Dub / Reggae: An Idiot's Guide

re who mixed the prince far i LPs and discogs saying it was e.g. all sherwood, the snoopy interview points out (tho as a general comment rather than specifically abt these LPS) that discogs often seems to resort to guesswork when it comes to dub…

Interesting read, thanks for sharing!

Spanish label/collective Lone Ark is a recent discovery for me and possibly deserves its own thread, such is their prolific output. Their stuff - what I've heard of it - is gorgeously produced and sounds good even on my tinny computer speakers, e.g. Audio Merge In Dub by Roberto Sanchez.

I'd like some recommendations please!

Firstly, Peace and Love by Dadawah has been on heavy rotation at chez paolo lately. Are there any other albums that sound like this?

Secondly, I generally prefer dub compilations or mixes to albums. What are people's favourite dub comps?

I mean I do like some dub albums. It's just not really an albums genre for me

savage pencil vs dub is a cracking set :

https://www.discogs.com/release/4280420-Savage-Pencil-Lion-Vs-Dragon-In-Dub

i enjoy listening to this mix, which to my limited knowledge is maybe basic and obvious, but here we are in the idiot's guide thread so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpyIxuAjZdg

i also got into this cumbia dub mix last year, figure thread readers might enjoy it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tTJwVcJNY

if you love Dadawah, i think there is a high probability you'll like Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari's – Grounation and Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus' ‎– Rastafari

Also the Soul Jazz comp. Rastafari (The Dreads Enter Babylon 1955-83)

correction - Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus ‎– Nyahbinghi is probably the one you want to check. Promised Land Sounds - Rockin' Live Ruff N Tuff too!

Thanks for the tips! That Savage Pencil mix looks a good one, and I've already heard that dub mix linked above but it's a top choice. There's a load of good ones on YouTube. Was listening to this one yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC4qz-lxPbw

Kunte Kinte - The Revolutionaries ( Channel One )
Solomonic Dub - Bunny Wailer
09:38 Deliver me - Yabby You and the Prophets
12:39 Ital Sip - Augustus Pablo
16:15 Power Pack - Joe Gibbs and the Professionals
19:43 Dub Organizer - Upsetters - Lee Perry
23:40 Black Roses Version - Sly and Robbie ( Jah Life )
27:32 Concentration Dub - the Crystalites ( Crystal )
30:07 Lift up your dress Fat Dub - Techniques all stars
34:02 Bubble Up Dub - Wayne Jarrett - Wackies Allstars ( Wackies )
37:42 A.N.C. - The Revolutionaries ( Channel One )
40:50 - Kingdom Rise Version - Wailing Souls - Roots Radics ( Volcano )
44:54 - Heavy Duty Dub - Mudie & King Tubby
48:01 - Dub with a Difference - Mudie & King Tubby
50:55 - Real Rock version - Joe Gibbs
54:20 - Guess Who's Coming to Dub - Sly and Robbie
57:08 - Warn the Nation Version - Yabby You and the Prophets. ( Vivian Jackson)
1:02:25 - Tina May Version ( Fi-Wi-Time )
1:05:15 - Psalm of dub - King Tubbys ( Black and White )
1:08:18 Wall Street - Jackie Mittoo ( Studio One )
1:11:36 Skylarking Dub ( Attack / Bunny Lee)
Dont know who to trust ( version ) - The Aggrovators

I'll check out those other ones too. Don't think I've ever actually heard any Count Ossie but I know he's a big deal in the roots/nyahbinghi sound. Apart from the Dadawah album I don't have any Ras Michael albums, just a few tracks on comps

Got this Trojan nyahbinghi box set in the post -https://www.discogs.com/release/748611-Various-Trojan-Nyahbinghi-Box-Set. Ordered from Ashley Beedle of X-Press 2 fame, no less

Also just out of curiosity, any other dub fans find that the album format doesn't really work for them?

For me I think it's because on most dub albums all the tracks sound quite similar and you'll get more variety in a comp or the mix like the ones above

i'm the opposite and am a big big fan of dub albums. currently slowly working my way through this book, 100 Days of Dub
By Martin Blomqvist - https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/product/by-martin-skyjuice-blomqvist

Looks interesting, ordered!

like stirmonster i often prefer a dub album made by one producer.
in fact, i often prefer the dub version over the original.
for example recent(ish) examples : massive attack vs mad prof, primal scream vs on-u

Ideally you really need to hear both, because knowing the original enhances the fun of hearing the dub

ooh, absolutely.
but i always end up preferring the dub version.

me too

Same, mostly.

xxxxp this Primal Scream vs On-U Sound linkup is a new one to me. The only material I can find after a quick search is a single with Irvine Welsh. It's OK. Is there any more kicking about?

Adrian Sherwood remixed the whole Vanishing Point album which was then released as Echo Dek :

https://www.discogs.com/master/28239-Primal-Scream-Echo-Dek

That's pretty good!

Speaking of Primal Scream, does anyone know where this dub reggae version of Loaded is from?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZUXTppisNU

i'm the opposite and am a big big fan of dub albums. currently slowly working my way through this book, 100 Days of Dub
By Martin Blomqvist - https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/product/by-martin-skyjuice-blomqvist

― stirmonster, Sunday, 17 April 2022 12:34 (one week ago) bookmarkflaglinkp-

This book is so good! Everyone who's into dub should buy a copy!

I don't think King Tubby ever made a duff track. And there aren't many artists you can say that about

Thanks for the Echo Dek rec, that is some good shit. What’s a good reggae book?

Lloyd Bradley's book, which is called Bass Music in the UK and This Is Reggae Music in the US, is justly celebrated with the caveat that he's against anything post-roots

I also remember liking David Katz's oral history Solid Foundation, though it's been a long time. I haven't read his Scratch bio but I believe it's fairly well regarded.

The Rough Guide to Reggae is quite good too, though obvs not a continuous narrative.

Michael Veal's Dub book is kind of dry but worth a look

Co-sign Lloyd Bradley, with the same caveats about the post-roots stuff (albeit I think in later editions he does revisit and revise his views of eg dancehall?). The recent '100 Days of Dub' by Martin 'Skyjuice' Blomqvist is getting very good reviews.

paolo otm

The Blomqvist book is OK. There are definitely a lot of records in there I didn't know about that I will check out, but it's hardly a deep dive. Each entry is like a paragraph. And I know that English is not the author's first language, but the writing (and copy editing) is pretty bad. That said, I realize its function is not necessarily to provide prose that dances off the page. The author's enthusiasm is persuasive, and his expertise is apparent. It's a good book for info, and worth getting if you want to add a few dozen titles to your dub wantlist, but not much more than that. You can read the whole thing in less than an hour.

I just re-read my post and realized it comes off a tad harsh, which was not my intention. I think anyone who bothered to click on this thread will benefit greatly from reading it. It's clearly a labor of love, emphasis on the love. I just would have liked to have seen a bit more research and a lot more copy editing.

Just noticed that Prince Far I's name is rendered as "Prince Farl" throughout the book

https://i.discogs.com/pa702HiTAXWZy1mm5XPJuCCEXKPXHbFFm8S6Um9jOT0/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEwNzU5/NzQxLTE1MDM4MjIw/ODQtNDY2Ny5tcG8.jpeg

Greetings! My book "100 days of dub" was not meant to be an encyclopedia of dub records, it just me going through my collection, record by record, adding my thoughts on each album. It is written in a more conversational tone maybe but that is the way I like to discuss music. It can of course work as guide to those who want to know more and for those who already know.

My new book, "Reggae Disco 45" goes a bit deeper and includes label scans and sometimes more in depth information. This book focuses on the 12 inch and 10 inch format. Roots reggae music from the early 70´s and beyond. In the book I go through 600 + records over 470 pages. For those interested there are still copies available at Dubvendor, Lionvibes, Championsound records etc. A Limited press of 500 copies worldwide. Respect every time!!

sounds great!

it does!! and i really enjoyed 100 days of dub :)

Thanks, Skyjuice! I'll be picking this one up for sure. Nice work.

same. thanks, skyjuice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR9FroSWqRQ
Derrick Harriott - Go Away Dream

what a great tune

hope this is the right thread for it (never sure how to discern reggae from rocksteady etc)

since this seems to be the most active all-purpose reggae thread, i thought i'd post this here (in addition to the 'C/D Christmas music' thread).

i tried to make a mix of holiday reggae tunes that 1) i actually like and 2) focuses mostly on '60s rocksteady. there's some ska, mento, and early reggae ('70-'71) here too. thought some of you might enjoy it.

https://www.mixcloud.com/abschied/christmas-in-jamaica/

Really enjoying this mix. Have never heard any of these but I’ve liked them all so far. Thanks.

glad you like it! pretty much my target audience, lol

Cool, thanks!

My friend and I have a theory that no song or style of music can't be reggaefied. Beatles, metal, Christmas music ...

Listening now! Do you have a playlist?

yup, here you are

1. The Wailers - White Christmas [1965]
2. Richard Stoute - Rocksteady Christmas [1969]
3. Rico Rodriguez - Jingle Bells [1967]
4. Rueben Anderson - Christmas Time Again [1966]
5. The Kingstonians - Merry Christmas [1967]
6. Augustus Pablo - Snowball and Pudding [1971]
7. Granville Willams Orchestra - Santa Clause Is Ska-ing to Town [1965]
8. Owen Gray - Collins Greetings [1967]
9. Terry & the Hurricanes - Sleigh Jump [1967]
10. Trevor & the Maytones - Everyday Is Like a Holiday [1969]
11. Toots & the Maytals - Christmas Feeling Ska [1964]
12. Rico Rodriguez - Silent Night [1967]
13. Hopeton Lewis - Happy Christmas [1968]
14. The Ethiopians - Ding Dong Bell [1968]
15. Byron Lee & the Dragonaires - White Christmas [1969]
16. Ruddy & Sketto w/ Laurel Aitken - Christmas Blues [1962]
17. Alton Ellis & the Lipsticks - Merry Merry Christmas [1971]
18. Prince Buster & the Charmers - Long Winter [1965]
19. Don Cornel & the Eternals - Christmas Joy [1970]
20. Desmond Dekker & the Aces - Christmas Day [1968]

I put this on at my mother-in-law's and it was a hit, great mix!

yes indeed!

Thanks budo

love this, budo jesu, thank you

this is excellent, thx!

thanks for giving it a listen, i'm happy to hear it was enjoyed