THE UPSETTERS Vinilo y CD

Review: Lee Perry & The Upsetters are responsible for no end of legendary dub sounds. The master producer, Black Ark studio owner and his trusty backing band rarely ever missed when they laid down sound and that is certainly true of 'Kiss Me Neck,' a popular jam from 1975 that now gets reissued. It's a cracking bit of 70s roots with heavy funk overtones and horns recorded at Black Ark. As is always the way, this one comes back with a killer dub and arrives in a thick Lee Perry & The Upsetter sleeve.

Review: Originally released in 1981 on the Clocktower label, this killer compilation does a fine job of harnessing the raw magic of Lee "Scratch" Perry's legendary Black Ark era. Although the sounds are mostly drawn from mid-70s sessions, it also features two standout early cuts from the late 60s, namely Perry's gritty versions of 'Tighten Up' and 'Serious Joke'. Elsewhere, highlights include Johnny Lover's deep DJ take over Devon Irons' 'When Jah Come' and the rootsy energy of Ricky and Bunny's 'Bush Weed Corn Trash.' This reissue is a crucial document of Perry's genre-defining production, masterful take on vintage dub, toasting and spiritual reggae heat.