From the Black Ark; a local hit in 1975. Clarke’s tale has the hapless, resilient innocence of Buster Keaton. Nice, basic melodica. The production is credited to Mike Johnson — who also stumped up for I-Roy sessions at the Ark around this time — but the rhythm and dub are Upsetters through and through.

Upsetters magic from the Black Ark, circa 1976. The story goes that only thirty copies were pressed, back in the day.

Stone classic. Stuffed with monster Lee Perry rhythms like War In A Babylon.

Luxuriant, mesmerizing Black Ark classics.

The original Randy’s version is a desert island disc — and nearly twenty years later this a magnificent do-over by way of the Black Ark, originally released by Tony Owens’ Seven Leaves, in Kensal Rise.

Black Ark business.

His masterwork, from 1975. Great songs — a tough mix of mysticism, politics and philosophy — with Robbie Lyn from the Sound Dimension, Geoffrey Chung gently testing the reggae envelope, Clive Hunt from Wackies, a sprinkling of Black Ark, masterful drumming by Horsemouth… and PM’s compelling voice.

Tuff Scout rises to the occasion with a majestic rhythm, echoing and musically boned, sat well back in the saddle like Brother Roy’s Different Experience; whilst the great man does an entertaining variation of Memphis Tennessee. Ace dub.
Long Distance Information? May I speak to the High Priest?

Originally released in 1980: the final work to emerge from the Black Ark studio, before its permanent destruction, crossing the soundworld of Roast Fish Collie Weed And Cornbread into new hybrids.

Stupefying Upsetters genius — splicing together the rhythms of Better Days and Musical Transplant like Doctor Funkenstein himself, whilst Charlie Ace barks at Dinah the missus to get out of bed and pass him his trousers and an axe, there’s a cow-thief in the garden, needs his fingers chopped off.

Trenchant political reasoning over his own giddyingly brilliant production.
From 1978; in the same vein as Bafflin’ Smoke Signal.
Inimitable Upsetters genius.