Dub / Reggae: An Idiot's Guide

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SOUND

― Brian MacDonald, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The Pressure Sounds comps are great too. I'd reccommend "Riding The Roots Chariot" and "Sounds and Pressure: Vol 1 to start.

― fritz, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Whatever happened to Dubstar?

― dave q, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Also search: King Tubby's collaborations with Harry Mudie. Great Tubby dub sound meets Mudie's funked out breaks. Check it: "King Tubby meets Harry Mudie's in dub Conference vol 1-3".

― turner, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I heard a very nice set of dancehall on the in-flight system coming back from Jamaica a few years ago, surprisingly enough, and wanted to buy some good samplers. What would people recommend in this area?

― nickn, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I've always wondered where Dubstar got the name...I'm mean, I like them and all, but Dubstar??

― cybele, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Oh, I do have the Rhino dancehall comp, and it has good moments but didn't really grab me the way the in-flight set did.

― nickn, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

This thread has been very strong so far on the late seventies (and bits later), though I'm surprised no-one's mentioned "Best Dressed Chicken In Town" yet.

There's lots of great earlier reggae too: I'm particularly fond of Clancy Eccles's productions, Amalgamated-era Joe Gibbs, a lot of Bunny Lee stuff and Winston 'Niney' Holness, probably the heaviest of the early reggae fellows.

A step back a little further to rocksteady can't do any harm, either: the golden age of Treasure Isle.

The other thing I think should be mentioned in this thread is Studio 1. The greatest body of work in Jamaican music bar none. You can never go wrong with the series of "Best of Studio 1" compilations which Heartbeat put out which span early reggae to roots stuff. LPs? I's start with "Bob Andy's Songbook", Cedric 'IM' Brooks's "Flash Forward", "The Wailing Souls" and "Bobby Bobylon" by Freddie Macgregor. But there's loads more to be found.

My other *real* thing at the moment is 70s Gregory Isaacs. More Gregory. Gregory, Horace Andy and Junior Byles are three of my top 10 voices ever.

― Tim, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

anyone want any reggae mixtapes? primarily RockSteady, Reggae, Roots, and Dub, but also some Ska and early 80s Dancehall. i have a lot of vinyl only stuff, e.g. loads of 7" represses, which doesn't often turn up on the CD comps.

'Reggae' as a specific style refers to stuff around 68-72 i guess, but is more commonly used to refer to all JA music

Books:
Lloyd Bradley - Bass Culture
Norman K Stoltzkoff (sp?) - Wake the Town and Tell the People [on dancehall]
David Katz - People Funny Boy [on Lee Scratch Perry]
Guy Kennaway - One People [fiction]

other good stuff/people:
Max Romeo - Revelation Time LP (reissued with bonus tracks as 'Open the Iron Gate')
Prince Far I
Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse LP (essential!)
Sizzla - Bobo Ashanti

my brane is dead though at the moment - will think of more later

― m jemmeson, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Ah! Forgot to add Prince Far-I... "Under Heavy Manners" was the first reggae LP I ever truly loved.

The first version I had of that LP (which was a taped version of a Jamaican pressing on Joe Gibbs with the primarily yellow sleeve and a colour version of the photo) had a little reprise / dub of the last track on the second side. Just about 45 seconds of wild dubbing on "Under Heavy Manners". I've heard vinyl and CD reissues on Gibbs and never found another version with that little coda, and it upsets me a little. Anyone have any versions which do have the little end bit? (BTW, it's not the same as the various dub versions I have of the rhythm).

mj, do you have "Prophecy Reveal" by Bo Jangles? I know it was re- pressed a while back but I've never found it. Is it on the "Money In My Pocket" rhythm?

― Tim, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

almost forgot: VP put out two vols. of Dancehall 101 last year; both are superb

― M. Matos, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Just because someone mentioned books...

I work for a publishing company and we will be reissuing Beth Lesser's "King Jammy" - it is the definitive book on 80s dancehall. Beth is also a photographer--her work has appeared in the Rough Guide, among other publications.

Just for interest sake, is anyone on this thread (or any dub/reggae fans) intrigued?

― cybele, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

There are a few dancehall recommendations (most of which I still haven't followed up unfortunately) on this thread.

― Ian, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

count me in as intrigued - anything we can see on the web yet?

― fritz, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Film recommendations: The Harder They Come, Rockers, Heartland Reggae, Countryman & Dancehall Queen.

― fritz, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Prince Far I! Any of the 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter' albs are wicked. Plus U Roy's 'Dread In A Babylon' is full of great songs and has the dubbingest front cover photo of all time!

― Andrew L, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

A few more roots classics: The Wailing Souls 'Wild Suspense', The Abyssinians 'Satta Massa Gana', Hugh Mundell 'Africa Must Be Free By 1983' + Dub version, The Gladiators 'TrenchTown Mix Up', Mighty Diamonds 'Go Seek Your Rights'. Also some Dennis Brown is essential - the recent Trojan anthology is a good place to start.

Bim Sherman's 'Miracle', while not exactly Reggae, is still utterly wonderful.

― Johnathan, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Lee Scratch Perry--Blackboard Jungle Dub

The first dub album? I forget, but one of them. One of the craziest too. Mad loping grooves, everything and the kitchen sink samples before there were samples.

Lee Scratch Perry--Super Ape

Primo mid-70s Scratch. Smooth, rootsical, deep, hypnotic...

― Ben Williams, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

It's inconceivable to imagine someone hearing Prince Far I's "Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3" and not absolutely freaking out over dub, hard.

― Andy, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The Blood& Fire Sampler series is also a very good starting point for the novice. The second one is particularly good. A word of warning however: a glut of sub standard toss has ben reissued in the last few years and the reggae shelves in Tower records are so stuffed now that it's become difficult to differentiate between the good and crap. Any B&F stuff with Steve Barrow sleevenotes is usually a safe bet. Those mini Trojan box sets will also get you off the blocks into the right direction.

― David Gunnip, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Add Scientist 'Meets Space Invaders'. Forget Heart of the Congo's, overrated.

― Omar, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

My favourite Scientist LP is "Dub Landing", really very fine. Impossible to find, of course (in fact, even my copied copy is impossible to find since it's on a long term lend to a sometime contributor here). Why doesn't someone reissue that, eh?

― Tim, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Omar is sooo wrong over Heart of the Congos... mind you, unless you like shrill falsetto vocals it might not be a wise choice.

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Are there any labels to avoid - I'd heard the reggae CD market was flooded with shoddy product.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

hmmm - JA vinyl is notoriously poor quality, e.g. reground stuff, with badly photocopied sleeves. if you're buying 7"s try and listen to them first, because the mastering can be dreadful besides all the pops etc

there's also loads of dodgy Lee Perry and King Tubby stuff - i.e. CDs put out claiming to be produced by them, or, when they're not lying, they're doing it illegally, and not paying the copyright owner. if you stick to Blood and Fire, Pressure Sounds, On-U, Trojan etc at first you should avoid the real stinkers, although all these labels have been guilty of barrel-scraping with certain releases.

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

In answer to your original question, can we put reggae and dub together, sure we can, they are utterly, inextricably linked and it's often hard to draw a line between them. If you want to learn more about the origins of reggae and dub, read Bass Culture by Lloyd Bradley. If I were to pick one album to set you on your way I'd the Studio One Rockers compil on SOULJAZZ. It's got a bit of everything and doesn't contain a weak track.

― Daniel, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Addendum: Lee Perry is playing in New Haven this evening (with the Mad Professor). Should I go?

― David Raposa, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

hmmmm... Mad Professor is ok live, Lee Perry variable - he can be absolutely terrible. Reggae and dub aren't really 'live' musics, they're better on record or via DJ, IMO.

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

That is the push I needed to save myself $25. Much obliged.

― David Raposa, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

spend the money on reggae records - you won't regret it. live concerts are a nice way to see your heroes, but for a music which is all about skilful production and beautiful voices, live music venues don't really cut it. i think selective CD purchasing is more likely to turn someone on to reggae than a concert

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Then again, sometimes Mad Professor can be killer.

― cybele, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Nope. Mind made up. There's also the risk that my brand new company car could have an illicit rendevous with a cement brick. I like M's idea better - save the money, buy some discs, and acquaint myself with the music that way. I wouldn't mind going, but for TWENTY FIVE bucks?

― David Raposa, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

we've talked about this before, david i'm sure. NO show is worth $25 bucks. not even miles davis' corpse in a daishiki.

― jess, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Bullshit. I saw Lee Perry a few years ago with Mad Professor. He played for four hours, smoking giant spliffs that would have felled a lesser man in seconds the whole time. You have to see him just to see him prance around. (Great nude photo in Vanity Fair this month).

― Ben Williams, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Also, dub IS a live music. You can't get the true physical impact of the music without hearing it booming out of enormous bass bins. Just go and hear a really kickass sound system and be transported to another dimension. I don't know if Abu Shanti still plays in London, but he's great.

― Ben Williams, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Not to change the subject, but I think paying $32 to see Mission of Burma is pretty fair. Sort of. Maybe. Well, if they dedicate the set to me. And make "Einstein's Day" into "Raposa's Day". And change their name to Dave Is All Good. Yeah, then it'd be worth it.

But never mind me and my minor griping. Have I thanked you all for your recommendations yet? I haven't gone out and bought anything, mind you, but when I do, you'll be the 10th or 11th to know.

― David Raposa, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

weed smokers in tha hay-ouse!!!! :)

fuckin contrary: Towers of Dub is better than Yabby U

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

To whoever said that dub needs to be experienced on a giant sound system: word.

You just can't get it loud enough at home. It's gotta be so heavy that you can feel the bass from your fingers through to your toes. I'd pay $25 for that--then again, I'm Canadian. Don't know whether I'd pay $25 US.

― cybele, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Live Dub soundsystems are the best way to hear dub, unless you've got a 200k rig in your front room, seeing Jah shaka live the physicality of the bass is sickening, especially mixed with some weed, perfect!

― jk, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I saw Lee Perry recently and it was dross. Having said that, dub can work live. Dennis Bovell and the Dub Band, for example, with DB making special effects with his voice. Staggering.

― Daniel, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

People with serious knowledge have joined since the last time we covered this territory. I'm sure I'll be returning to this thread before my next trip to the record store. Nice work.

― Mark, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

yeah, i was talking about live reggae concerts, i.e. with a band, singers etc, which *usually* wouldn't be a great introduction to reggae.

dub sound-systems play a variety of *records*, and are a safer bet as an introduction (as well as getting the impact of the bass. Jah Shaka is very good, another big UK name is Aba Shanti. most JA sound systems will play dancehall.

― m jemmeson, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Right there with you...Reggae is and will always be producer/sound engineer music.

Bring on the Scratch, Jammy, and Tubby...and forward the bass.

― cybele, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Anybody know anything about the Recall label? They're doing some 2-CD sets - Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Horace Andy etc. I bought the Augustus Pablo one, called "Jah Inspiration" and I'm pretty disappointed - some lifeless, poorly recorded trundles on one disc, and some King Tubby dubs (so it says) on disc 2. Have I bought a pup?

― Dr. C, Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

My other *real* thing at the moment is 70s Gregory Isaacs. More Gregory.

Soon Forward and Mr. Isaacs are incredible. Smooooth mofo.

A step back a little further to rocksteady can't do any harm

Love love love rocksteady. Anybody who likes American soul music should check into it. Some favorites: John Holt (and the Paragons), Slim Smith (and the Techniques/Uniques), Pat Kelly, Ken Boothe, The Heptones.

The Pressure Sounds comps are great too.

The Royals singles compilation on Pressure Sounds, 'Pick Up the Pieces', has been kicking my ass recently. Classic from beginning to end. Dubwise, the Joe Gibbs comp. 'No Bones for the Dogs' is quality throughout as well.

Other shit that I've been hooked on and can usu be found at a good price: Delroy Wilson 'Good All Over' (rocksteady at the cusp of reggae), Dub Over Dub (27 tracks of Errol Thompson's mixing, with solid tracks as a base), the Wailing Souls self-titled debut (superb, utterly beautiful singing and catchy yet rough tunes), Scientist vs Space Invaders (um, it's early 80s Scientist. nuff said), Gladiators 'Proverbial Reggae' (you know reggae is the shit when an album this good hardly gets discussed)

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 21 June 2003 07:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

the only dub reggae album you need is best dressed chicken in town by dr alimantado. it has the best sleeve ever as well

― ss, Saturday, 21 June 2003 16:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

"A History of Dub: The Golden Age" is an amazing comp.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 07:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

Also: are there any record stores in NYC where I can find CHEAP used dub LPs? (where cheap is like $5-$7.)

― Ian Johnson (orion), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 07:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

Just want to plug for the King Jammy's book--probably one of the best stuff, certainly one of the only things, about that era of dancehall written. Plus...Intro design!

Born Fi Dead by Laurie Gunst is also essential to get that time, tho less about music than politics.

Ian, check Jammyland in the East Village. Might be more $8-$12 but the selection is all essential. Everything above and more. In JA fashion, will play you 45s and LPs if you ask. If you can make it out to Moodies in the north Bronx, it's also amazing. More stuff straight from JA distributors. VP, of course, too in Queens.

― Jeff Chang, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 16:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

Other thing is Shanachie has just re-released Augustus Pablo's King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown in deluxe edition with extra dubs. It's incredible.

― Jeff Chang, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 16:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 292 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Trojan repackaging Open The Gate as Disco Devil (pretty awesome tracklist though):

Norman – Max Romeo & the Upsetters
Bad Weed – Junior Murvin
I Forgot to Be Your Lover (aka To Be a Lover) – George Faith
Know Love – Twin Roots
Rainy Night in Portland – Watty Burnett
Disco Devil – Lee Perry & Full Experience
City Too Hot – Lee Perry
Words – Sangie Davis & Lee Perry
Roots Train - Junior Murvin & Dillinger
Open the Gate – Watty Burnett
Neckodememus – The Congos
Rasta Train – Raphael Green & Doctor Alimantado
Ketch Vampire – Devon Irons & Doctor Alimantado
History (Of Civilisation) – Carlton Jackson
Sons of Slaves – Junior Delgado
Party Time – The Heptones
Free Up the Prisoners – Lee 'Scratch' Perry
Garden Of Life – Leroy Sibbles

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 04:07 (6 months ago) Permalink

I apparently missed that TROJAN did re-ish the original Jamaican version of To Be A Lover as:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Eight-George-Faith/dp/B007EN9KUC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1352174904&sr=1-1&keywords=george+faith+super+eight

So there you go.

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 04:09 (6 months ago) Permalink

It's not the "original Jamaican version," but rather the Island version in the original sleeve. I'm sad to say . . .

― crustaceanrebel, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 08:02 (6 months ago) Permalink

Is there a difference? I haven't heard of one (though I've never looked, I always thought "TBAL" the weakest of Perry's run of late 7s Island LPs.)

― Tim, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 09:20 (6 months ago) Permalink

(Still v v good though, obv.)

― Tim, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 09:21 (6 months ago) Permalink

Yeah I think it's basically the same mix slightly reordered and with an add'l track.

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 13:03 (6 months ago) Permalink

No additional track, the Trojan page just makes it look like there are nine songs instead of eight. It's the same mix, I have the JA version, which is pretty different, so this is just deceptive marketing on Teojan's part.

That said, I think this album is underrated. Not as good as the Congos' work with Perry, but more solid than Junior Murvin's "Police And Thieves" as an album, and to my ears about as cool as "Super Ape" - the primary difference being that this album pays homage to American soul of the period rather than dub and insanity.

― crustaceanrebel, Tuesday, 6 November 2012 15:45 (6 months ago) Permalink

Yeah Upsetter.net was what indicated the add'l song.

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 17:14 (6 months ago) Permalink

I love the George Faith album.
Has anyone heard "Lee Scratch Perry Presents Candy Mckenzie"?

― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 20:25 (6 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

I love Yabby U (You) and have just ordered the new collection on Pressure Sounds. Clips sound terrific. Figured some people reading this thread would be interested. The ltd ed. 2xLP is only 67 copies (>65 now :)

http://www.pressure.co.uk/store/PS77/yabby-you-deeper-roots/

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 6 December 2012 07:19 (5 months ago) Permalink

3 weeks pass...

i put this on the youtube. so cool.

― scott seward, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:50 (4 months ago) Permalink

put this up too. great instrumental and awesome proto-rap staple singers sample at the beginning. from 1972.

― scott seward, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:51 (4 months ago) Permalink

whoah wtf how did they do that

― If I was a carpenter, and you were a douchebag (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:19 (4 months ago) Permalink

oh man total ear candy

― Mordy, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:22 (4 months ago) Permalink

http://www.johnnyspencer.info/imagetexts16/tubbysinfullswingLK.htm

― ♨ (am0n), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:30 (4 months ago) Permalink

http://boomkat.com/cds/620423-keith-hudson-torch-of-freedom

With the Basic Replay imprint now dormant, I was worried that this crucial piece of the Keith Hudson puzzle might never get reissued. But there is now a CD version of Torch of Freedom out and it's a doozy. Wish they'd do vinyl on it but still...

― beta blog, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 21:13 (4 months ago) Permalink

That's funny, my copy of Torch of Freedom just arrived in the mail today, and I was driving around enjoying it deeply. The relative hit "Turn The Heater On" holds up especially well. The sound's great and the packaging is true to the original, with excellent liner notes.

It's tough to recommend Keith Hudson to the reggae novice, since he has a strange (some would say awful) voice and (as the liner notes say, "Keith Hudson's dubs often took the form of meandering instrumentals that would lose all shape after a spliff or two. Impressionistic in feel, it was as if they had no beginning or end." In other words, it's not foe everyone! But I like his odd voice, and there's some sort of zen beauty in his "formless" dubs that's consistent enough that it comes across as a well-defined style, and if you like one or two, you'll probably end up liking most of them. The album is kind of a "showcase" album - meaning the dubs follow the vocal versions.

― crustaceanrebel, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 22:51 (4 months ago) Permalink

i love full-length LPs where the dub follows the vocal mix. kinda my favorite thing. i have two john holt records like this and they are real faves of mine.

― scott seward, Thursday, 3 January 2013 00:02 (4 months ago) Permalink

Got my copy of Torch of Freedom recently as well. It's really great and a perfect compliment to the Basic Replay reissues. Other than those 3 reissues, the 2 CD collection of Hudson productions, Brand and Pick A Dub are all essentials.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 3 January 2013 01:51 (4 months ago) Permalink

So I guess Hot Milk is new. Neat.

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Thursday, 3 January 2013 02:19 (4 months ago) Permalink

THREE releases on Basic Replay? What am I missing on CD - I've got the following:

Brand (Pressure Sounds)
Entering The Dragon (Trojan)
Flesh Of My Skin (Basic Replay)
Greatest Hits, Volume 1 (Sky High & Mau Mau)
Pick A Dub (Pressure Sounds)
Rasta Communication - Expanded Edition (Greensleeves)
Too Expensive (Virgin)
Torch Of Freedom (Hot Milk)
Studio Kinda Cloudy (Trojan)

I don't have "Playing It Cool." What else is there?

― crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 3 January 2013 03:08 (4 months ago) Permalink

nuh skin up
from one extreme to another

― ♨ (am0n), Thursday, 3 January 2013 03:39 (4 months ago) Permalink

Sorry, i'm replying on my phone so was too brief in my last comment. There are only 2 Basic Replay reissues but I included the Torch of Freedom in my '3 reissues' comment since they're similar in quality and vibe. In addition to what you have, I highly recommend The Hudson Affair 2CD set and you absolutely should get Playing it Cool immediately. I believe most of Nuh Skin Up is on the reissue of Rasta Communication but you should get that if you're missing any of the tracks on there. From One Extreme to Another is a bit spotty in my opinion.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 3 January 2013 04:02 (4 months ago) Permalink

What is the greatest hits vol1 disc you have?

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 3 January 2013 04:06 (4 months ago) Permalink

Cool, thanks for the advice. I actually have The Hudson Affair and Nuh Skin Up - just forgot to list them. I don't recall ever having heard about One Extreme To Another, but it looks like it's vinyl only (?)

The Greatest Hits, Volume 1 CD is on a label called Sky High & Mau Mau - I think it was a one-off label, and was put out by his family. Here's the tracklist:

Rasta Country 2:56 (different mix than the one on Rasta Communication)
Rasta Side 2:52
Bloody Eyes 3:02 (different mix / version from the one on Rasta Communication)
Rasta Communication 2:22 (different version from the one on Rasta Communication)
Instant Skank 2:02
Melody Maker (dub) 2:10
Goliat 3:09 (with vocals from U Roy)
Riot (dub) 3:00 (seems the same as Soul Syndicate's "Riot," but vaguely different mix)
Bouts Up 1:40
True To My Heart 2:09
Though You Knew 2:11
Write Me 2:35
Write (dub) 2:10
Flesh Of My Skin 2:23 (about a minute shorter than the album version, different mix?)
Skin (dub) 2:01 (dub version of the song above)
In The West Indies 2:24
Fight A Revolution 2:02 (same as Fight For Revolution?)
Torch Of Freedom 2:23 (very spooky instrumental / dub version, different than the LP version)
We Can Work It Out 2:45 (1:48 shorter than the Too Expensive version, but same mix)
Too Expensive 2:40 (2:17 shorter than the Too Expensive version, but same mix)
Darkest Night 2:50 (same as the version on Flesh Of My Skin)

Some versions are *completely* different, some songs aren't on any of the albums I have, but I don't have "Flesh Of My Skin" handy . . . although the only song that could be the same is the last, I just can't compare it right now. Possibly these are single versions or something. It's a pretty cool collection, though, and worth it for the radically different takes on familiar songs. Holds together well, but long out of print.

I'll trade a CD-R copy (AIFF files direct from CD), especially if anyone could do the same for CD-sourced copies of these way out-of-print titles:

JUNIOR BYLES jordan
CLANCY ECCLES & THE DYNAMITES nyah reggae rock
 THE EQUALS black skin blue eyed boys (double CD version)
FLYING LIZARDS top ten  
CHARLES HAYWARD live in japan: near & far
SCIENTIST V PRINCE JAMMY big showdown at king tubby's

. . . but if you don't have those and are desperate, I'll hook you up anyway! Just e-mail.

― crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 3 January 2013 06:32 (4 months ago) Permalink

O/T because DJ not dub but on the subject of Keith Hudson productions it's really worth keeping your eyes peeled for the Militant Barry LP, "Green Valley".

This cut, "Pistol Boy", which concerns Sid Vicious, was legendary to me for years because Ranking Roger out of The Beat namechecked it in Smash Hits in 1980 or something. Took me a long time ot track it down. I'm often surprised it's not cited more often by punk rock historians looking for material evidence of reggae-punk connections and getting a bit stuck after "Punky Reggae Party".

― Tim, Thursday, 3 January 2013 09:47 (4 months ago) Permalink

3 weeks pass...

got some pretty silkscreened dub that will probably end up in france. for now i can gaze lovingly at them. and play them.

― scott seward, Friday, 25 January 2013 14:36 (4 months ago) Permalink

!!! Bloody hell. Have only ever seen one of these, and even that one not in that cover. Guess these are really very rare, huh? What label design, Scott?

― Tim, Friday, 25 January 2013 14:48 (4 months ago) Permalink

so pretty.

― EZ Snappin, Friday, 25 January 2013 14:49 (4 months ago) Permalink

sick, i bet those go for lots of $$$

― am0n, Friday, 25 January 2013 17:21 (4 months ago) Permalink

forgot how good this guy is