JOHN HOLT Police In Helicopter Original Jamaican 12" Siren Mix RARE Roots Radics
$
34
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Description
JOHN HOLT Police In Helicopter Holt Original Jamaican 12" 3683 Roots Radics
"Police In Helicopter" is one of the defining records of early 1980s Jamaican music. Written by John Holt on a cocktail napkin during a short flight from Montego Bay to Kingston — after witnessing helicopters circling above burning marijuana fields — the song channeled a deep anti-colonial sentiment that resonated hard across Jamaica's working class.
The defiant centerpiece line, threatening to burn the cane fields if the herb burning continued, made it an instant cultural anthem. Backed by the Roots Radics Band and produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes at Channel One Studios, this is early dancehall at its most urgent and rootsy. The track has since accumulated over 54 million Spotify plays and reached a new generation through its inclusion in Grand Theft Auto IV.
This is an original Jamaican pressing on the Holt label, catalog 3683. A distinct and scarce release — separate from the well-known UK Greensleeves GRED 120 pressing that most buyers know.
This copy carries the rare alternate siren mix on the A-side, featuring loud police siren effects throughout — not found on the Greensleeves or Jah Guidance releases.
Produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes — the architect of the Channel One sound that defined Jamaican music in the early 1980s, responsible for foundational records by Barrington Levy, Yellowman, and the Roots Radics.
Yellow label with "HOLT" in large black type. Plain white company sleeve, present but heavily worn — tearing and creasing throughout. This is a vinyl purchase.
Note on the B-side: The label reads "Youth On The Corner" — however, the actual groove content on this pressing is "Calypso Calypso" by Toyan. This is a documented mislabeling on the Holt 3683 pressing. Disclosed fully and reflected in the photos.
PRESSING DETAILS:
Artist: John Holt
Title: Police In Helicopter
Label: Holt
Label Design: Yellow label, black type
Catalog Number: 3683
Country: Jamaica
Pressing: Original Jamaican Pressing
Format: 12", 45 RPM
Matrix:
Side A: hand etched
JK / A / 3683 A
Side B: hand etched
JK / B / 3683 B
CONDITION:
Vinyl: VG+
— Shows some signs of wear with decent gloss. Some hairlines, light surface scratches, rubbing marks, and a few minor audible clicks/pops. Some minor surface noise. Record plays through without skips.
Cover: EX
— Plain white company sleeve.
Inner Sleeve: VG
— Plain paper inner sleeve present, has a tear but otherwise intact
Inserts / Extras:
— None.
ITEM SPECIFICS:
Artist: John Holt
Title: Police In Helicopter
Format: 12", 45 RPM Single
Label: Holt
Catalog Number: 3683
Country: Jamaica
Release Year: 1983
Genre: Reggae
Style: Roots Reggae, Dancehall
SHIPPING:
Ships within 3 business days. Vinyl packed with cushioning securely in a custom cardboard record mailer. Jackets protected in archival 3mil plastic sleeves.
Shipping is $5.97 for the first record, $2.50 for each additional record.
Vintage records may exhibit signs of age and prior handling. Please review photos and descriptions carefully.
Sold as is.
—
LAND OF LOST THINGS VINYL GRADING:
MINT (M) — New and unplayed.
NEAR MINT (NM) — Full gloss, looks new. One or two faint inaudible hairlines or barely visible rubbing marks. Minimal surface noise.
EXCELLENT (EX) — Glossy with a few minor hairlines, surface scratches, rubbing marks. Minimal surface noise.
VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) — Shows some signs of wear with decent gloss. Some hairlines, light surface scratches, rubbing marks, and a few minor audible clicks/pops. Some minor surface noise. Record plays through without skips.
VERY GOOD (VG) — Signs of wear with decent gloss. Lots of hairlines, light surface scratches and rubbing marks with a few audible scratches. Clicks, pops, crackle and surface noise in places. Record still plays through but possibility of a skip depending on turntable/tonearm/stylus configuration and tracking.
GOOD PLUS (G+) — Evident groove wear with fading gloss and dull spots. Tons of hairlines, surface scratches and rubbing marks with multiple audible scratches. Lots of clicks, pops, crackle and heavy surface noise. Record plays through with strong possibility of some skips.
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