Sufferers Heights was a record label started by the reggae journalist and photographer Dave Hendley in March '79 together with Paul Wateridge (production manager at Trojan Records), it ceased operations in early 1980. It issued seven discos during the years 1979 to 1980. Today all of the discos are collectors items and highly sought after.
The first actual release on the label was Hard Time Pressure by Sugar Minott (SUFF 02), this was also the biggest seller with around 8,000-10,000 copies being pressed - the first run being of 2000 copies that sold out right away(1). This was also Sugar Minott's first UK release.
Dave Hendley has recounted how he made most of the deals concerning Sufferers Heights at King Tubby's studio. Talking of Pure Ranking (SUFF05):
»I remember having to convince a reluctant Tubbys to mix it personally (he wasn't too interested in engineering at that point), and then an eager Jammys taking his chair straight after to mix the 2nd dub (Return of Jammys Hi Fi) - it was like the Prince challenging the King. That evening I reached back to the hotel clutching the freshly mixed master tape & by conincidence a kid got in the lift singing the lyrics of Pure Ranking that he must have heard from a dancehall dub-plate - unbeatable memories!«
Dave Hendley on the Blood And Fire message board.
Dave Hendley left the label before the last disco was issued and his next label venture would be the Pirate imprint.
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| Advertising the first Sufferers Heights release in Black Echoes, June 1979. |
Another advert, again from Black Echoes, from September 1979. |
Sufferers Heights Discography
| Artist A |
Side 1 |
Artist B |
Side 2 |
Year |
Matrix/Cat # |
Producer |
Country of issue |
Comment |
| Lacksley Castell |
What A Great Day (It Will Be) |
Prince Jammy |
Slaughterhouse Five |
1979 |
SUFF 001 |
Prince Jammy |
UK |
Was actually released after SUFF 002. |
| Sugar Minott & Captain Sinbad |
Hard Time Pressure |
Barnabus, Sugar & The YPB* |
Dub On The Pressure |
1979 |
SUFF 002 |
Lincoln Minott |
UK |
Rhythm recorded at Channel One Studios, voiced and mixed at King Tubbys Studio. Engineers: Barnabys & Prince Jammy |
| Ranking Joe & The YPB* |
Youthman Promotion |
Barry Brown & The YPB* |
I Love Sweet Jah Jah |
1979 |
SUFF 003 |
Lincoln Minott |
UK |
Rhythm recorded at Channel One Studios, voiced and mixed at King Tubbys Studio. Engineers: Barnabys & Prince Jammy |
| Earl Zero |
Please Officer |
Augustus Pablo |
Pablo In Moonlight City |
1979 |
SUFF 004 |
Lloyd James |
UK |
Recorded at Harry J. Studio, Kingston, Jamaica and at King Tubbys Studio in the Heart of The Waterhouse, Kngston 11. Engineered by Lloyd 'Jammy' James and Sylvan Morris |
| Horace Andy & King Tubby's |
Pure Ranking / The Return Of Jammy's HiFi (Round One) |
Trevor Ranking |
Whip Them Jah Jah |
1979 |
SUFF 005 |
King Tubby & Winston »Niney« Holness |
UK |
A side produced by King Tubby. Two dub mixes one Tubby then one Jammy.B side Niney The Observer production on 555 Crown Street rhythm. |
| Rod Taylor/, Mikey Dread & King Tubby |
Behold Him / Parrot Jungle |
Rod Taylor, Mikey Dread & King Tubby |
His Imperial Majesty |
1979 |
SUFF 006 |
Michael Campbell |
UK |
|
| Earl Sixteen & Mikey Dread |
African Tribesman / Butter 'Gainst Sun |
|
Yoruba Dub |
1980 |
SUFF 007 |
Mikey Dread |
UK |
|
*The Youth Promotion Band
(1) Tighten Up! by Koningh andd Griffiths, p.179
Comments (7)
Anonymous said
at 12:35 pm on Apr 9, 2007
Wow! Great quote from Dave Hendley.
Ollie Wateridge said
at 9:56 am on Jul 30, 2009
I think I unfortunatly may be some what to blame for the cease of operations in 1980 as my father is Paul Wateridge and that was the year I was born!
kalcidis said
at 11:02 am on Jul 30, 2009
Dangnabbit, Ollie!!! What have you done!? ;)
It would be nice if your father checked this page out and perhaps could add additional info on the label (or other pages on reggaepedia) where he feels there's info lacking. Hard information as well as anecdotes and stuff.
Paul Wateridge said
at 1:09 pm on Sep 7, 2009
After the a tip off from my son Ollie I have now discovered this page. Great to see there are still some fans of the label out there. I first met Dave while I was working for 'Saga' Records and we used to press the records for 'Trojan' at that time and Dave worked in an office upstairs. I was a great lover of early Ska & Reggae having collected many singles from 1969 onwards. Yes some of us are really that old!! I remember starting up the label with £2000 borrowed from my, then, father in law and getting the 12" singles pressed in Slough at the Linguaphone factory. I look forward to relating the whole story if anyone is interested. Including our adventure in New York with Mickey Dread. Cheers.
algoriddim said
at 1:18 pm on Sep 7, 2009
Thanks for contributing. We'd be more than interested to hear your story Paul. Maybe you can type it up and have Ollie post it? That would be a gem!
Paul Wateridge said
at 5:22 pm on Sep 7, 2009
I will definitely write up the whole story and post in the near futue. Regards to all.
ruffa said
at 6:54 pm on Sep 7, 2009
nice thread.....
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