King Tubby - Dub Like Dirt (1975-1977)

An intro or perfect smallish piece rather than endpoint. Get disoriented!

A+

here

Prince Far I - Voice of Thunder (1981)

Dry punch head down in throbs then wiggle out the ears ROOOAAR RASTAFARI (20 mins later) Julius Caesar threw the Christians in the fire furnace- he was the man from Rome.. he was a man from Rome.

Down inna Rome x 5

King Cry Cry. Isn't always present vocally, but he's always nearby, patient if we are. The art of silence and reflection. Choked on his own blood!

A

here

Presenting I Roy (1973)

mega / lp

Scientist - Heavyweight Dub Champion (1980)

Rather than re-contextualizing other records to anywhere near the same degree as Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires where sweet songs gained nocturnal B-horror and arcade machine sounds and atmospherics, Heavyweight Dub Champion has a 20 year old King Tubby protégé going straight for the KO- the boxing analogy being one he sticks to for all ten song titles. Lazy night-time dub reverb/echoed way out so it doesn't really make sense any more- listen to the drums on Seconds Away loud and see

A

Max Romeo - War Ina Babylon (1976)

1. One Step Forward 5:00

2. Uptown Babies 4:55

3. Chase the Devil 3:25

4. War ina Babylon 4:50

5. Norman 4:45

6. Stealin' 3:05

7. Tan and See 4:35

8. Smokey Room 3:06

9. Smile Out of Style 3:33

I Chase the Devil alone could get just about anyone into reggae, but it also happens to be on an essential reggae album that one can return to for Romeo's wonderful voice, peaceful lyrics, and Lee "Scratch" Perry's godly production

A+

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Scientist - Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (1981)

1. The Voodoo Curse 3:48

2. Dance of the Vampires 3:26

3. Blood on His Lips 3:00

4. Cry of the Werewolf 4:25

5. The Mummy's Shroud 4:25

6. The Corpse Rises 3:27

7. Night of the Living Dead 4:14

8. Your Teeth in My Neck 4:38

9. Plague of Zombies 2:49

10. Ghost of Frankenstein 3:20

Whether it's because of the wonderfully reggae/b-horror-movie album cover or the actual music's presence on K-Jah, Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires is one of the most danceable yet atmospheric and nocturnal albums I've ever heard. The horror themes gave a darker and more surreal edge to Liberty City 'cause the crack fiends became zombies and all that.

A+

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U-Roy - Dread in a Babylon (1975)

1. Runaway Girl 3:47

2. Chalice in the Palace 3:23

3. I Can't Love Another 3:29

4. Dread Locks Dread 2:47

5. The Great Psalms 2:50

6. Natty Don't Fear 2:30

7. African Message 2:43

8. Silver Bird 3:12

9. Listen to the Teacher 2:40

10. Trench Town Rock 2:47

One of the best album covers of all time, it's also impossible not to love hearing U-Roy sing, bark, and chant over songs this good

My favourite is the love song I Can't Love Another

A

here

Horace Andy - Dance Hall Style (1982)

1. Money Money

2. Cuss Cuss

3. Eating Mess

4. Stop the Fuss

5. Spying Glass

6. Lets Live in Love

Dark songs stretched out and echoed in a beautifully spaced out way, also love these vocals

By modern standards, a six-song set barely qualifies as a single, never mind as a full-length album, but with each stellar song featured in its extended form, Dance Hall Style doesn't merely pass muster as an album, but as a masterpiece. As with all the Wackies sets from this era, it's the riddims and arrangements that inspire absolute awe, but as Horace Andy gives each of them his all, this album is as notable for his performances as for Lloyd Barnes' sensational production and his studio band's phenomenal musicianship. Incidentally, Andy himself provided bass, rhythm, and lead guitar on the album. Not all the songs, however, are new -- two revisit a pair of the star's earlier hits. Andy cut "Lonely Woman" for Derrick Harriott back in 1972, and for it, Barnes created a sizzling new riddim that bristles with militancy, while still echoing back to the days of early reggae, before flashing over into pure roots rockers in the tense dub section. "Money Money" was cut for Bunny Lee a few years later in rockers style, and so Barnes instead takes it immediately into deep dread territory, filling the atmosphere with absolute menace. "Cuss Cuss" was also an old hit, not for Andy, though, but for Lloyd Robinson back in 1969. Here Barnes creates a riddim that is pure malevolence, with a stark atmosphere that is dread-filled but with an arrangement that sizzles with the blues. Andy's own powerful "Stop the Fuss," a new number, tackles the same topic, but adds a strong unity message that Robinson's "Cuss Cuss" decidedly lacked. That's a theme the singer revisits on the emotive "Let's Live in Love," with Andy's delicate delivery beautifully intertwining with the equally delicate and intricate roots reggae riddim. Both were fabulous numbers, but "Spying Glass" was the stunner of the set. Its haunting melody sweeps out of the organ, while the propulsive rhythm courses across the grooves and Andy's vibrato-laced vocals buffet about overhead. The backing has a definite bounce, but Barnes' production plays up the song's haunted quality, which perfectly dovetails with Andy's claustrophobic lyrics. Years later, Massive Attack would version the song, with Andy himself providing the vocals, on their 1994 Protection album. It's amazing what Barnes and his band could do with a mere six songs, and just as impressive what Andy himself brought to the numbers old and new. A phenomenal set by any standard.
-AMG

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192

Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

1. Keep on Dubbing

2. Stop Them Jah

3. Young Generation Dub

4. Each One Dub

5. 555 Dub Street

6. Brace's Tower Dub

7. Brace's Tower Dub 2

8. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

9. Corner Crew Dub

10. Skanking Dub

11. Frozen Dub

12. Satta Dub

A+

320
buy