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 Soundcraft 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 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 employers.
‘The Upsetter’ track itself pointed at Mr Dodd but reflected back 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.....
CD Track Listing
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
15. BABY TALK*
Mike Brookes 'Baby Talk' gets added baby noises to this rocking dub rhythm as the
vocal says 'This is the Time For Revolution' sounds great...
16. BIT A BIT DUB*
Another vastly different cut to 'Baby Talk' called 'Bit A Bit 'over the Blacka Morwell rhythm
•CD Bonus Track
Vinyl Track Listing
Side 1
1. COVENANT DUB
2. HOLD FAST DUB
3. OX MAN DUBWISE
4. LEOPARD DUB
5. BRAKE OUT DUB
6. RUNNING DUB
7. DUB THEM NATTY
Side 2
1. PARTY DUB
2. HOT A HOT DUB
3. SILUM DUBBING MOOD
4. FULNESS DUB
5. FLUT IN THE ARK
6. CULTER DUB
7. NO FOOD A RUN DUB
Musicians Include:
Mike Brookes: Vocals
Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards, Fish Clarke: Drums
Boris Gardiner, Flabba Holt: Bass
Redcliff ‘Dougie’ Bryan, Geoffrey Chung,
Ernest Ranglin, Bingy Bunny, Chinna Smith, Tony Chin: Guitar
Keith Sterling,Gladstone ‘Gladdy ‘ Anderson
Robbie Lyn: Keyboards
Winston Wright, Ansell Collins: Organ
Thephilus Becford: Piano
Uzziah ‘Stickey’ Thompson, Zoot ‘Skully’ Sims: Percussion
Felix ‘Deadley Headley‘ Bennett: Saxophone
Recorded at: Black Ark Studios
Produced by: Lee Perry
Design by: Gary @ Voodoo London
Photography: Jah Floyd Archive
Manufactured under Licence from: Mike Brookes
Made in the U.K.