Body Beat: Soca-Dub and Electronic Calypso 1979–98 is a remarkable three-LP journey through nearly two decades of adventurous Caribbean dance music. Compiled by Soundway Records founder Miles Cleret and DJ and collector Jeremy Spellacey, the collection brings together 17 hard-to-find soca B-sides, dub versions, instrumentals, edits and vocal tracks originally released between 1979 and 1998.
Across six sides of vinyl, traditional calypso and soca rhythms meet dub production, disco, boogie, funk, soul, roots reggae and early electronic club music. The result is a vibrant and highly danceable compilation that documents how Caribbean musicians absorbed new studio technology and international dance-floor influences while retaining the percussion, rhythmic drive and celebratory spirit at the heart of soca.
Highlights include Cito Jarvis’ politically charged Fighting Soldier, Roger Bain’s infectious instrumental Stand Up & Rock Your Body, Bill Campbell’s title track Body Beat and Peter Britto’s I Want Your Love—a striking 1998 soca-house crossover combining synthesizers, steel drums and horns with the influence of New York club music.
The set also ventures into deeper dub and roots territory through tracks such as Mohjah’s Zion Gates (Dub), Brother Resistance’s Move It (Version) and D’Rebel Band’s Solid. Together, the selections reveal soca as a fluid and experimental genre with connections extending far beyond carnival music.
Presented as a substantial gatefold triple-vinyl edition, this Soundway release is both an excellent introduction to electronic soca and a rewarding collection for DJs, collectors and listeners interested in Caribbean music, dub, disco and global dance-floor sounds.
Condition: Sealed / Mint — brand-new and factory sealed. The records are unplayed, and the original shrink wrap remains intact. Minor imperfections to the shrink wrap or sleeve corners may occur from storage.
Label: Soundway Records
Catalog no.: SNDWLP132
Format: 3 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 2019
Genres: Electronic, Reggae, Funk / Soul
Styles: Soca, Calypso, Dub, Disco, Boogie