Rough Trade

Rough Trade Records are excited to announce a reissue of the label’s second ever 7” single released, by legendary roots reggae multi-instrumentalist and producer Augustus Pablo, ‘Pablo Meets Mr Bassie’. Originally released in 1978 the record has been remastered and cut by Marco Perry (Bjork, Dennis Bovell, Massive Attack) and will feature its original sleeve, sticker and label artwork. The 7” will be released on June 16th 2023 and will be limited to 1,500 copies worldwide.

Geoff Travis (Rough Trade co-owner and founder) explains the importance of this record in Rough Trade’s history, “This is the re-release of our second ever Rough Trade single release.

“This is the re-release of our second ever Rough Trade single release. Richard Scott was working with us, developing a mail order and then a distribution company, and had deep Jamaican connections as he had been part of the management team for Third World.

He made a deal with Joan Higgins, a 15-year-old relative of Augustus Pablo, who worked the Saturday shift in Pablo’s Kingston Record shop. A man called Everton Da Silva was also involved, perhaps as a go between. I always maintained this is one of the best ever Rough Trade releases, if not actually the best. One of my very bad jokes is that it was all downhill from this point. In any case it’s a monumental record, and very likely justification for the whole enterprise.”

Geoff Travis, 2023