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Upsetters [Lee Perry, King Tubby] (1973) - 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
"The second album from the new Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle, produced by Lee Perry and mixed by both King Tubby and Perry. Recorded in 1973, Blackboard Jungle was one of the first dub albums ever to be released and one of Perry's finest to date. Blackboard Jungle collects fourteen of the hardest Upsetter dubs from the early 70's, including Junior Byles 'Fever' and 'Place Called Africa', the Gatherers 'Words' ,The Hurricanes 'You Can Run', the Wailers 'Keep On Moving', 'Dreamland' and 'Kaya' and the Upsetter favourite 'Bucky Skank' all mixed in true stereo with definite channel separation where the rhythm track is in one channel and solo instruments or percussion drift in and out of the other. This record received only a 300 copy Jamaican pressing at the time, but has since been issued in various guises to differing levels of quality. As no tapes exist -- their whereabouts being the subject of much speculation -- Auralux acquired a mint copy of the original pressing which they dubbed and mastered for this release. In addition to the Blackboard Jungle album. Also included are four unreleased treasures from the Black Ark studio. Extensive sleeve notes written by David Katz, author of the Lee Perry biography." --via http://www.forcedexposure.com/labels/auralux.recordings.uk.html [Jul 2004]
Dave Hendley's excellent and informative account of the rise of King Tubby and his studio took us to 1973. At that time, dub was still known mainly as version. It was around 1974 when Lee Perry issued his 'Blackboard Jungle' dub album on Upsetter. It is probably King Tubby's first dub album, although it was only a very limited pressing, and was quickly changing hands for £20.00 or more. The music included is all from the early 70's. and included dubs of the Wailers 'Kaya'. 'Keep On Moving' and 'Dreamland', Junior Byles 'Place Called Africa' and 'Fever', plus two cuts of the title track also known as 'Bucky Skank'.
In 1981, Clocktower Records in the U.S. reissued the album minus three tracks. Even so, this twelve track set remains one of the all time great dub albums and it's in true stereo! The term 'Dub' came into common use when Bunny Lee introduced his 'Flying Cymbal' sound in 1974. A sound based on the 'Disco' style of many Black American records then. Virtually every tune Bunny produced at the time had a King Tubby dub mix on the B.Side (either from King Tubby himself or his first assistant 'Prince' Phillip Smart). People would buy a Bunny Lee production because they knew they would find a Tubby's mix on the B.Side KIng Tubby, mixing engineer, had become a star in his own right. --By Dave Hendley & Ray Hurford [With thanks to Colin Moore], (C) Small Axe 1979 http://www.rayx.freeserve.co.uk/King%20Tubby.htm [Jul 2004]
"Cast your ears back thirty years ago to 1973 and revel in the sheer shock and the musical awe that is invoked by Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle, a true piece of sonic innovation from the minds of hands of Lee 'Scratch' Perry. David Katz, 2004.
As the boss of Auralux, the UK label behind this re-issue of what's considered by most reggae afficionadoes as the definitive dub album of all time, David Katz could be expected to splash the hyperbole, though for dub fans he's certainly justified. Because ever since it came out in 1973 Blackboard Jungle has been hailed as one of reggae and Scratch's key defining moments and 31 years later, it's still true.
Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle, however, is a new version, or rather the definitive original version, dubbed and remastered from a mint condition copy of the original pressing (of which just 300 were made in total).
As well as all the tracks on the original album, the new CD includes four unreleased recordings from the era and is a fine example of minimal sparse old skool reggae. --http://www.freshdisko.com/review/music/1088034153.php [Jul 2004]
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