Johnny Clarke’s Originally Mr. Clarke set for 2026 reissue -

Johnny Clarke’s Originally Mr. Clarke set for 2026 reissue

Johnny Clarke - Originally Mr. Clarke

Johnny Clarke’s classic roots set Originally Mr. Clarke is receiving a fully restored reissue in September 2026, issued by VP Records subsidiary 17 North Parade, in partnership with Gorgon Music. The album was first released in 1980 on Brad Osborne’s Clocktower Records label in the United States and gathers ten late-1970s recordings from one of Jamaica’s most influential voices of the era.

Clarke, born on January 12, 1955, in Whitfield Town, Kingston, rose to prominence in the mid-1970s with landmark albums such as None Shall Escape, Rockers Time Now, and Enter Into His Gates With Praise. His steady run of spiritually charged singles with producer Bunny Lee earned him the nickname “The Gorgon,” marking him as a defining figure in roots reggae’s golden period.

The album’s tracklist is remarkably strong from start to finish, with standout titles such as Fittest of the Fittest, Moving On To Zion, Every Knee Shall Bow, and the distinctive mix of Blood Dunza, which differs significantly from Johnny’s original 1977 cut. To be fair, there isn’t a weak track on here — every single one stands out.

The recordings feature riddim tracks associated with Soul Syndicate and The Aggrovators, with contributions from musicians including Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton “Santa” Davis, Sly Dunbar, Earl “Chinna” Smith, and Tony Chin. While production on the album is credited to Johnny Clarke and Brad Osborne, that doesn’t tell the full story. In Jamaica, Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee recorded the riddim tracks along with the vocals at Channel One Studio. Brad Osborne then took these raw tracks to New York, where he further developed them through overdubs and remixing at Artcraft and Shep Studio.

Previous digital pressings of the album received criticism from audio collectors due to being mastered from compromised vinyl sources. The upcoming 2026 edition aims to deliver a clean, tape-faithful restoration of the original Clocktower tracklist in both vinyl and digital formats. Expected release date is 11th September 2026.