Prince Jammy would soon be crowned King Jammy,as the 1970’s rolled into the
Dancehall 80’s. But during this period we should also remember what an innovator
Jammy was in the field of Dub.
Having returned from what would result in being a 5 year hiatus in Canada. Prince
Jammy (Born, Lloyd James,1947, Montego Bay, Jamaica.) took up the vacant spot as
engineer at King Tubby’s Studio at 18 Dromilly Avenue. The year was 1975 and Tubby’s
studio had established a reputation for producing something a bit special for the tunes flip
side, that would turn into a dubbed version of the vocal tune. The Producers would literally
queue to have their tunes worked on, so that they could be played out at the various
Sound Systems around Kingston, including King Tubby’s own Hometown Hi - Fi Sound
System. Such was the demand for his studio and time, Tubby’s trust in Jammy’s ability
would see Jammy engineer most of the sessions on his own. His understanding of
electronic’s which was his first love, would in many ways, help him produce such great
sound recordings for the numerous sessions that he cut his musical teeth on. As well as
working at Tubby's studio full time often the first in and the last to leave the building, Jammy
encouraged by Tubby was working on his own studio not a stones throw from Tubby's.
38 St Lucia, in the Waterhouse district of Kingston.
Jammy’s early recordings produced in the 1970's were so precise, they are often
mistaken as digital sound recordings, which he later become famous for in the 80's.
The Dubs we have compiled with Jammy himself, are mostly 1970's recordings, which
a lot of people mistake as 80's cuts because firstly the sound quality is such a high
standard, and secondly because they were released and became hits in the 80's.
Although Jammy had built his own studio by now and had worked extensively at
Tubby's which also recorded whole group sessions, when the need arose.
We find many of these cuts, we feature here were recorded at the famous Channel 1 Studio.
A place Jammy used a lot to cut the music at, basically because of the great sound
acoustically it provided. He might then voice or mix the track at his own studio later.
You can hear the clear sound Jammy could produce from our opening track when
stripped to its dub, the bass cuts through powerfully yet as clear as a bell.Jammy had
also being running his own Super Power Sound System first started back in 1962 again
with the help of his childhood friend King Tubby.Jammy has released some classic dub
albums over the years such as Prince Jammy In A Lion Dub Style, In The Light Dub and
Fatman Riddim Section's Killer Dub, to name but a few. We hope that this selection of
1970's dub cuts will stand next to those.Remembering that although King Jammy ruled
the 1980's digital revolution he had already contributed to the Dub Explosion way before that....
Respect Jah Floyd.
CD Track Listing
1 DARKER SHADE OF DUB
The mighty rhythm that became among other tunes Jackie Mittoo’s’ Darker Shade of
Black’.Jammy’s production being as tight and clear as you can get.
2 MAGIC DUB
A classic dub to Dennis Brown's 'Your Love is Magic’ which itself works the Hypocrite
rhythm to fine affect.
3 HE PRAYED DUB
A lost dub cut to the Joe Frasier rhythm which also surfaced as Burning Spear’s
majestic ‘He Prayed’.
4 MORE DUB
A scorching dub to Anthony Johnson’s Dancehall classic ‘More Love In The City’
cut back in 1979 at Channel 1.
5 WATER DUB
A raw dub to Johnny Osbourne’s ‘Water Pumping’
6 MONEY DUB
Half Pint’s ‘Money In The Bank’ gets stripped to the bone. Again cut in 1979 at Channel 1.
7 DOWN TO DUB
Another Channel 1 session this time cut a year earlier in 1978 produced the back bone
for what would become Puddy Roots ‘Went Down Town’.
8 KING OF DUB
A classic rhythm worked over by many, Alton Ellis’s ‘Whipping the Prince’ and Johnny
Clarke’s ‘King of the Arena’ to name but two. Producers often shared rhythms, as was the
case here, along with track 13 which passed between Producers Bunny Lee and Jammy.
When the need arose.
9 FIGHT I DUB
This 1979 rhythm would become one of Dennis Brown’s mighty tunes mixed at Channel 1
and became the timeless ‘Them Fight I’.
10 I LOVE DUB
This Dub cut to Pad Anthony’s ‘Girl I Love You’ although cut at Channel 1 was finally
mixed at King Jammy’s Studio in 1979.
11 TAKE YOU DUB
A Dub to a track cut at the same session as the aforementioned track 10.
Produced another hit for Pad Anthony called ’Take You To The Dance’.
12 BETTER DUB
A rhythm cut to Jackie Mittoo’s ‘Our Thing’
13 RIDE ON DUB
Another classic rhythm that became known for Johnny Clarke’s ’Ride On Girl’
version and Tappa Zukie among many others cut tracks to it.
14 LIVE IN DUB
Last but not least a Jammy’s rhythm cut here as ‘Live In Love’. That shows how tight
Jammy’s production was. Many of these cuts were made famous in the 1980’s when
Digital became the way. But were actually cut in the late 1970’s....
•CD Bonus Track
Vinyl Track Listing
Side 1
1 DARKER SHADE OF DUB
2 MAGIC DUB
3 HE PRAYED DUB
4 MORE DUB
5 WATER DUB
6 MONEY DUB
Side 2
7 DOWN TO DUB
8 KING OF DUB
9 FIGHT I DUB
10 I LOVE DUB
11 TAKE YOU DUB
12 BETTER DUB
Musicians Include:
Calton 'Santa' Davis, Sly Dunbar: Drums
Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Tony Asher: Guitar
Robbie Shakespeare: Bass
Keith Sterling, Jackie Mittoo: Piano
Winston Wright: Organ
Zoot 'Scully' Simms, Sticky: Percussion
Recorded at: Channel 1, School Studios, Jammy's
Produced by: King Jammy
Design by: Voodoo London. (L.A.C. Print & Design Ltd)
Photography: Jah Floyd Archive
Manufactured under License from King Jammy
Made in E.U.