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LEE PERRY - DUB TREASURES FROM THE BLACK ARK

Jamaican Recordings

  • £15.28

Genre: Dub Reggae
Format: LP
Catalogue No.: JRLP039
B/C: 5060135760571
Release Date: 11 June 2021

Limited copies: 05 Oct 21

Lee 'Scratch' Perry's Black Ark Studio opened its doors in 1974. Situated in his backyard at 5 Washington Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica. Using only basic
equipment, a Teac Four-Track Recorder, a Sound craft mixing desk, an Echoplex delay unit and later adding a Phaser effects unit that he used in conjunction with his Roland RE201 Space Echo. He managed mixing down the tracks from Four track to Two track to make his distinctive whirling sound that sets apart the Black Ark Sound from the other Jamaican Studios.

Born Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover, Jamaica. He began his career at the grand age of 16, working for Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd’s sound
system, rising quickly to the position of record scout and organising recording sessions during his 3-year period 1963-1966. Restlessness and unsatisfied with credit he felt due to him he moved on to work with Producers J.J. Johnson and Clancy Eccles, the latter of which would help him set up his ‘Upsetter’ label in 1968, which would see his first of many recordings telling the injustices done to him by previous employers. ‘The Upsetter’ track itself pointed at Mr Dodd but reflected to Perry when he inherited it as a nick name alongside many others during the course of his career, including ‘Scratch’, again taken from one of his recordings ‘Chicken Scratch’ recorded in 1965/1966. Perrys work in 1968 with producer Joe Gibbs was fruitful and resulted in many successful releases, but again feeling a lack of credit and itchy feet, it was time to move on. Still not having a studio of his own, Perry recorded at the various Kingston establishments at the time, Randy’s Studio 17 on North Parade, Dynamics on Bell Road and Harry J’s on Roosevelt Avenue where the bulk of the aforementioned recordings with The Wailers were carried out. His dream was always to build his own studio and not to have to work to the constraints of the other studios and producers.

On opening the Black Ark studios, the hits seemed to come immediately. Firstly with Junior Byles' 'Curly Locks' and in 1975 the massive crossover hit Susan Cadogans' 'Hurt So Good' that reached No 4 in the UK charts.1976 saw Island Records releasing Perrys vast output, timeless material like the Heptones 'Party Time', Max Romeo's 'War Inna Babylon' Bob Marley and the Wailers 'Jah Live', 'Punky Reggae Party' and Junior Murvins 'Police and Thieves' to name but a few.But sometimes missing out on a few classics like Perrys own 'Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread' and possibly one of the best reggae albums of all time The Congos 'Heart of the Congos'. Dub releases like 'Revolution Dub' (1975) showed a way forward for his production skills in this formidable arena. Having his own studio allowed him to build up a vast catalogue of tracks to work on. We have culled together some lost productions that Lee Perry carried out with singer Mike Brookes, a fine singer, arranger from that special time in the Black Arks history. Sounding like Junior Marvin in parts and Max Romeo in others but still carrying a distinctive Falsetto voice. Some classic tracks as you can see recorded with the cream of musicians at Lee Perrys disposal. Mr Perry works his magic that gives these songs that distinctive feel that his output.
carried around the mid 1970's.

So we hope you enjoy some more lost treasures from the Black Ark that we feel should be added to that mighty cannon of material that still sound so fresh and strong today.....

Tracklisting
1. 1. COVENANT DUB
A great whirling sound created over a great rhythm, 'The Heart of the Covenant'
2. HOLD FAST DUB
A lost dub to 'Hold Fast' based on the Heptones 'Someone Crying Over You'
3. OX MAN DUBWISE
The timeless 'Mr Brown' rhythm gets the phaser treatment.
4. LEOPARD DUB
A Dub to Mr Brookes lost classic 'Leopard'
5. BRAKE OUT DUB
Some studio vocal chat opens this cut based on the Heptones 'Middle Class' rhythm
6. RUNNING DUB
The 'Put It On' rhythm backs this Dub excursion.
7. DUB THEM NATTY
A Dub cut to Mike Brookes 'Oh Natty Dread'
8. PARTY DUB
The Heptones 'Party Time' rhythm in fine form
9. HOT A HOT DUB
'Solid Ground' made the rhythm to Mike Brookes' 'Its A Wonderful World' of which this is a dub.
10. SILUM DUBBING MOOD
A great organ rift drives along this Dub cut to Mr Brookes 'Woman of Salum'
11. FULNESS DUB
This is the first track Mike Brookes cut at the Black Ark'Earth is the Fulness' as Edmund Brookes &
The Tats with Norris Reed from the Viceroys. This is its dub cut
12. FLUT IN THE ARK
Originally cut by Freddie McKay as 'Little Bit', this is actually a dub to Mike Brookes
version called 'Social Living'
13. CULTER DUB
Originally Earth & Stone's 'In Times',Mike Brookes reworking became 'Show Your Culture',
of which this is its blissed out dub version.
14. NO FOOD A RUN DUB
A lost Lee Perry rhythm 'No Food A Run' on full phaser attack

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