Various - Front Line Presents Dub: 40 Heavyweight Dub Sounds (Virgin)(2014)(2xCD)

 

Virgin Front Line always released excellent roots reggae music. Digging in record stores, one could find their releases all over even in the U.S. These 40 Heavyweight dub cuts are pretty good. A lot of hard-core reggae heads will have many of these dubs but it is nice to have these all in one place. If this is the only dub album you own, that would be pretty good as far as I am concerned. This is what reggae music use to sound like. : ) Great overview of what Front Line released during this era of reggae. For a taste of the dubs available here, check out Mr. Brown Version by Gregory Isaacs. For those looking for a deeper sound, check out Free Us Dub by the Twinkle Brothers. 

Creation Rebel - High Above Harlesden 1978-2023 (On-U Sound)(2024)(CD#3 of Box Set)

 

The third disc, Rebel Vibrations, of the box set High Above Harlesden 1978-2023. Solid dub album. Nothing spectacular but worth a listen. I should have paid more attention to Creation Rebel back in the day. Worth having. The rhythms are pretty good but not as good as their second LP, Close Encounters of the Third World from 1978 (2nd CD in the box set).

Various - Jah Warrior Showcase Vol. 1 (Jah Warrior Records)(1999)(CD)

 

Steve Mosco aka "Jah Warrior" started Jah Warrior Records label in 1995. By 1999 he released his first showcase album. In reggae, a reggae 'showcase' is a release in which the dub version of the song accompanies the vocal version. So, here you get the vocal version and the next track is the dub version of that same song. This release is "Vol 1" is a showcase of Jah Warrior Record productions. 

In the past, I have been quite harsh on 'home-dubbers' but my views changed in the early 2000s. I only came across this release recently but it looks like Jah Warrior was putting out solid roots reggae all the way back in 1999. Good release. Stand out track for me is Tony Roots - See Them A Come. 

Lee "Scratch' Perry Presents Soulful I (The Jamaican Upsetter Singles 1969-70)(Doctor Bird)(2024)(2-CD)

 

What a great historical account! Doctor Bird has collected the Jamaican singles on the Upsetter label for 1969-1970. In addition, this 2 CD collection includes a large amount of version sides credited to The Upsetters. The collection also includes some alternate takes so you get a chance to listen to how certain songs and rhythms evolved. Dr Bird is doing the reggae world a great service. There are other releases by Dr Bird focusing on Lee Perry productions during this time period. I will post more as I listen to them. Here is a taste David Issacs - Since You Are Gone.

Creation Rebel - High Above Harlesden 1978-2023 (On-U Sound)(2024)(CD#2 of Box Set)

 

This is the second disc from the box set that captures the recorded output of Creation Rebel. Close Encounters...was the second full LP release by Creation Rebel. It was released in 1978, the same year that their first dub album, Dub from Creation, was released. This album is different from the first release since it also contains a couple of vocal tracks along with other dubs. On this LP, Creation Rebel was in the process of transitioning from being a studio band, to then being a backing band, to also being its own entity.  

This LP is unique since it was mixed by Prince Jammy (in the UK), vocals were spiced up at King Tubby's in Jamaica, and horn charts laid down at Channel One in Jamaica. Also noteworthy, Style Scott played on this album. Yes, the same Style Scott of Roots Radics fame.This is a great album. Much livelier than their first dub only LP. Excellent. Great addition to the collection. Check out Know Yourself.

Creation Rebel - High Above Harlesden 1978-2023 (On-U Sound) (2024) CD#1 of Box Set

 

This is the first CD of this massive 6-CD anthology of the albums by Creation Rebel, the original On-U Sound house band. Creation Rebel was the conceived by Adrian Sherwood for the album, Dub From Creation, but evolved into being the backing band for Prince Far I. 

For Dub From Creation, Creation Rebel consisted of Eric 'Fish' Clarke on drums, Clinton Morris on keyboards, Clinton Jack on bass guitar, 'Crucial' Tony Phillips on guitar, and Doctor Pablo on melodica and percussion. The album was the first production by Adrian Sherwood and was engineered by Dennis Bovell (Side 1) and Sid Bucknor (Side 2). 

With dub music, if the riddims are good, then the dub will be generally be good. The best track is actually the last one, Frontline Dub, which features Prince Far I on vocals. This extra track was not on the original album but is included here. Great liner notes!

Prince Lincoln Thompson and The Royal Rasses Band - Harder Na Rass (CD)(Burning Sounds)(2023)

 

Wow, what a wonderful reissue. This album is the dub album to Prince Lincoln Thompson's first album, Experience, from 1979. The original dub album you have here came out in 1979. What makes this a must-have release for the reggae fan are the following. First, the melodies of Prince Lincoln Thompson are fantastic. Second, this was mixed by Prince Jammy at King Tubby's. 'Nuff said.

You should have everything by Prince Lincoln Thompson in your collection. This dub album belongs in that collection. Well done Burning Sounds! Here is a taste, Universally Dubbed.

Roots Underground - Tribesman Assault (CD)(Wackies)(2003)

Pure dub. Originally released on LP in 1977 on the Wackies label out of New York. If it is on Wackies, then you know it is a classic. This CD is a reissue out of Germany. Back in the early 2000s, a lot of Wackies music was being re-issued for the first time on CD and Germany was carrying the point. I wonder what was the connection? Who knows. Based on my Discogs collection,  I already own the LP and the CD of this album. So, this is a double! I picked this copy a few months ago while visiting Chicago. It doesn't matter, I can't pass up any Wackies music when I see it in a used bin. : )

Roots Underground is made up of Jerry Harris and Trevor Earl Witter aka 'Jah Witter'. The Love Joys (from the Wackies stable of artists) provide some backing vocals. However, the star of the show is the music. A solid dubalbum that is meant for serious reggae music listeners. Here is what this album sounds like Open the Gates. 

 

Dub Judah - Twinkle's Riddim (Twinkle Music) (1992) LP

 

This UK release from 1992, contains the dub versions of Twinkle Brothers' Babylon Rise Again LP from 1991. 

Solid but not stellar LP. While the Twinkle Brothers are a force in roots reggae music, some of the riddims on this album are good but some are only decent. There are other, more vital albums to buy before getting this one.

Check out Tormenting Dub for a taste.

Rockers All Stars - Chanting Dub With the Help of the Father (2022) (Onlyroots Records) LP

 

Onlyroots Records from France is another great label that puts out quality reissues of Jamaican roots reggae music. As an example, consider this reissue of an LP that came out in 1978(?) with the original title, Dub With the Help of His Majesty. This album was produced by Augustus Pablo and Everton Da Silva for Pablo's Rockers label. The great musicians playing on these tracks are simply credited as the Rockers All Stars. Rest easy, if they are playing with or for Pablo, they are top-of-the-line! The dub music on here is solid, thunderous, and hypnotic. 70s reggae music is the best era for roots reggae and the dubs from that era are hard to beat.

 This is a solid release for advanced reggae listeners but even the novice reggae fans will enjoy real authentic dub music from one of the masters. By the way, the tracks for this album were mixed at King Tubby's and Harry J's. Just that last sentence will send the hard core reggae fan to the store to buy this album. You should as well. 

Various - Roots from the Record Smith in Dub (2023) LP (Digikiller Records)

 

Another outstanding release of great period reggae music from those fine folks at Digikiller! This is the Dub release of the vocal various artists album featuring tracks produced by Ivan "Lloydie Slim" Smith between 1973-1976. There is not much in the way of liner notes but based on the listing, Lloydie was producing records that featured The Upsetters, and The Aggrovators as backing bands. Some of the tracks just lists King Tubby so I am assuming that King Tubby was at the controls for those. What can I one say? If you like reggae music, then you need this album. Nuff' said. The 70's was my favorite era of reggae music. This dub only release is very good. I need to get the vocal album!