Deep and intense, with Augustus Pablo and the Barrett Bros on call, god-like Tubbys mixing, canonical rhythms, Big Youth and Horace Andy in the mix. One of the top five dub albums of all time. Fifty years old!
The second of two LP volumes drawing on three stone-classic Blood & Fire compilations: Dub Gone Crazy, Dub Gone 2 Crazy, and Dub Like Dirt. A truly monumental selection of mind-bending mixes by King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Pat Kelly, Phillip Smart, and Scientist. The flip-sides of killer 45s by Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell, Delroy Wilson, Horace Andy, Leroy Smart — banger after banger, including nuff anthems — and specials from deep inside Bunny Lee’s archives. Indispensable.
‘What about the half that’s never been told? The half, the half, the half that’s never been told.’
Monumental rebel rock from the teenager at Randy’s in 1973, riding the success of Java. The Barrett Brothers, Chinna, Zoot Simms and co on a piece of Upsetters, Santics like Horace’s Problems, Guiding Star… Ever awesome.
1975 sequel to KT Meets The Upsetter At The Grass Roots Of Dub. Here’s Steve Barker in The Wire: ‘a chance to hear it as it should be heard, containing as it does a few moments of sheer Tubby magic, including Unit Dub, a pure and simple drum and bass outing with the bassline mixed up front and twisted through filters while a shrilly splitting hi-hat is left to steer the riddim. Definitely in the top ten of all Tubby dub mixes.’
Basic primer; excellent film.
Late-eighties Jammys digital roots — with Steelie & Clevie at the controls — following up the classic Hell A Go Pop set. The hits were Running Back To Me and Distant Lover.