Ernest Ranglin – Mr. Ranglin With Soul

Reissued by Tokyo’s iconic Dub Store Records, Mr. Ranglin With Soul is a collection of mellow rocksteady instrumentals by one of the originators behind the rhythmic guitar style that would come to define ska. In his early years, Ranglin played on calypso and mento records before getting being employed as a guitarist at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, and later by the influential Federal Records Studio. Once called “the unsurpassable number one guitarist in Jamaica and the Islands”, Ranglin takes on standards here like Gershwin’s “Summertime”, Theodor Grouya’s “Flamingo,” as well as Jonny Nash’s hit “Hold Me Tight” with his signature blend of rhythm ‘n’ blues, jazz, and reggae. It’s a masterclass in mood music from reggae’s foundational period.

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