Blood and Fire was a British reggae record label active from 1993-2014, specialising in reissues of 1970s dub.

History Steve Barrow (Reggae historiographer, chronologist and archivist) and Bob Harding (former vocalist with post-punk band The Mothmen) worked with Simply Red's singer Mick Hucknall and management Elliot Rashman and Andy Dodd to form the record label in Manchester in 1993 with the objective of reissuing roots reggae, dub and DJ albums with the integrity of jazz reissues.Meschino, Patricia (2014) "VP Records Relaunches Classic Reggae Label Blood and Fire ", Billboard, 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014 In the process, Blood and Fire influenced the overall aesthetic of other labels issuing archival Jamaican recordings in the 1990s and beyond.

The company logo and album covers were designed by Intro.

Initial releases drew on mid-1970s Bunny Lee and King Tubby produced material. As Barrow said in 1999:

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. Heart of the Congos would sell 80,000 copies over a ten year period.

Despite the reissue objective, the label released two one-riddim albums with newly-recorded vocals. 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.

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.

In 2014 it was announced that the label would be relaunched in conjunction with VP Records, with Barrow overseeing future projects.Minsker, Evan (2014) "Reggae Label Blood and Fire Records Relaunches", Pitchfork Media, 18 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014 Only one release was produced in this incarnation, a twelve inch single of Gregory Isaac's "Mr Know It All" for Record Store Day 2014.

Blood and Fire was dissolved as a Limited Company on 5th February 2019.

Reception and legacy The Rough Guide to World Music described Blood & Fire as "A gem of a label..." which "releases well-conceived and superbly produced and packaged compilations of Jamaican music."

In his book Retromania, music journalist Simon Reynolds noted that prior to Blood & Fire "reggae reissues had generally been shoddy affairs with ugly packaging, no information and dismal sound... Blood & Fire set itself apart by its careful sound restoration and attractive vintage-aura artwork."

In Original Rockers, Richard North states: "Within three years the label had released sixteen faultless albums of Jamaican roots music with a rare assurance and authority. [...] To listen to the catalogue was a form of higher education".

In 2011 Bob Harding and Dom Sotgiu founded a new reggae label called King Spinna.

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

2005 BAFCD047 – Blood and Fire All Stars – Run It Red BAFCD/LP048 – Willi Williams – Messenger Man BAFCD/LP049 – Prince Far I – Silver & Gold 1973–1979

2006 BAFCD/LP050 – The Congos and Friends – Fisherman Style BAFCD/LP051 – Yabby You – Deliver Me From My Enemies

2007 BFCDS906 – Blood and Fire Allstars – Singerman!

2014 VPBAF6524 – Gregory Isaacs – "Mr. Know It All/War of the Stars" (12")

See also Lists of record labels

References

External links (archived)