Bamboo (record label)

Lore & Background

The label was founded by Junior Lincoln in 1969. Rupert Cunningham was also a co-founder. The majority of the label's productions were by Clement Dodd aka Coxsone Dodd. The label was connected with the Ackee, Ashanti and Banana Record labels. They operated out of Junior Lincoln's record store which was said to be a major West Indian music dealership, located at 88 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park. Roger St. Pierre was also connected to the label. In a 2017 interview, Junior Lincoln said that the label had aspects of jazz and African influences. They tried to have the record covers of their releases reflect the music that they were putting out. The Ackee catalogue numbering started with the ACK-100 series. Later in 1973, it was changed to the ACK-500 series.

Reader's Guide

In 1969, the label released the compilation A Scorcha from Bamboo (Bamboo BLP 202). In January 1970, Ackee artists Boston & the Soulites had a record out, 'Starvation', released on Ackee ACK 103. Jackie Mittoo's 'Clean Up' was released on Bamboo BAM 15. Jackie Mittoo had a single out in 1970 on Bamboo BA51: 'Dancing Groove' backed by 'Peanut Butter' by Black & George. It was noted by Cash Box in the September 25, 1971 issue that there was a possibility of a film with the artists on the label, and they were set to issue six albums plus six singles by Christmas. Junior Lincoln was also in the United States at the time signing new artists to the label.

Did You Know?

• Bamboo Records was founded by Junior Lincoln in 1969, with Rupert Cunningham as co-founder.
• The label's productions were mostly by Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd.
• Jackie Mittoo's single 'Dancing Groove' was released on Bamboo BA51 in 1970.
• The Ackee imprint used catalogue numbers starting with ACK-100, later switching to ACK-500 in 1973.

Founding & Origins

Bamboo Records emerged in 1969 as a UK-based reggae imprint, founded by Junior Lincoln alongside co-founder Rupert Cunningham. The label served primarily as a British outlet for the productions of Jamaican producer Clement Dodd, better known as Coxsone Dodd, whose work formed the backbone of the catalogue. This venture was part of a wider wave of Jamaican producers seeking to establish their own distribution channels in the United Kingdom, thereby gaining greater control over how their recordings reached international audiences. Operations were run from Junior Lincoln's record store at 88 Stroud Green Road in Finsbury Park, a shop described as a major West Indian music dealership. The label was closely linked to sister imprints Ackee, Ashanti, and Banana, creating a small ecosystem of interconnected releases. Roger St. Pierre was also associated with the operation. Though active only from the late 1960s into the early 1970s, Bamboo carved out a distinct niche in the UK reggae landscape during its brief but notable run.

Musical Identity & Aesthetic Vision

In a 2017 interview, Junior Lincoln reflected on the sonic character of Bamboo's output, noting that the label's productions carried elements of jazz and African musical traditions alongside their reggae foundations. This was not merely a musical choice but an intentional aesthetic philosophy that extended to the visual presentation of every release. Lincoln explained that the team made a conscious effort to ensure the artwork on each record sleeve mirrored the sound contained within, treating the packaging as an extension of the music itself. This holistic approach to presentation distinguished Bamboo from many contemporaries who treated cover art as an afterthought. The label's connections to the Ackee, Ashanti, and Banana imprints suggest a shared creative vision across a small family of related releases, all operating from the same Finsbury Park base. The involvement of figures like Roger St. Pierre further points to a collaborative, community-oriented operation where musical identity was shaped collectively rather than dictated by a single hand.

Key Releases & Early Catalogue

The label's debut statement came in 1969 with the compilation A Scorcha from Bamboo (catalogue number BLP 202), a showcase that assembled tracks from several prominent artists. The collection featured "I Shall Be Released" by the Heptones, "Moving Away" by Ken Boothe, "Girl I'm Sorry" by Owen Grey, "More Love" by Jackie Mittoo, and "Walking in the Footsteps" by Dobby Dobson. By early 1970, the related Ackee imprint was also generating positive trade press attention, with Boston & the Soulites' "Starvation" (ACK 103) earning a favourable review in Record Mirror's January 10 issue. Jackie Mittoo continued to be a key figure, releasing "Clean Up" on Bamboo BAM 15 to similar acclaim, followed by the single "Dancing Groove" (BA51) backed by "Peanut Butter" by Black & George. The Ackee catalogue numbering initially ran in the ACK-100 series before shifting to the ACK-500 series in 1973, reflecting the growing output of the interconnected label family.

Growth Ambitions & Industry Recognition

By September 1971, Bamboo's ambitions had expanded well beyond the confines of its Finsbury Park base. Cash Box noted in its September 25 issue that the label was exploring the possibility of producing a film featuring its roster of artists, a bold step that would have placed the imprint in the realm of visual media. Alongside this cinematic speculation, the label was planning an aggressive release schedule, with six albums and six singles slated for issue before Christmas that year. Junior Lincoln was simultaneously travelling to the United States to scout and sign new talent, signalling a desire to broaden the label's roster and geographic reach. The positive trade press coverage the label had already attracted—Record Mirror praising both Boston & the Soulites and Jackie Mittoo in early 1970—had clearly bolstered confidence in the operation's commercial potential. These ambitions, however, existed within a narrow window; the label's active period stretched only from the late 1960s into the early 1970s, making its brief run a concentrated burst of creative and commercial energy in the UK reggae scene.