Now to be totally honest I do generally prefer a bit of vocals with my music so when it comes to the choice between dub version or vocal version you know which one I'll pick. Having said that though there are some mighty fine dub versions and dub artists out there who can do some really great and interesting things with other people's tunes, or creating these mystical soundscape forms from scratch.
The origins of dub are said to have come about quite by chance when in Kingston in around 1968, sound system operator Ruddy Redwood went to Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio to cut a one-off dub plate. The engineer Byron Smith, it is told left the vocal track out by accident, but Redwood liked this keeping the result and played it at his next dance with his deejay Wassy toasting over the rhythm. This went down a storm and the idea of mixing an instrumental / dub version of a song was born.
Errol Thompson is credited with having released the first strictly instrumental reggae album, in 1970, entitled "The Undertaker", and was performed by Derrick Harriott and the Crystalites. This innovative album credits "Sound Effects" to Derrick Harriott.The real pioneers of dub though in those early days are widely accepted as being producers Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock, and Lee "Scratch" Perry. Similar experiments with recordings at the mixing desk were also done by producers Clive Chin, Herman Chin Loy and Lynval Anderson (aka Andy Capp). These producers, especially Tubby and Perry, looked upon the mixing desk as an instrument, and experimented with, and manipulated tracks to come up with something totally new and different from the tunes original format.
The main reason for producing these multiple dub versions in the early days was purely economic: a record producer could use a recording he owned to produce numerous versions from a single studio session, and so milk more money back from his original outlay. A dub version also gave a producer or remix engineer opportunity to show off their more creative side. These dubs were typically the B-side of a single, with the A-side dedicated to making a popular hit, and these B-sides also became the start to providing something for DJs to ‘chat’ / ‘toast’ over. In the mid to late 1970s dub was becoming so popular that a dub version of an existing vocal LP was some times released along side or a few months after the vocal version. Also dubbed up instrumental tracks for which no vocals existed were now being produced. Indeed in the early 80s, as well as helping popularise reggae with a white audience UB40's “Present Arms In Dub” became the first ever reggae dub album to hit the UK top 40.
Dub has continued to progress from that point to this, its popularity waxing and waning with changes in musical fashion. Almost all reggae singles still carry an instrumental version on the B-side and these are still used by many sound systems as a blank canvas for live singers and DJs.
Dub can also be looked upon as the prelude to many dance and pop music genres, techno, jungle, dubstep, drum and bass, house music, and trip hop to name but a few. Also over the past few years some bands with a passing reggae influence have released dub LP’s of their original versions. Some notable records are Gorillaz vs Spacemonkeyz “Laika Come Home”, a dubbed up version of the Gorillaz debut (reviewed here this month). The Dead 60s excellent 2Tone, Clash, inspired debut also received the same treatment, with its 3 minute stomps reduced down to some fine 3 minute dubs by Central Nervous System. Hard Fi’s whose “Stars of CCTV” was a big hit in the UK, also took what I believe was a very courage’s career decision, which was to allow their chart topping 750000 odd selling LP to be completely remixed by the likes of Roots Manuva, Gran Tourismo and Wrongtom who has also dubbed up work for the likes of Pama International.So dub today….having seen the Dub Echoes DVD and heard the CD there is proof that the style is still very much alive and kicking and maybe even having a bit of resurgence thanks in part to the work of people like Roots Manuva, Wrongtom and also the Dub Step style. One thing I do feel I can say with confidence though is that despite dub coming about by 'accident' this style of reggae has had a more far reaching effect and influence on people and music than all the other reggae styles put together.
Check out Rockers Revolt for a bit of a movers and shakers in Dub A - Z
http://www.rockersrevolt.com/2008/05/29/the-a-z-of-dub/
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Don't forget to download a special dub mix by our very own King of the Dubwise Excursion...Gibsy. The mix includes dubs by King Tubby, Scientist, Prince Jammy & Mikey Dread plus more. It is only available for a short while so grab it while you can! (the link is somewhere on the right hand side)
You can also tune in to Sound Of Now to hear these and many more dubs in full
http://www.live365.com/stations/springlinemusic
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1 comment:
hi, new to the site, thanks.
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