0:13know and it's like myself I don't censor anything else because I need to inspire
  11. 0:15anything else because I need to inspire
  12. 0:15anything else because I need to inspire you today and how you maintain that mood
  13. 0:17you today and how you maintain that mood
  14. 0:17you today and how you maintain that mood is certain words and that's how father's
  15. 0:19is certain words and that's how father's
  16. 0:19is certain words and that's how father's music
  17. 0:21music
  18. 0:21music [Music]
  19. 0:27all right yeah so tell me a little bit
  20. 0:31all right yeah so tell me a little bit about the history well whoever press the
  21. 0:34about the history well whoever press the
  22. 0:34about the history well whoever press the music and try to the magic begins you
  23. 0:37music and try to the magic begins you
  24. 0:37music and try to the magic begins you know well actually this is a vintage
  25. 0:43know well actually this is a vintage
  26. 0:43know well actually this is a vintage site
  27. 0:47[Music]
  28. 0:50[Music] so this is where everything started like
  29. 0:53so this is where everything started like
  30. 0:53so this is where everything started like these are the same machines from the 70s
  31. 0:56these are the same machines from the 70s
  32. 0:56these are the same machines from the 70s you know he wanted his independence so
  33. 0:59you know he wanted his independence so
  34. 0:59you know he wanted his independence so he created tough gang records that was
  35. 1:01he created tough gang records that was
  36. 1:01he created tough gang records that was our dad's vision the studio we finished
  37. 1:04our dad's vision the studio we finished
  38. 1:04our dad's vision the studio we finished the studio of the master room between
  39. 1:06the studio of the master room between
  40. 1:06the studio of the master room between furniture the master room then we can
  41. 1:07furniture the master room then we can
  42. 1:07furniture the master room then we can press the record from that point there's
  43. 1:10press the record from that point there's
  44. 1:10press the record from that point there's a tuff Gong truck and he driver on it
  45. 1:12a tuff Gong truck and he driver on it
  46. 1:12a tuff Gong truck and he driver on it sells a record shop that's how important
  47. 1:15sells a record shop that's how important
  48. 1:15sells a record shop that's how important to us having your own manufacturing
  49. 1:16to us having your own manufacturing
  50. 1:16to us having your own manufacturing facilities and being able to distribute
  51. 1:19facilities and being able to distribute
  52. 1:19facilities and being able to distribute music Cedella mainly was the one that
  53. 1:23music Cedella mainly was the one that
  54. 1:23music Cedella mainly was the one that really stepped in and built this place
  55. 1:25really stepped in and built this place
  56. 1:25really stepped in and built this place with Norma Rita as a family like to make
  57. 1:29with Norma Rita as a family like to make
  58. 1:29with Norma Rita as a family like to make her father proud you have to continue
  59. 1:31her father proud you have to continue
  60. 1:31her father proud you have to continue your father's legacy which took the same
  61. 1:33your father's legacy which took the same
  62. 1:33your father's legacy which took the same operation that her father had their top
  63. 1:36operation that her father had their top
  64. 1:36operation that her father had their top 150 support and brought it here as a
  65. 1:38150 support and brought it here as a
  66. 1:38150 support and brought it here as a family Oprah do you remember the
  67. 1:41family Oprah do you remember the
  68. 1:41family Oprah do you remember the recording sessions there absolutely one
  69. 1:44recording sessions there absolutely one
  70. 1:44recording sessions there absolutely one in particular I was sitting on the step
  71. 1:47in particular I was sitting on the step
  72. 1:47in particular I was sitting on the step outside it's like 12:30 at night 1:00
  73. 1:50outside it's like 12:30 at night 1:00
  74. 1:50outside it's like 12:30 at night 1:00 a.m. when he's working you could see me
  75. 1:53a.m. when he's working you could see me
  76. 1:53a.m. when he's working you could see me fall asleep through a glass it's a boy
  77. 2:00it's stuff about vinyl I put on a whole
  78. 2:03it's stuff about vinyl I put on a whole album and I don't put it down to the
  79. 2:05album and I don't put it down to the
  80. 2:05album and I don't put it down to the album's finish because I'm looking at
  81. 2:07album's finish because I'm looking at
  82. 2:07album's finish because I'm looking at the pictures reading the words my mind's
  83. 2:10the pictures reading the words my mind's
  84. 2:10the pictures reading the words my mind's gone by the time you're done the album's
  85. 2:12gone by the time you're done the album's
  86. 2:12gone by the time you're done the album's over it's like you ain't an old psycho
  87. 2:15over it's like you ain't an old psycho
  88. 2:15over it's like you ain't an old psycho you know I always loved vinyl I mean I
  89. 2:17you know I always loved vinyl I mean I
  90. 2:17you know I always loved vinyl I mean I never stopped me in vinyl never you know
  91. 2:19never stopped me in vinyl never you know
  92. 2:19never stopped me in vinyl never you know the moon goes round so on everything
  93. 2:22the moon goes round so on everything
  94. 2:22the moon goes round so on everything going on so in comes vinyl again you
  95. 2:27going on so in comes vinyl again you
  96. 2:27going on so in comes vinyl again you know we talk about how we're upgrading
  97. 2:29know we talk about how we're upgrading
  98. 2:29know we talk about how we're upgrading things you know but yeah over there
  99. 2:31things you know but yeah over there
  100. 2:31things you know but yeah over there was that what our Father created but he
  101. 2:34was that what our Father created but he
  102. 2:34was that what our Father created but he spent his own money when he bought we
  103. 2:37spent his own money when he bought we
  104. 2:37spent his own money when he bought we were pressing on them 20 records for our
  105. 2:39were pressing on them 20 records for our
  106. 2:39were pressing on them 20 records for our summers records every personnel oh I
  107. 2:41summers records every personnel oh I
  108. 2:41summers records every personnel oh I know well for money why do mr. Maroney
  109. 2:44know well for money why do mr. Maroney
  110. 2:44know well for money why do mr. Maroney money worry you have to do everything on
  111. 2:46money worry you have to do everything on
  112. 2:46money worry you have to do everything on your own
  113. 2:47your own
  114. 2:47your own so maybe it's less than a hundred and
  115. 2:50so maybe it's less than a hundred and
  116. 2:50so maybe it's less than a hundred and twenty records in our money one
  117. 2:53twenty records in our money one
  118. 2:53twenty records in our money one automatically we get a hundred I'm 20
  119. 2:55automatically we get a hundred I'm 20
  120. 2:55automatically we get a hundred I'm 20 now same so well the upgrade I guess was
  121. 3:00now same so well the upgrade I guess was
  122. 3:00now same so well the upgrade I guess was in efficiency and space so the magnitude
  123. 3:12in efficiency and space so the magnitude
  124. 3:12in efficiency and space so the magnitude and greatness
  125. 3:14and greatness
  126. 3:14and greatness all fathers work 75 years and people
  127. 3:18all fathers work 75 years and people
  128. 3:18all fathers work 75 years and people from all over the world family members
  129. 3:20from all over the world family members
  130. 3:20from all over the world family members friends party
  131. 3:22friends party
  132. 3:22friends party by the time enough for father everyone
  133. 3:26by the time enough for father everyone
  134. 3:26by the time enough for father everyone is out during the same mission because
  135. 3:27is out during the same mission because
  136. 3:27is out during the same mission because I've always learned by the father we
  137. 3:30I've always learned by the father we
  138. 3:30I've always learned by the father we didn't come to me live our our Father
  139. 3:32didn't come to me live our our Father
  140. 3:32didn't come to me live our our Father created he came to build on it and act
  141. 3:35created he came to build on it and act
  142. 3:35created he came to build on it and act that and grow with knowledge that we
  143. 3:37that and grow with knowledge that we
  144. 3:37that and grow with knowledge that we have today we have a culture you know
  145. 3:49have today we have a culture you know
  146. 3:49have today we have a culture you know we'll come from and how we deal with
  147. 3:51we'll come from and how we deal with
  148. 3:51we'll come from and how we deal with people and we do things generally this
  149. 4:01people and we do things generally this
  150. 4:01people and we do things generally this is Tuscon recurrent studio this is where
  151. 4:04is Tuscon recurrent studio this is where
  152. 4:04is Tuscon recurrent studio this is where my brother this time here
  153. 4:09miss Lauren Hill she did this ternary
  154. 4:12miss Lauren Hill she did this ternary night stand recording here and beautiful
  155. 4:14night stand recording here and beautiful
  156. 4:14night stand recording here and beautiful song wait their job come here
  157. 4:19song wait their job come here
  158. 4:19song wait their job come here you know as you see on the stairway I
  159. 4:21you know as you see on the stairway I
  160. 4:21you know as you see on the stairway I think the young boy that's a lot of time
  161. 4:25think the young boy that's a lot of time
  162. 4:25think the young boy that's a lot of time with child yeah they were in the yard at
  163. 4:36with child yeah they were in the yard at
  164. 4:36with child yeah they were in the yard at Hope Road on Sunday you know of course
  165. 4:38Hope Road on Sunday you know of course
  166. 4:38Hope Road on Sunday you know of course visitors clothes no one is there but
  167. 4:41visitors clothes no one is there but
  168. 4:41visitors clothes no one is there but Chao is there and I am there
  169. 4:45[Music]
  170. 4:49[Music] once your name is Marley that's how you
  171. 4:52once your name is Marley that's how you
  172. 4:52once your name is Marley that's how you contribute I mean by your works so you
  173. 4:55contribute I mean by your works so you
  174. 4:55contribute I mean by your works so you can go by each man and check their works
  175. 4:57can go by each man and check their works
  176. 4:57can go by each man and check their works and then you'll be able to see how that
  177. 5:00and then you'll be able to see how that
  178. 5:00and then you'll be able to see how that contributes because everyone attributed
  179. 5:03contributes because everyone attributed
  180. 5:03contributes because everyone attributed uneven country they attribute to the
  181. 5:04uneven country they attribute to the
  182. 5:04uneven country they attribute to the legacy and make a great turn off so it's
  183. 5:07legacy and make a great turn off so it's
  184. 5:07legacy and make a great turn off so it's important like there's a reason why the
  185. 5:10important like there's a reason why the
  186. 5:10important like there's a reason why the music exists this is a reason why you
  187. 5:14music exists this is a reason why you
  188. 5:14music exists this is a reason why you know it's current today there's a reason
  189. 5:16know it's current today there's a reason
  190. 5:16know it's current today there's a reason if a common spirit transmission you know
  191. 5:18if a common spirit transmission you know
  192. 5:18if a common spirit transmission you know and yeah it's about giving back is what
  193. 5:20and yeah it's about giving back is what
  194. 5:20and yeah it's about giving back is what we're here to do the music is already
  195. 5:22we're here to do the music is already
  196. 5:22we're here to do the music is already giving back by telling you to stand up
  197. 5:23giving back by telling you to stand up
  198. 5:23giving back by telling you to stand up my rights love one another things like
  199. 5:26my rights love one another things like
  200. 5:26my rights love one another things like that means a great deal to the records
  201. 5:31that means a great deal to the records
  202. 5:31that means a great deal to the records to the music to whatever it is that
  203. 5:34to the music to whatever it is that
  204. 5:34to the music to whatever it is that we're creating and it's always have to
  205. 5:36we're creating and it's always have to
  206. 5:36we're creating and it's always have to do with the community building
  207. 5:40do with the community building
  208. 5:40do with the community building sustainability what we can do to create
  209. 5:42sustainability what we can do to create
  210. 5:42sustainability what we can do to create better opportunities how we can make our
  211. 5:45better opportunities how we can make our
  212. 5:45better opportunities how we can make our fathers what he started last lifetime
  213. 5:49fathers what he started last lifetime
  214. 5:49fathers what he started last lifetime [Music]
  215. 5:52[Music]
  216. 5:52[Music] you
Source link ↗
Open source ↗

Roots Archives — Sonic Sounds

WEB · rights discovery only · roots archives source

Roots Archives source for Sonic Sounds label/distributor notes.

Source link ↗
Open source ↗

ReggaeRecord.com

WEB · rights discovery only · retail source

Online reggae retail/catalogue source associated with Dub Store.

Source link ↗
Open source ↗

Dub Store Records official site

WEB · rights discovery only · reissue source

Official source for Dub Store Records retail/reissue context.

Source link ↗
framework · concept · Well supportedReggae catalogue reissue culture

Reissue work by labels, distributors and shops that resurfaces out-of-print Jamaican recordings with new liner notes and metadata.

manufacturer · studio · Well supportedDynamic Sounds Recording Co. Ltd.

Kingston recording/manufacturing/distribution company associated with Byron Lee's music business and Jamaican record production.

manufacturer · label · Well supportedFederal Records

Pioneering Jamaican recording/manufacturing label/studio lineage associated with early ska/reggae recording infrastructure.

label distributor · label · Well supportedVP Records

A Jamaican record label associated with the global era. Starter record pending editorial verification.

pressing · technology · Well supportedTuff Gong vinyl pressing plant

Vinyl pressing infrastructure at Tuff Gong in Kingston, cited in public sources as a renovated/operating Caribbean pressing plant.

distribution · concept · Well supportedMail-order reggae retail

Overseas catalogue/mail-order systems that supplied collectors, DJs, shops and sound systems with Jamaican records.

distributor · label · Well supportedSonic Sounds

Jamaican label/distributor founded in 1978 by Neville Lee, with catalogue/distribution listings in Discogs and Roots Archives.

retail · business · Well supportedReggaeRecord.com

Online reggae retail/catalogue site run by Dub Store Records, important for international collector access to Jamaican releases.

reissue retail · business · Well supportedDub Store Records

Japan-based reggae retailer/reissue label connected to ReggaeRecord.com and Jamaican catalogue reissue/export culture.

reissue imprint · label · Well supported17 North Parade

VP Music Group imprint named for Randy's Record Mart's Kingston address and used to reissue/curate classic Jamaican catalogue material.

framework · concept · Well supportedVinyl revival in Jamaica

Contemporary renewed interest in Jamaican vinyl pressing, reissues and physical formats.