Jamaican music essentials

[.:.impossible]

Hell yeah! Did I miss that thread?

[Brandon Burke]

King Tubby, Scientist, Mad Professor... I've found inconsistent results. Sometimes I think someone is unlawfully using their names to release recordings.

I agree with you regarding Scientist or anyone else who continued into the 80's. Tubby, on the other hand, never put out a weak record. This is due in large part to his unfortunate murder before shit went digital.

Problem is, he's an engineer as opposed to a recording artist (in the strict sense). Everybody knows that the dub era turned engineers into recording artists. What I mean in this case is that Tubby made very few LPs. So 90% of the Tubby stuff out there comes in the form of comps. The only time that this is not the case is when Tubby engineered a session for someone else and, in a brilliant turn of marketting, it all of a sudden became a Tubby record. I'm think here of Augustus Pablo King Tubby's Meets Rockets Uptown and Morwell Unlimited Dub Me. But both of those records rule. so I'm not sure what I'm proving with that.

Some reissues involve Tubby in a less than experimental state and some of those are kind of boring but hardly "bad". I'm think especially of Psalms of Drums. Remember, Tubby was an engineer and , as such, not everything he did was a dub mix. Consequently, some records credited to him are relatively straight ahead dates that he happened to run the boards on.

As to your point about people attributing their own mixes to Tubby, this is the accusation currently floating around about the Jamaican Recordings label. It's just too weird that they would have access to that many "unreleased" masters.

Needless to say, I'm something of a Tubby fanatic. He's one of my top ten fave sound aestheticians of all time. I put him right up there with Brian Wilson, Pete Rock, Mingus, Ives, Hank Shocklee, etc.

Crazy? I don't think so. He did some really damned important things for music that people are still catching up with today.

Edited April 22, 2004 by Brandon Burke

[DrJ]

I am very superficial when it comes by my understanding and knowledge of Jamaican music. But I will say that Black Uhuru was one of the best bands of the 80's, period, regardless of genre. I'm sure they are probably more crossed over/pop-influenced than some, but I loved that group.

RED is a pinnacle, one of the greatest pop albums of all time. I haven't yet gotten around to picking up the new CD remastering yet, still love my vinyl.

Anyone reading this thread looking to get a sense of how great the band was and wanting a sampler instead should pick up the 2 CD compliation put out by Island a couple years back called LIBERATION: THE ISLAND ANTHOLOGY. For people in the U.S. who never got to hear the original mixes of stuff off the album ANTHEM, as well as some of the other 12" and other material, it's a real gem.

[.:.impossible]

King Tubby, Scientist, Mad Professor... I've found inconsistent results. Sometimes I think someone is unlawfully using their names to release recordings.

I agree with you regarding Scientist or anyone else who continued into the 80's. Tubby, on the other hand, never put out a weak record. This is due in large part to his unfortunate murder before shit went digital.

Problem is, he's an engineer as opposed to a recording artist (in the strict sense). Everybody knows that the dub era turned engineers into recording artists. What I mean in this case is that Tubby made very few LPs. So 90% of the Tubby stuff out there comes in the form of comps. The only time that this is not the case is when Tubby engineered a session for someone else and, in a brilliant turn of marketting, it all of a sudden became a Tubby record. I'm think here of Augustus Pablo King Tubby's Meets Rockets Uptown and Morwell Unlimited Dub Me. But both of those records rule. so I'm not sure what I'm proving with that.

Some reissues involve Tubby in a less than experimental state and some of those are kind of boring but hardly "bad". I'm think especially of Psalms of Drums. Remember, Tubby was an engineer and , as such, not everything he did was a dub mix. Consequently, some records credited to him are relatively straight ahead dates that he happened to run the boards on.

As to your point about people attributing their own mixes to Tubby, this is the accusation currently floating around about the Jamaican Recordings label. It's just too weird that they would have access to that many "unreleased" masters.

Needless to say, I'm something of a Tubby fanatic. He's one of my top ten fave sound aestheticians of all time. I put him right up there with Brian Wilson, Pete Rock, Mingus, Ives, Hank Shocklee, etc.

Crazy? I don't think so. He did some really damned important things for music that people are still catching up with today.

Thanks for that Brandon. I will seek out more legit Tubby.

I am thinking specifically of stuff like KING TUBBYS MEETS LARRY MARSHALL .:. I ADMIRE YOU IN DUB. Multiple engineers, so maybe Tubby didn't have as much a hand in it as the title would lead me to believe. Multiple bassists, guitarists listed as well, so there is no telling what tracks took place under King Tubby's direct supervision. "KING TUBBYS refers more to the studio in this scenario, I'd imagine, as there are multiple studios mentioned as well.

This was released by Motion Records.

[Brandon Burke]

I am thinking specifically of stuff like KING TUBBYS MEETS LARRY MARSHALL .:. I ADMIRE YOU IN DUB. Multiple engineers, so maybe Tubby didn't have as much a hand in it as the title would lead me to believe. Multiple bassists, guitarists listed as well, so there is no telling what tracks took place under King Tubby's direct supervision. "KING TUBBYS refers more to the studio in this scenario, I'd imagine, as there are multiple studios mentioned as well.

I have the Larry Marshall LP somewhere. I seem to remember liking it but I honestly don't remember right now. You're absolutely right on both accounts. You get any number of studio musicians on a Tubby collection simply because, in most cases, it was someone else's song that was handed over to Tubby to (re)mix. So shit came from any and all directions. Fortunately, there were a ridiculous amount of high quality studio musicians around at that time so, if you didn't get Sly and Robbie, you got someone else who was great for different reasons.

It's really a lot like the way studio dates work in jazz. No Lee Morgan? That's okay because you've got Kenny Dorham instead. And so on....

As to your second point, there is indeed a difference between "mixed at King Tubbys" and "mixed by King Tubby"; the former being the studio and the latter being the man.

The best place to begin looking at Tubby's work is Blood & Fire (but I'm assuming you already know this).

In any case, these are absolutely essential....

'Dub Gone Crazy'

'Dub Gone 2 Crazy'

'Freedom Sounds in Dub'

'Dub Like Dirt'

[.:.impossible]

Thanks Brandon. I listened to the Larry Marshall album today and there were a few choice tracks. The disc was actually more interesting than I remembered. The thing is, when I want to hear dub, I want to hear dub heavy.

Thanks for the King Tubby recommendations. I am ordering tonight. Everything I've heard, I've heard second hand.

Have you seen this?

[paul secor]

No one's mentioned U Roy or Prince Far I yet - essential listening.

[Brandon Burke]

The thing is, when I want to hear dub, I want to hear dub heavy.

That's my boy. Go for the Dub Like Dirt comp, Freedom Sounds in Dub, and definately check out Tappa Zukie In Dub. The first song on the second side is one of the most menacing and fear-inspiring dubs ever. Ruthless.....

EDIT: I just put this on right now as an after-thought. I had forgotten that the song I was talking about was a version of Linval Thompson "Black Princess Lady". Don't skimp on the bass, my friend.....

Edited April 23, 2004 by Brandon Burke

[John B]

Brandon -

thank you for posting these dub recommendations. I will also be placing an order for some King Tubby after reading this thread.

Now, if you can just tell me who is the hack that wrote the AMG review of Freedom Sounds in Dub...

Edited April 23, 2004 by John B

[.:.impossible]

Ernie B's (Sorry Microsoft Explorer only)

This place is sweet. I ordered

Augustus Pablo .:. Original Rockers

The Congos 2CD

King Tubby .:. Dub Gone Crazy

King Tubby .:. Dub Like Dirt

Prices are good too! Thanks for the recommendations.

[John B]

.:.impossible - what is that album you posted above?

[Bright Moments]

for your ska selections try anything by:

1) Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies

and

2) The Toasters

ya' can't go wrong!

right now i'm listening to the dennis brown 2 cd set "Conqueror: an essential collection"

IRIE!!!

[.:.impossible]

It's a King Tubby t-shirt from the guys at ropeadope. It would make a sweet album cover though!

[paul secor]

Ska Boogie - Jamaican r&b and the Dawn of Ska (Sequel). Out of print but well worth seeking out.

Prince Buster: FABulous Greatest Hits (Sequel). Ditto.

Dance Crasher - Ska to Rock Steady (Trojan)

Rudies All Around - Rude Boy Records 1966/1967 (Trojan)

Shufflin on Bond Street - Jamaican R 'n' B & Ska Instrumentals (Trojan)

Blow Mr. Hornsman - Instrumental Reggae 1968 - 1975 (Trojan)

"keep on coming through the door..." - Jamaican deejay music 1969 - 1973 (Trojan)

U. Roy and Friends: "With a Flick of My Musical Wrist..." (Trojan)

U-Roy: Dread in a Babylon (Virgin)

Prince Far I: "Under Heavy Manners" (Joe Gibbs)

Prince Far I: Message from the King (Virgin)

Prince Far I: LongLife (Virgin)

Prince Far I: Free from Sin (Trojan)

Prince Far I: Voice of Thunder (Trojan)

Edited April 25, 2004 by paul secor

[paul secor]

Not from Jamaica, but still the real deal:

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Dread Beat an' Blood (Heartbeat)

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Forces of Victory; Bass Culture; LKJ in Dub; Making History (Mango)

[Jad]

LUVS that LKJ. Can't believe the thread got this far without mentioning him.

Someone up there mentioned Lee Perry's Upsetter Collection as being worthy for the Gatherers song. It also has one of the most haunting island songs I've ever heard on it as well.

"Better Days" by Carlton and his Shoes. Shivers.

[.:.impossible]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Some of these I had never heard of. We've been on a Jamaican kick lately. My wife loves this music, so I'm trying to get a little section together for her (and myself... I love it too).

[Brandon Burke]

So did you guys get these CDs yet or what...?

[John B]

So did you guys get these CDs yet or what...?

Yes, and the Blood and Fire dub comps as well as the Tappa Zukie are fantastic! Just what I was hoping for.

[Big Wheel]

Getting there. I'm on a CD buying moratorium right now but will start to pick these up as soon as I have, um, a job...

[connoisseur series500]

as soon as I have, um, a job...

Good luck on that, Wheel...

[.:.impossible]

Oh yeah! My favorite dub album so far is Augustus Pablo Original Rockers. I love all of them though really. I'm going to have to check out the Tappa Zukie soon.

My wife's been playing Blackheart Man alot lately. It took some time to sink in. What a great album.

[Brandon Burke]

Oh yeah! My favorite dub album so far is Augustus Pablo Original Rockers. I love all of them though really. I'm going to have to check out the Tappa Zukie soon.

I'm revisiting the Tappa Zukie right now and, let me tell you, it's absolutely f*cking REE-diculous. You gotta get this one, man. Psychedelic to the max.

Another sure fire winner that I forgot all about is Glen Brown's Termination Dub which was mixed by King Tubby.

Interestingly, the Tappa Zukie record was mixed entirely by Philip Smart (aka Prince Philip), someone you don't hear about all the time. He was yet another King Tubby disciple and rivals even Tubby's best mixes on this set. I'm telling you....it's really damned good.

[Brandon Burke]

Another compilation that I forgot to mention is NICE UP THE DANCE. I think it is out on the Soul Jazz UK label. Excellent!

This is on Heartbeat (in the States, anyways). I mentioned it and included a pic in my rocksteady thread. Great record. The 11-minute version of "Can I Change My Mind" rules.

It just occured to me that there is indeed a Soul Jazz comp called Nice Up the Dance, but it's waaaaay different. More 80's dancehall. Mantronix and stuff like that. The one I'm thinking of is a Heartbeat comp of Studio One 12" dub mixes.....and it rules.

[.:.impossible]

No no. Its the comp you mentioned before. My mistake. I lent my copy to my brother way back when. All I have now is a cdr. I looked up the track listing and it is the one you mentioned.

My wife found one of the Burning Spear LIVING DUB discs buried in the rock section yesterday. I had forgotten all about this. Pretty good, but I think I actually prefer Winston Rodney straight up!