― frankE (frankE), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:55 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:56 (nineteen years ago) link
― Huk-L, Monday, 4 October 2004 16:56 (nineteen years ago) link
― frankE (frankE), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― Huk-L, Monday, 4 October 2004 16:57 (nineteen years ago) link
1. Congos Heart of the Congos2. Heptones Party Time3. Upsetters Super Ape4. The Wailers African Herbsman5. Max Romeo War In a Babylon6. Upsetters Blackboard Jungle Dub7. Junior Murvin Police and Thieves8. Lee "Scratch" Perry Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread9. Susan Cadogan Hurts So Good10. So many good ones left. . . Dave Barker, the Silvertones, did Junior Byles release an actual album?
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:01 (nineteen years ago) link
for some reason I want to add "Techno Party" but mostly for the track "No Dreads"Revolution Dub
― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:03 (nineteen years ago) link
1. Arkology2. Open the Gate3. Build the Ark4. Produced and Directed by the Upsetter5. Born in the Sky
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:09 (nineteen years ago) link
― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:12 (nineteen years ago) link
― mcd (mcd), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:15 (nineteen years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:33 (nineteen years ago) link
which you can get for £4.99 at HMV sale, which i just did.
― sphere, Monday, 4 October 2004 18:33 (nineteen years ago) link
has anyone ever heard this one? never been able to find it myself.ihttp://www.roots-archives.com/display_artwork/250.jpg#For a brief period, Scratch changed his name to Pipecock Jackxon, and with some help from a Dutch record label attempted to resurrect the Black Ark with bizarre results (including a pond in the drum booth). One of the definite results was The Return Of Pipecock Jackxon, a weird but neat album recorded both at the Black Ark and in Holland. Killers include an 11 minute version of the X rated "Bed Jammin'", the nutty "Who Killed The Chicken", and "Babylon Cookie Jar A Crumble".
― joseph pot (STINKOR™), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 00:33 (nineteen years ago) link
― mentalist (mentalist), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 02:53 (nineteen years ago) link
also, can anyone confirm that his new-ish stuff sucks? i picked up an album of his with a late 90's copyright used and it didn't really grab me, but maybe i didn't give it a chance.
― arjun (arjun), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 03:40 (nineteen years ago) link
― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 04:52 (nineteen years ago) link
The Congos - Heart of the CongosJunior Byles - Beat Down Babylon (Trojan CD comp)Kung-Fu Meets the DragonBuild the ArkOpen the GateJunior Murvin - Police and ThievesMegaton DubSuper ApeSome of the BestMax Romeo - War ina Babylon
I have a couple 90s era records but barely remember a thing about them. I do seem to recall enjoying Time Boom 'X' De Devil Dead or whatever it's called.
― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 05:29 (nineteen years ago) link
Just been getting into a Lee Perry phase, been semi familiar with him for years but not known him with great depth so wondering what is essential. Recently got Disco Devil which may have got me mopre into listening him though I've got bits of Arkology and Wonderman years turning up on my walkman pretty regularly.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 18:28 (eleven years ago) link
I concur with Alex in SF's POX above, for the most part
― his girlfriend was all 'ugh and he wears a solar backpack' (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 12 March 2013 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
this was my intro and it is amazing
― his girlfriend was all 'ugh and he wears a solar backpack' (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 12 March 2013 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
what was Scratch's beef with dreadlocks all about, anyway
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 17:25 (nine years ago) link
hmm feel like i read in people funny boy that at one brief point scratch was starting to dread his hair
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 17:26 (nine years ago) link
I was thumbing through that last night - specifically the parts about the last days of the Ark - and there were all these references to him having problems with dreadlocks, or being given shit by the nyabinghi/boboashanti for not being a dread, being angry about his wife running off with a dread etc. And p much every photo of him shows him w short hair
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 17:37 (nine years ago) link
i'll have to pick up the book again, i never did read it straight through, just parts here and there. i am wondering if scratch was just fed up with the bullshit, "dreadlocks in moonlight / baldhead at sunrise" hypocrisy and didn't feel the need to grow them. i just pulled that out of my ass though
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:00 (nine years ago) link
btw "dreadlocks in moonlight" is one of my favorite things scratch has done, specifically the "big neck police" version on roast fish collie weed and cornbread.
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:01 (nine years ago) link
that book is really kind of terribly written - its exhaustive in its detail but as a narrative it's just a mess
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:26 (nine years ago) link
oh yea all the side tracks and tangents about various musicians. it'll break the narrative to tell 3 paragraphs about some dude that sat in on a session
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:29 (nine years ago) link
the author does dj nights though and i bet he plays some great records
I haven't read PFB, but I did like "Solid Foundation" his oral history of reggae that, iirc, reads like a few hundred pages of good liner notes. It being an oral history, those tangents and side tracks don't feel distracting
― rob, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:35 (nine years ago) link
oh yea they totally work in solid foundation
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:36 (nine years ago) link
I just read about this actually. Wish I remembered where. I think it was about the Congos. The two main Congos guys started recording with Scratch, influenced him to start to dread his own hair, then during the course of their collaborations, more dreads started showing up and one may have had an affair with Scratch's wife? There was definitely an arc of 'this is great, I agree with this' to 'these guys are scumbags and I want them out', and I think it centered around the Congos relationship.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:41 (nine years ago) link
Ah, it was here: http://sweetrarereggaemusic.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-congos-heart-of-congos-original.html
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 18:49 (nine years ago) link
that website (^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^) is great.
― Daniel, Esq 2, Tuesday, 6 January 2015 03:16 (nine years ago) link
I'm listening to Battle for Armagideon (1986) for the first time and... this seems like the beginning of the end in terms of his quality output, no? It's just so sloppy and half-assed. I recall hearing some of his 90s stuff incl something w Mad Professor back when his initial revival was going on and that stuff wasn't v encouraging either. Sad, it does seem like he had some kind of genuine psychotic break and this is just how he is now.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 30 July 2015 18:03 (eight years ago) link
yea the psychotic break does seem like a real thing that happened. i haven't heard "battle" before but i'm listening now, i really dug the opener! but now i am a few tracks in and yea the quality does seem pretty low.
how the preceding albums?
― marcos, Thursday, 30 July 2015 18:19 (eight years ago) link
dunno, the main one I'm interested in is the Return of Pipecock Jacxon, which I recall being fairly highly praised in People Funny Boy
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 30 July 2015 18:30 (eight years ago) link
ok i made it through all of "battle" nothing really that good except for "introducing myself"
― marcos, Thursday, 30 July 2015 18:30 (eight years ago) link
the main one I'm interested in is the Return of Pipecock Jacxon
found it on youtube fwiw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi5vYbQY_CI
― marcos, Thursday, 30 July 2015 18:33 (eight years ago) link
Ah man, he lost his Switzerland studio and archive last night.
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/lee-scratch-perry-studio-burned-down.html
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 5 December 2015 00:19 (eight years ago) link
I noticed that the Trojan 2cds that I thought had been deleted were back in HMV. Amazon has a 2015 release date for them.Dub Triptych is talked about upthread. Though I think by content with a link instead of a name. It's Cloak&Dagger, Blackboard and Revolution dub and pretty great.Ape-ology has the Jamaican versions of the 2 Super Ape lps alongside Roast Fish, Collie Weed and a few stray singles and session tracks.Dubstrumentals has Kung Fu meets The Dragon and 2 other 70s lps.Babylon A Fall is also a 2cd compi but I don't think it's lp related.
Somewhere I have a copy of Grand Royal with a buying guide for him.
― Stevolende, Saturday, 5 December 2015 08:26 (eight years ago) link
interview with Lee and his wife about it here. I didn't realise that dude lives twenty minutes from where I work!
― Siegbran, Saturday, 5 December 2015 09:21 (eight years ago) link
His positivity in the face of this loss (on his FB) is incredible.
― tremendous crime wave and killing wave (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 5 December 2015 14:33 (eight years ago) link
I almost always prefer the originals to the dubs of Perry's productions. Are there any instances where someone else created dubs of his tracks? Am I forgetting an obvious collab?
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 27 October 2017 22:22 (six years ago) link
I can't think of any off the top of my head. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would just pass Upsetters tracks out to other producers.
― Οὖτις, Friday, 27 October 2017 22:34 (six years ago) link
Only Jamaican-sourced reporting at present, but it appears he died this morning.
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Lee_Scratch_Perry_is_dead
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 29 August 2021 14:54 (two years ago) link
Wow if true, though of course that guy lived a life.I thought he still resided in Switzerland?
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 29 August 2021 15:03 (two years ago) link
Youth has posted about it - he heard via friend who lives in Jamacia.
― mark e, Sunday, 29 August 2021 15:23 (two years ago) link
Ah fuck. :(
RIP
― pomenitul, Sunday, 29 August 2021 16:41 (two years ago) link
What a life. RIP.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 29 August 2021 16:49 (two years ago) link
I interviewed him once and it was exactly what you'd expect. One part lucid, one part lunacy that you just kind of went with. The entire time there were parrots squawking in the background.
Modestly disappointed at how he's being presented as a Jamaican music pioneer, which of course he is, but his approach to the studio stretched so much farther than just reggae and dub. The guy really knew how to sculpt space.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 29 August 2021 16:56 (two years ago) link
absolute legend. among the most innovative of alltime. and prolific — the amount of classic music he's at least partially responsible for, holy hell.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Sunday, 29 August 2021 17:00 (two years ago) link
R.I.P., just a titan of sound. Agreed that his influence went way beyond reggae.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:05 (two years ago) link
Anyone seeking a quick way in should try this compilation from 2007 or so:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/819Id8LOj6L.jpg
This one, which combines Super Ape, Return of the Super Ape, and Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Cornbread on two CDs, is also great.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FzmyNXPhL.jpg
― but also fuck you (unperson), Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:10 (two years ago) link
been blasting out that huge Arkology comp from '97 which was the first LSP thing I ever bought.
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:17 (two years ago) link
Damn RIP to a real oneThe “Arkology” three disc set has been in my ancient car’s 6 disc changer for literally years now. I never get tired of it
― caddy lac brougham? (will), Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:20 (two years ago) link
ha xpost
Yeah, that Arkology compilation was revelatory to me at the time in terms of understanding the scope of his recordings and influence. (And it doesn't even touch on his Wailers and other earlier work.)
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:21 (two years ago) link
I'm a big fan of the full albums he produced for others, Max Romeo, Junior Byles, stuff like that.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:22 (two years ago) link
Heart of the Congos and War Ina Babylon definitely among his most amazing work.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:24 (two years ago) link
Yeah, Congos OTM. a high water mark in any context.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:26 (two years ago) link
THere wasa great article in one o9f the first couple of Beastie Boys magazine Grand Royal that i found very useful.It may be up online somewhere.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 29 August 2021 18:38 (two years ago) link
yeah I made a single disc comp of my fav arkology tracks and it’s like the best “album” ever
― brimstead, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:13 (two years ago) link
it simply has to include Errol Walker's In These Times!
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:15 (two years ago) link
plz share if possible, brimstead
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:17 (two years ago) link
Roots Train - Junior Murvin/Dillinger is such a banger
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:19 (two years ago) link
xp
here you go, just one human's opinion but these are all beautiful tracks. yes i do love the police and theives/dreadlock in moonlight riddimThe Meditations - Life Is Not EasyJunior Murvin - TediousThe Heptones & Jah Lion - Mr. PresidentMax Romeo - Chase The DevilLee Perry - Dreadlocks In MoonlightErrol Walker - In These TimesMax Romeo & The Upsetters - NormanJunior Murvin - Police And ThievesUpsetters - No Peace DubThe Upsetters - Party Time (Part 2)Augustus Pablo Meets The Upsetter - Vibrate OnThe Upsetters - VibratorThe Upsetters - Bird In HandThe Congoes - CongomanGeorge Faith - To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy)Lee Perry - Curly Locks
― brimstead, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:23 (two years ago) link
oops idk about the formatting there, copied it from another thread
RIP u crazy genius, just put Arkology on at floor-shaking volume
― sleeve, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:28 (two years ago) link
I really love The Super Ape album from '76 as well
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:38 (two years ago) link
thanks, brimstead, looks sick
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:38 (two years ago) link
"stand for the right and mash up the wrong"
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:39 (two years ago) link
Don't feel worthy or ready to comment on his passing tbh. 85 is a good age to have reached though!
― "Bobby Gillespie" (ft. Heroin) (Tom D.), Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:42 (two years ago) link
just put on ape-ology. in terms of reissues, this was probably one of my most anticipated albums of all time.
must concur on heart of the congos, police and thieves, + war ina babylon: all complete and total classics.
if we're repping for personal favorites, i've long had a strong affinity for the late 70s album he produced by seke molenga + kalo kawongolo. very much music of the promised land.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:50 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjj0CE5njfc
― calzino, Sunday, 29 August 2021 19:52 (two years ago) link
yeah got to recommend those Trojan 2cd sets by Perry. Apeology, Dub Triptych, Dubstrumentals, Wonderman Years, I think I'm missing a couple but they mopped up a load of the Material that I'd wanted since getting that Grand Royal piece on him
― Stevolende, Sunday, 29 August 2021 20:45 (two years ago) link
Disco Devil, The Black Ark Years, Babylon A fall & A Live injection were other titles.Also the early Wailers set Trenchtown Rock is mainly Perry produced I think. does also include some later 70s Marley stuff with him.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 29 August 2021 20:54 (two years ago) link
'Super Ape Returns to Conquer' which was between a remix/new album with his last touring band and Adrian Sherwood from 2017 is a really good listen. That one was on my CD player for months.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsubatomicsound.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FSuperApe-1200x.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
― earlnash, Sunday, 29 August 2021 20:57 (two years ago) link
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Sunday, 29 August 2021 21:27 (two years ago) link
rip to the only person on this planet who actually knew how to use a computer https://t.co/VPLC1xaERG pic.twitter.com/C8tuSrN0qA— Kyle McDonald (@kcimc) August 29, 2021
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Sunday, 29 August 2021 22:10 (two years ago) link
Aw man RIP. The Black Ark stuff is my favorite "sound of a producer" output of any music ever. 2nd the Seke Molenga album. My favorite unheralded one is Susan Cadogan's Hurt So Good. Prob partially due to featuring female vocals, which is relatively rare for reggae. Just a touch of pop in the tracks but still unmistakably Scratch. And George Faith for the "Jamaican quiet storm" lazy Sunday afternoon vibe.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Sunday, 29 August 2021 22:48 (two years ago) link
Right missed him playing here several times over the last few years. Really should have got it together. Should know it was a possibility that it would be last chance.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 29 August 2021 23:18 (two years ago) link
Cockamamie proclamation I formed around the turn of the century: you could sum up the changes of 20th century music with two artists: Duke Ellington and Lee Scratch Perry. They get you from stride piano to techno with their genre explorations, and collaborations with Lonnie Johnson, Mingus, the Clash, George Clinton, Beasties, etc will Kevin Bacon you everywhere. Conny Plank is sort of the median. But most of all Ellington exemplifies the idea that with recording you could compose for the timbre and eccentricity of specific musicians, and would compose to the limitations and constraints of specific media, and Perry takes that through to the studio as an instrument and sampling and sequencing.
― Citole Country (bendy), Monday, 30 August 2021 00:31 (two years ago) link
Wow I've had pretty much that exact thought
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Monday, 30 August 2021 01:29 (two years ago) link
Makes sense to me.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 30 August 2021 01:30 (two years ago) link
extremely otm imo
― sleeve, Monday, 30 August 2021 01:44 (two years ago) link
oops sorry
Lee Perry gave the impression of burning very hot for a very long time. Not sure how he managed it. RIP.
― lukas, Monday, 30 August 2021 02:08 (two years ago) link
I get the sense he could keep the ( literal ) demons at bay by always pushing forward.
― Citole Country (bendy), Monday, 30 August 2021 10:16 (two years ago) link
My favourite late-era Perry is this one, which on paper should be terrible (dubstep wobbles! Jean-Michel Jarre cover!) but it's totally enjoyable for two hours straight.
― Siegbran, Monday, 30 August 2021 10:26 (two years ago) link
Anyone like the 1986 album Battle of Armagideon? Turns out a mate of mine's uncle was a producer on it...I haven't heard it yet, going to make that right today.
― glumdalclitch, Monday, 30 August 2021 10:54 (two years ago) link
Right missed him playing here several times over the last few years. Really should have got it together. Should know it was a possibility that it would be last chance.― Stevolende, Monday, August 30, 2021 1:18 AM (eleven hours ago)
― Stevolende, Monday, August 30, 2021 1:18 AM (eleven hours ago)
― willem, Monday, 30 August 2021 11:10 (two years ago) link
Curious to hear the stuff he did with Robert Palmer after reading this.
robert palmer, lee perry and a cream cracker pic.twitter.com/7vrbnMoMGA— cowsarejustfood (@cowsarejustfood) August 29, 2021
― Dan Worsley, Monday, 30 August 2021 11:33 (two years ago) link
I love this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp85RALyx4Y
― "Bobby Gillespie" (ft. Heroin) (Tom D.), Monday, 30 August 2021 11:39 (two years ago) link
https://www.johnlewisjournalist.co.uk/lee-scratch-perry
interview from 2002 when Lee was curating the meltdown festival.
― calzino, Monday, 30 August 2021 11:56 (two years ago) link
Battle of Armageddon isn't all bangers, but it does have "Sexy Lady" which would by on my POX for LSP, where the sexy lady may actually be his Echoplex effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m00WixmHCHE
― Citole Country (bendy), Monday, 30 August 2021 12:41 (two years ago) link
This video is great, I love the way you can see him constructing the track in real time while it's being recorded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y651C7aNXRc
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 30 August 2021 17:02 (two years ago) link
Watched that yesterday cause it's my fav clip of him
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Monday, 30 August 2021 17:08 (two years ago) link
He's having such a good time.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 30 August 2021 17:14 (two years ago) link
As a newb to reggae/dub, what produces the wobbly, airy, vaguely electric saw effect in a lot of tracks? Is that a steel drum, a synth, or some post-production effect?
― Taliban! (PBKR), Monday, 30 August 2021 17:19 (two years ago) link
You mean the flexatone?
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Monday, 30 August 2021 18:08 (two years ago) link
I guess that's it. Thanks.
― Taliban! (PBKR), Monday, 30 August 2021 18:17 (two years ago) link
Yeah I love how much stuff that sounds futuristic on his tracks is produced by very basic effects.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 30 August 2021 18:23 (two years ago) link
Listening to lots of this. So many huge tracks.
https://img.discogs.com/XICsVHm9ndh3bm1Angqqn4Bv2b8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-510944-1369334962-1775.jpeg.jpg
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 30 August 2021 18:38 (two years ago) link
yep, so good
― sleeve, Monday, 30 August 2021 18:40 (two years ago) link
4xp you don't sound too convinced lol, could be the sound of a spring reverb tank given a good swift kick
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Monday, 30 August 2021 18:50 (two years ago) link
Not doubting, just don't know anything in this area. From what I've found online, that spring reverb tank is definitely one of the sounds.
― Taliban! (PBKR), Monday, 30 August 2021 20:21 (two years ago) link
Just the general production on dub stuff is so awesome and weird.
― Taliban! (PBKR), Monday, 30 August 2021 20:22 (two years ago) link
That's a great video, somehow strange seeing Boris Gardiner on bass, a guy who had a No. 1 single in the UK with a schmaltzy lover's rock pop song! The loss of the Black Ark was a disaster and tragedy.
― "Bobby Gillespie" (ft. Heroin) (Tom D.), Monday, 30 August 2021 20:41 (two years ago) link
Well, add me to the list of folks who needed daily doses of Arkology in 1997. Bottomless music inhabited by ghosts and spirits both good and evil, ripped the veil wide open. Reading his interviews over the last 24 hours, his conversation reminds me very much of two people I've known who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. While I don't want to jump to conclusions, it's sad and also remarkable that he lived his best life to the end.
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Monday, 30 August 2021 21:14 (two years ago) link
I was just listening to an interview with him from the mid-80s and he was actually perfectly coherent when he wasn't playing up to his self-constructed image.
― "Bobby Gillespie" (ft. Heroin) (Tom D.), Monday, 30 August 2021 21:19 (two years ago) link
I got Arkology when it came out, barely knowing who Scratch was, just starting to check out nonMarley reggae. I remember it not clicking for awhile, possibly due to having so many versions of the same riddim in a row. Of tracks that weren't even my favorites. Something that still annoys me today with reggae comps. But there were 10 or so tracks that eventually made me see his appeal. I'm still mad that "Make Up Your Mind" isn't available streaming. Recently discovered it's a Ricky Nelson cover lol wtf. There's so many American songs that I only ever heard the reggae covers of, for years not knowing they even were covers.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Monday, 30 August 2021 21:29 (two years ago) link
I There's so many American songs that I only ever heard the reggae covers of, for years not knowing they even were covers.
― Citole Country (bendy), Monday, 30 August 2021 21:55 (two years ago) link
Love how the Island Records press officer refuted his allegations that Chris Blackwell is a vampire. They didn't think "we mustn't dignify this with a response", they thought "we must deny this unequivocally!!" 😂
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Monday, 30 August 2021 23:22 (two years ago) link
Did you really repaint Chris Blackwell’s flat because you didn’t like the vibes?Of course. I also fill up his fridge with rocks. To kaput his energy, confuse his brain, give him big shock. Ha ha!
Of course. I also fill up his fridge with rocks. To kaput his energy, confuse his brain, give him big shock. Ha ha!
― calzino, Monday, 30 August 2021 23:41 (two years ago) link
Check out Perry's Instagram and Facebook accounts - apparently they're claiming he was more or less killed and plan to sue those they're holding responsible. (They're reporting that Perry wasn't sick or anything, which is plausible given that Perry himself uploaded a selfie video the day before he died - he looked otherwise in fine physical health.)
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 01:37 (two years ago) link
i am completely failing to process his death. the claim that he was more or less killed makes sense to me as surely he was eternal?
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 15:15 (two years ago) link
Lots of new comments. I don't know if this is credible, but one commenter said he was answering text messages up to the day he died. Details are still sketchy, but whoever's running his account emphatically and repeatedly states he wasn't sick, that something "just happened." Crazy.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 16:28 (two years ago) link
Clearly I haven't the first clue whether something dodgy went on but it's worth noting that the person who's running that Insta account now (who may be Scratch's widow?) has a main account linked from that post which is pretty much wall-to-wall conspiracy stuff, including some repulsive bits IMO.
― Tim, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 16:49 (two years ago) link
85-year-old smokers do die from heart attacks and strokes sometimes
― fc_TEFH28mo (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Tuesday, 31 August 2021 16:51 (two years ago) link
Ahhh, good catch. Well, I guess we'll see whether their arguments before the court makes a convincing case (or not).
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 17:15 (two years ago) link
wall-to-wall conspiracy stuff
lee perry was of course perhaps thee original conspiracy theorist so i guess it makes it all the more fitting. i put him on around the turn of the millenium and he refused to shake hands with any meat eaters as they could transmit hormones, or something....
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 31 August 2021 17:51 (two years ago) link
still sounds as fresh today as it did in 87.
https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Scratch-Perry-Dub-Syndicate-Time-Boom-X-De-Devil-Dead/release/192162
― mark e, Saturday, 4 September 2021 20:44 (two years ago) link
Indeed it does. I saw him perform this album at Kentish Town Town & Country Club (now The Forum). Dub Syndicate started and were then joined by Akabu. Eventually it became apparent that Perry was refusing to come on stage. After much coaxing he finally came on only to announce that he had no intention of performimng and everyone should instead show respect to Akabu and "listen to the ladies sing" which was "much better than listening to The Upsetter", and then off he went. Another awkward half hour or so passed until he finally appeared and performed a few songs off "Time Boom..." before the house lights came up.
― stirmonster, Saturday, 4 September 2021 21:25 (two years ago) link
thank you for bringing up that dub syndicate album, i had never heard it before and it really rules
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, 7 September 2021 16:03 (two years ago) link
I can’t POX with this guy, but just came here to say that one of my favorite magical moments in my memory is one afternoon, in the aughts, I was wandering around Brooklyn with no particular destination in mind and completely randomly stumbled across Lee Perry performing with his band at an outdoor party next to the Gowanus Canal. So surreal and wonderful. He had a small audience but far from what you’d expect for someone of his stature (maybe there are other ilxors who witnessed this?)
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 September 2021 17:05 (two years ago) link
https://www.nts.live/shows/optimo/episodes/optimo-7th-september-2021
― stirmonster, Thursday, 9 September 2021 18:53 (two years ago) link
thank you!
― sleeve, Thursday, 9 September 2021 19:11 (two years ago) link
so, was his last album the On-U collab, Rainford and its associated dubbed up variation, Heavy Rain ? or did he sort out a few extras in the last months?
― mark e, Thursday, 9 September 2021 19:18 (two years ago) link
caught the last half of that NTS show live the other day - good vibes, and felt like stirry was just getting warmed up at two hours in
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Friday, 10 September 2021 05:06 (two years ago) link
The Wayne and Wax ; and the Erin Macleod Spotify playlists are worth checking out
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 11 September 2021 15:15 (two years ago) link
You mean this? https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1035510633/the-magic-of-lee-scratch-perryCouldn't find the second one.
― What Does Blecch Mean to Me? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 11 September 2021 15:20 (two years ago) link
Oh, this, I guess. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZmHhHqG6VKGfWGC8GwvV9?si=d682ee4c55d845e2
― What Does Blecch Mean to Me? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 11 September 2021 15:21 (two years ago) link
Yep
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 12 September 2021 04:13 (two years ago) link
been going back through his catalogue in piecemeal since the summer and stumbled on this. it's not a lost classic or anything, but more from that era is always welcome and it's very cool to hear him work with a female vocalist.
― please don't refer to me as (Austin), Monday, 29 November 2021 16:45 (two years ago) link
So what's good from the post Black Ark era?
― paolo, Friday, 16 September 2022 08:46 (one year ago) link
Been going through a bit of a LSP phase recently and at least for now I would say he is the greatest musician to come out of Jamaica (sorry King Tubby)
― paolo, Friday, 16 September 2022 08:48 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zyynfnY3Cw
A recent personal favourite
― paolo, Friday, 16 September 2022 08:55 (one year ago) link
My favourite LP post-Black Ark is probably Time Boom x De Devil Dead, which he made with Adrian Sherwood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9USR-7opK3E
I really like this Mad Professor dub of I Am A Madman (the original being one of two or three good ones from Battle of Armageddon / Millionaire Liquidator):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqNBHNMddfM
― Tim, Friday, 16 September 2022 09:15 (one year ago) link
The next Sherwood-produced LP after Time Boom, "From The Secret Laboratory" is an interesting listen if you've been on a Black Ark era jag, it has radically updated takes on a handful of 70s classics; some people love it but I've always found it diverting rather than brilliant.
― Tim, Friday, 16 September 2022 09:31 (one year ago) link
Tim, the 'Secret Laboratory' title track is up there with my favourite things by LSP.
― giraffe, Friday, 16 September 2022 12:58 (one year ago) link
And for good reason I'm sure, I'll give it another go sometime.
― Tim, Friday, 16 September 2022 13:26 (one year ago) link
I’ve fallen into a Scratch hole myself. My favorite discovery so far is “Cheerio” from Battle Axe by the Upsetters. It’s this basic, instrumental thing with a rhythm lifted from something that I can’t quite place. But the way it all clicks together is so perfect! It’s very repetitive and my wife is probably going to ban it soon.
I’m a little stumped for classifying Perry’s stuff in Itunes. My impulse is to label all Upsetters stuff as Perry, so his stuff is all together. Does that make sense? Were they always his project with a fluid membership?
― Cow_Art, Friday, 16 September 2022 13:39 (one year ago) link
I quite liked Rainford too, which I think is/was his last album
― giraffe, Friday, 16 September 2022 14:00 (one year ago) link
“Cheerio” is the “Cherry Oh Baby” rhythm, which might be what you’re thinking of, Cow_Art? Sorry if that’s too obvious.
― Tim, Friday, 16 September 2022 14:07 (one year ago) link
"From The Secret Laboratory" has really grown on me over the years. "Time Boom X De Devil Dead" is all time.
― stirmonster, Friday, 16 September 2022 14:45 (one year ago) link
If you're not too fussy about tags, would it make more sense to hijack a different one that you don't really use (I dunno, Composer)? If I'm pulling together all my scratch stuff for a big shuffle I also want all the things he produced where he's def not the Artist.
Speaking of which, lately I've been getting very into George Faith's Super Eight (aka To Be a Lover) - fabulous deep echoing LSP sound around songs that are more… well this is OTM from Granny Dainger upthread -
And George Faith for the "Jamaican quiet storm" lazy Sunday afternoon vibe.
― woof, Friday, 16 September 2022 15:03 (one year ago) link
Thanks for the recommendations!
Were they always his project with a fluid membership?
I believe so
― paolo, Friday, 16 September 2022 16:16 (one year ago) link
I remember reading a while back that Billy Idol was obsessed w/that George Faith record at the height of his druggy strung-out 80s days
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Friday, 16 September 2022 16:29 (one year ago) link
time boom is by far the best of the on-u collaborations.however, secret laboratory, has some brilliant tracks on it.'african headcharge in the hackney empire' being an absolute classic.that said, there were a couple of low key LSP vs ON-U releases that happened before things kicked off again due to warpthis album has dreadful cover art, but features roots manuva on the brilliant 'international broadcaster.
https://www.discogs.com/release/1750076-Lee-Scratch-Perry-The-Mighty-Upsetter
― mark e, Saturday, 17 September 2022 22:02 (one year ago) link
and its dub version still hits the spot :
https://www.discogs.com/release/2309885-Lee-Scratch-Perry-And-Adrian-Sherwood-Dub-Setter
― mark e, Saturday, 17 September 2022 22:06 (one year ago) link
Gonna add to the From The Secret Laboratory recommendations... great record.
― visiting, Saturday, 17 September 2022 22:17 (one year ago) link
There's a YouTube channel called Black Ark Nuggets and there is unsurprisingly some absolute gold on there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sryk65q51_8
I mean how about this then
― paolo, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:29 (one year ago) link
So on the label of that record it says it was produced by Yabby You. If that was inded recorded at the Black Ark does that mean Scratch was letting other producers use his studio?
― paolo, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:30 (one year ago) link
I always assumed the Yabby You stuff was done at King Tubby's. Wasn't Vivian Jackson/Yabby You known as Tubby's favorite to work with? I read somewhere that Tubby personally worked on the Yabby You stuff while farming out some other things to Scientist or whoever was his assistant.
― brotherlovesdub, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:43 (one year ago) link
I only love about half of the forty-track version of King Scratch (Musical Masterpieces from the Upsetter Ark-ive) on Spotify, but/and that's enough to make it ballot bait for sure. Fave is the 12 " mix of Junior Murvin and Jah Lion, "Police and Thief (Police and Thieves." New to me: Susan Cadogan, whose tracks are great here, and Drugs A. Money assures me her album is dope too.
― dow, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:53 (one year ago) link
xpThat's on the old B&F Jesus Dread comp and the liner notes do indeed state it was recorded at Black Ark
― rob, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:54 (one year ago) link
^^ which rules
― sleeve, Friday, 14 October 2022 17:57 (one year ago) link
it does! Sadly OOP, but I think Pressure Sounds has put out a bunch if not all of this same stuff as expanded album reissues since (?)
Also meant to add that in fact none of the rhythm tracks (on Jesus Dread) were recorded at Tubby's, only the voicing and mixing was done there. The productions were all recorded at Black Ark, Dynamic, Randy's, and Channel One
― rob, Friday, 14 October 2022 18:00 (one year ago) link
Would love to know what it was like in the room when Tubby and Lee were working together. Tubs the neat freak and Perry trying to rub cow shit on the tapes.
Reggae odd couple!
― Cow_Art, Friday, 14 October 2022 18:40 (one year ago) link
Live Trap / Death Trap rules like fire. Are there many tracks with flute in the reggae canon? Tommy McCook absolutely kills it.
I kind of lose sight of Yabby You on record. There are so many variations and compilations out there. I stick with Jesus Dread, which is one of the greatest collections of any kind, anywhere. Just a monstrous achievement. Back in the day, I saw a NM vinyl copy for £60 and baulked at the price. I can't even bear to look at how much it goes for now.
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Friday, 14 October 2022 19:01 (one year ago) link
Things I will do when I rob a bank pt38: buy the entire Blood and Fire catalogue.
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Friday, 14 October 2022 19:03 (one year ago) link
I love Yabby You, so continue to buy the Pressure Sounds reissues despite the well being bone dry, but I did luck into a copy of Jesus Dread on vinyl four years ago for well under discogs prices at the time because the box corners had been separated. The vinyl was barely played but something had split the corners of the box so it didn't close properly. It was sitting on a pile behind the counter and I managed to snag it pretty cheap.
― brotherlovesdub, Friday, 14 October 2022 19:18 (one year ago) link
There's a YouTube channel called Black Ark Nuggets and there is unsurprisingly some absolute gold on therehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sryk65q51_8I mean how about this then― paolo, Friday, 14 October 2022 18:29 (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
― paolo, Friday, 14 October 2022 18:29 (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
holy shit
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 14 October 2022 21:52 (one year ago) link
for the record I am reacting to Tommy McCook & Prophets - Death Trap (prod Yabby You i think?)
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 14 October 2022 21:55 (one year ago) link
I'm not sure about these days but back in the day if you've got someone who produces a track and then someone else does a dub of it then the person who does the dub would be referred to as the engineer right?
So for example that track above the B-side says produced by V Jackson but on the label it says King Tubby's. So even with the dub Yabby You would be the producer and Tubbs would be the engineer if I'm understanding correctly
― paolo, Saturday, 15 October 2022 08:29 (one year ago) link
The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Concentration by Dennis Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Lg2p68yTw
You get more flute action on the dub. Lovely stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hXBOFk_G_Y
― paolo, Saturday, 15 October 2022 08:33 (one year ago) link
Bubble Up by Wayne Jarrett (a Wackies production recently touched on in the Congos poll thread) is a great and thoroughly fluted-uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5Xa9ErqeFM
― Tim, Sunday, 16 October 2022 14:04 (one year ago) link
rightly, wow
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Sunday, 16 October 2022 17:16 (one year ago) link
More flute, on-topic for the thread this time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HucNiALhqx0
― Tim, Monday, 17 October 2022 10:05 (one year ago) link
(for the purposes for a broken-link future, that's Nice and Easy by Susan Cadogan, produced by Scratch)
― Tim, Monday, 17 October 2022 10:06 (one year ago) link
That Susan Cadogan track is fire. And then youtube algorithm gave me the whole album and it's fantastic, never heard it
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Monday, 17 October 2022 12:56 (one year ago) link
(I love it. Minor trivia point: two off the tracks on the LP are covers of songs from the classic Doris Duke LP "I'm a Loser", it seems lock and odd but inspired choice to find songs so suited to SC's rather ethereal vocal style on a full-throated gospelly southern soul vocal record)
― Tim, Monday, 17 October 2022 13:35 (one year ago) link
Are there different versions of the album? I thought Island just changed the title and cover because they were worried about appearing racist?
― Cow_Art, Monday, 17 October 2022 14:56 (one year ago) link
Check out these tribute mixes! Over six hours of goodness, mostly focusing on Scratch's more obscure output
http://mikusmusik.blogspot.com/2015/08/rainford-rules-strictly-lee-perry.html
― paolo, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 12:46 (one year ago) link
In the blurb it says 'In fact, considering the esteem in which he is now held he supposedly had relatively few big hits in JA, and to some extent it was UK audiences that really clicked with his sound and helped cement his legacy.' Is that correct?
Very cool find. Anyone else have an issue downloading Volume 1? It cuts off after a minute.
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 13:35 (one year ago) link
And yeah, from the little I've read, that does seem to be a fact about UK audiences, but that was true for a lot of Jamaican artists at that time, none more so than Bob Marley. See also: Mikey Dread
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 13:36 (one year ago) link
delighted to see The Battle for Armageddon reissued as i could never find a decent recording or streaming version of it (for a long time only had it on cassette taped by a friend at school). not a remaster afaict but it sounds good. https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/lee-scratch-perry-battle-of-armagideon-2cd-expanded-edition/
― Fizzles, Monday, 15 May 2023 17:26 (eleven months ago) link
The I Am A Madman dub is quite a thing iirc, I also recall lots of mediocrity on that LP though. “Grooving” is probably my favourite.
― Tim, Monday, 15 May 2023 18:37 (eleven months ago) link