Mr Lee Perry who in no uncertain terms defines the words musical genius, recorded
some of the most inspiring, soulful, funny and weird / wild reggae music ever put
down on tape. Working through all the manifestations of reggae from Ska to Roots
and Dub, where his ground breaking 1973 ‘Blackboard Jungle’ LP, set the standards,
he was an innovator. If this was not enough his recordings of THE WAILERS, many
believe to be their finest work.
Born Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover, Jamaica. He began his career
at the grand age of 16, working for Clement ‘Coxone’ 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 later 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 employees. ‘The Upsetter’
track itself pointed at Mr Dodd but reflected back to Perry when he inherited it as a
nick name along side many others during the coarse of his career, including ‘Scratch’,
again taken from one of his recordings ‘Chicken Scratch’ recorded in 1965/1966.
Perry’s work in 1968 with producer Joe Gibbs was fruitful and resulted in many successful
releases, but again lack of credit and itchy feet, it was time to move on. But not without leaving
his trademark recording summing up his feelings at the time ‘People Funny Boy’ this time
aimed at Mr Gibbs. Still not having a studio of his own, Perry recorded at the various
Kingston establishments of 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. During this time and the years that followed
Perry has built up a vast catalogue of backing tracks / instrumentals, he had cut over a
100 releases on his ‘Upsetter’ label alone. A library of music that he has an uncanny knack
of reutilising to work into something new when put against a new song / singer.
This collection of rare and unreleased dubs stems from his 1971-1974 period.
We can here on tracks like ‘Perry’s Jump Up’ Ska-ish up tempo chopping guitar cuts
leading through to organ laden tracks like ‘Roots Rock Dub’. The sound moving to a
slowed down rhythm on ‘Perry in Dub’ which would predominate his sound, when in
mid 1974 he’d open his own studio at his home in the Washington Gardens district
of Kingston. We hope this selection of lost treasures will add to the jigsaw that makes
Mr Perry’s output now spanning over 5 decades so remarkable.
RESPECT.... JAH FLOYD.
CD Track Listing
1. PERRY IN DUB.
Our first cut is a rare dub of ‘Thanks and Praise’ originally voiced by Jimmy Riley
who featured in The Sensations and later along side Slim Smith and
Lloyd Charmers in The Uniques. A great track...
2. THREE BLIND DUB
A 1972 lost dub of the classic ‘Three Blind Mice’ track originally voiced by Leo
Graham. Straight from the master tapes, you can hear Mr Perry instructing
bass man Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett to come in first....
3. PERRY’S RUB - A - DUB.
Led in by it’s haunting horns and killer bass line, with Mr Perry turning up the
castanets to fine effect on this until now lost dub.
4. PERRY’S JUMP UP.
A great up tempo track with it’s chopping guitar lick setting the pace. U Roy used
this Upsetters backing track to voice his ‘Stick Together’ cut.
5. DUB WITH FEELING.
Another lost dub from the masters.’What kind of feeling is this....
6. AFTER BEAT DUB.
A long lost version of the Gatherers 1974 ‘Start Over’ track. You can hear Mr Perry
calling out to follow.. After the beat !!!
7. PROBLEM WITH DUB.
Mr Perry conducting the session with ‘What’s the problem here? ‘.... A lost dub of
The Stingers ‘ Forward Up’ cut.
8. ROOTS ROCK DUB.
A haunting organ refrain drives this reverb laden Upsetters dub.A roots classic !!!
9. GOOD WILL DUB.
Recorded by Mr Hopeton Lewis in 1972 to mark the 10th anniversary of Jamaica’s
independence. This lost dub has taken awhile longer to surface.
10. SKANKING WITH LEE PERRY.
Tracks 10 & 11 were recorded in 1972 at Dynamic Studios in a style as name checked
by producers Mr Perry / Bunny lee / Winston ‘Niney’ Holness as ‘John Crow Skank’ fashion.
11. JOHN CROW SKANK.
This skank has an up front organ sound, but with a similar feel to track 10.
12. KOTCH UP DUB.
Another recording from the 1972 era, laid down at Dynamic Studios.Drums &
bass in fine form.
13. FUNKY DUB.*
Recorded in 1971 at Randy’s Studio . A great up tempo track with it’s fine horn section
complimenting that chopping Upsetter guitar sound.
14. ONE DROP ROCKERS.*
Last but not least another Dynamic Studios cut,the one drop drum kick sets the pace
for this organ refined groove...enjoy.
•CD Bonus Track
Vinyl Track Listing
Side 1
1. PERRY IN DUB.
2. THREE BLIND DUB
3. PERRY’S RUB - A - DUB.
4. PERRY’S JUMP UP.
5. DUB WITH FEELING.
6. AFTER BEAT DUB.
Side 2
1. PROBLEM WITH DUB.
2. ROOTS ROCK DUB.
3. GOOD WILL DUB.
4. SKANKING WITH LEE PERRY..
5. JOHN CROW SKANK.
6. KOTCH UP DUB.
Musicians Include:Carlton Barrett, Lloyd ’ Tinleg’ Adams,
Mickey ’ Boo’ Richards, Sly Dunbar,Clevie Browne ; Drums
Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett,Boris Gardener; Bass
Hux Brown; Guitar
Winston Wright; Organ
Glen Adams; Keyboards
Bobby Ellis, Richard ’Dirty Harry’ Hall,
Herman Marquis, Vin Gordon; Horn Section.
Recorded at; Dynamic & Randy’s Studio 17.
Produced by; Lee Perry / Bunny Lee.
Design by; Voodoo London.
Cover Photography; Maverick.
All Titles published by Westbury Music
.Manufactured under licence from E.Lee.
Made in the UK.