Augustus Pablo - Pablo Meets Mr Bassie

A reissue of Rough Trade’s second-ever single release.

At the time, Richard Scott was working with us, helping to develop a mail-order service and what would become our distribution arm. Richard had deep connections to Jamaica—he had previously been part of the management team for Third World—and was instrumental in bringing this release to life.

Through those ties, he struck a deal with Joan Higgins, a 15-year-old relative of Augustus Pablo who worked Saturday shifts at Pablo’s record shop in Kingston. Everton Da Silva was also involved, possibly acting as a go-between.

I’ve always said this is one of the greatest releases Rough Trade ever put out—perhaps the greatest. One of my bad jokes is that it was all downhill from here. Regardless, this is a monumental record and, in my view, more than enough justification for everything we’ve done since.

— Geoff Travis, Founder & Co-owner of Rough Trade Records