Taxman - Fatal Attraction

A nice collection of rare singles and b-sides from the late 80's / early 90's UK Reggae Dancehall scene, from the obscure artist Taxman.

Taxman, real name S.L. Francis, appeared on the UK dancehall scene in the mid to late 1980's recording for the newly created Stush label.

Stush records was set up by UK based producer John Crossley, also knows as D-Fex, to showcase reggae dancehall artists from England. The label and it's recording facilities, Square Dance Studios, were located in the Derby and Nottingham region of the Midlands, outside the city of Birmingham, England.

The label was home to Taxman who would record as a solo performer and also act as producer, arranger, engineer and songwriter to the labels other artists including Ganja Ash, Anthony Melody, Tania MacDonald and Carlene Davis.

Stush records scored a distibution deal with major Reggae promotion Jet Star, who would export Stush material to the US and Jamaica.

The label released the showcase album "Stushness - The First Lick" in the late 80's, produced by D-Fex, it featured all of the labels current artists and helped promote the label abroad.
The album received a re-issue with additional tracks in 1994 on the Pow Wow Wow label in America.

Taxman scored big with his hit single "Fatal Attraction" which had been included on a Jet Star Reggae Hits compilation and it's follow-up "Tina", both becoming classics on the UK dancehall scene.

Further singles followed including "The Terminator", "Well Armed And Dangerous" and "Dancehall Atmosphere" all of which failed to break through despite massive promotional play at dancehall's across the UK.

Taxman continued to work in the studio, progressing his production techniques and also began collaborating with Anthony Brightly, a member of UK roots reggae group Black Slate.

A few Taxman singles appeared on the 'Sir George' and 'Digital B' labels including "Lately", "Ragga Love" and "Who's That Girl?" in the early 1990's.

By now the UK music scene was overtaken by the Rave movement which saw many UK based reggae dancehall artists and producers beginning to collaborate with the Break-Beat and Club music DJ's.

Taxman began experimenting with the new style of mixing Ragga with Rave, what would later become known as Jungle and also worked on projects with Soul II Soul who were riding high on the club scene of the 90's.

Taxman also featured as guest vocalist on the songs "Everything" and "Devotion" by Kickin' Back which he also produced and mixed.

Not much else is known about Taxman, it is presumed that he went on to work behind the scenes as producer, songwriter and engineer for a number of artists. He is credited on a number of Soul II Soul releases throughout the 1990's.

This collection rounds up a number of Taxman's singles and their dub b-sides, appearances on promotional compilations and collaboration material from the mid to late 80's to the mid 90's.


Enjoy!  : )

Taxman - Fatal Attraction

Disc One:  

 
1) Fatal Attraction
2) Fatal Attraction (M.C's Delight)
3) Fatal Attraction (Crossley's Bad Mix)
4) Tina
5) Tina (Dub Mix)
6) Well Armed And Dangerous
7) Well Armed And Dangerous (Dub Mix)
8) Bionic Tonic
9) Video Crazy
10) Dancehall Atmosphere
11) Dancehall Atmosphere (Dub)
12) She Keeps On Running Away
13) She Keeps On Running Away (Dub)
14) Terminator
15) Terminator (Dub Vox Mix)

Disc Two: 

 
1) It's Gone
2) Slavery Days
3) Lately
4) Love And Devotion
5) Get Lively {aka Sound Yuh Horn}
6) Ragga Love {With Anthony Melody}
7) Fire {With D-Fex}
8) Can't Get Away {With D-Fex}
9) Terminator (Raggamuffin Mix)
10) Terminator (Raggamuffin Dub)
11) Devotion {With Kickin' Back}
12) Devotion (The Motive Mix) {With Kickin' Back}
13) Devotion (Dangerous Mix) {With Kickin' Back}
14) Everything {With Kickin' Back}
15) Everything (Meltdown Mix) {With Kickin' Back}
16) Everything (Kickin' Mix) {With Kickin' Back}

Taxman - Fatal Attraction - 

Please be aware that all download links are currently unavailable as of January 2023

If you have anything to add to this compilation, any extra information about the artists/labels please do.
Other known tracks from Taxman include:
                                                                Who's That Girl?
                                                                War Monger
                                                                Tension
                                                                Wishing You Were Here
                                                                Good-Bye Good-Bye

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