Out this month (12th April 2010) on Pressure Sounds is the obscure Prince Jammy dub album 'Prince Jammy Presents Strictly Dub' on, on single CD and Vinyl format.
Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James is rightly revered for his dance hall domination during the second half of the eighties as record producer and sound system controller. But prior to his coronation Prince Jammy, as King Tubby’s right hand man, was famed for his crucial dub mixes at Tubby’s studio and for his infrequent forays into record production. This essential Pressure Sounds release originated as an obscure dub album that briefly surfaced in New York in the early eighties on the ‘Jammys Records’ label. It has since come to be rightly regarded by students and scholars of the dub school not only as a minor masterpiece of Jammy’s mixing style but also as an early demonstration of his masterful production techniques.
Produced, arranged, mixed and remixed by Prince Jammy, with the cream of Kingston’s session players, the set proved to be an early indication of the beginning of a new musical era created, paradoxically, by referring back to the classic rhythms of the sixties and seventies. The album is powered by the legendary drum and bass combination of Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare with the trumpet of Bobby Ellis and the alto saxophone of ‘Deadly’ Hedley Bennett coming to the fore on tracks such as ‘Old Country Dub’ and ‘271 Utica Dub’. Featuring updates of many classic rock steady and reggae rhythms including ‘Baba Boom’ and ‘Ali Baba’ from Treasure Isle, ‘Always Together’ from Studio One and the Baba Brooks ska classic ‘Shank I Sheck’ for King Edwards interspersed with a selection of original rhythms including one of Jammy’s early roots masterpieces: the apocalyptic ‘Jah Fire Will Be Burning’ from Hugh Mundell. The bonus CD only tracks, spare, lean recuts of two more Studio One classics: Jackie Mittoo’s ‘Hot Milk’ and Lester Sterling’s interpretation of Bert Kaempfert’s ‘Afrikaan Beat’, both date from a slightly later period.
Although the track titles, such as ‘Brooklyn Dub’ and ‘Bronx Fashion Dub’, reflect the fact that that the album was first released in New York the original cover artwork (showcased again on this Pressure Sounds release) shows Prince Jammy at the controls of the mixing desk in King Tubby’s Dromilly Avenue studio in the heart of Kingston’s Waterhouse ghetto… the spiritual home of dub music.
Musicians:
Bass: Robert ‘Robbie’ Shakespeare
Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James is rightly revered for his dance hall domination during the second half of the eighties as record producer and sound system controller. But prior to his coronation Prince Jammy, as King Tubby’s right hand man, was famed for his crucial dub mixes at Tubby’s studio and for his infrequent forays into record production. This essential Pressure Sounds release originated as an obscure dub album that briefly surfaced in New York in the early eighties on the ‘Jammys Records’ label. It has since come to be rightly regarded by students and scholars of the dub school not only as a minor masterpiece of Jammy’s mixing style but also as an early demonstration of his masterful production techniques.
Produced, arranged, mixed and remixed by Prince Jammy, with the cream of Kingston’s session players, the set proved to be an early indication of the beginning of a new musical era created, paradoxically, by referring back to the classic rhythms of the sixties and seventies. The album is powered by the legendary drum and bass combination of Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare with the trumpet of Bobby Ellis and the alto saxophone of ‘Deadly’ Hedley Bennett coming to the fore on tracks such as ‘Old Country Dub’ and ‘271 Utica Dub’. Featuring updates of many classic rock steady and reggae rhythms including ‘Baba Boom’ and ‘Ali Baba’ from Treasure Isle, ‘Always Together’ from Studio One and the Baba Brooks ska classic ‘Shank I Sheck’ for King Edwards interspersed with a selection of original rhythms including one of Jammy’s early roots masterpieces: the apocalyptic ‘Jah Fire Will Be Burning’ from Hugh Mundell. The bonus CD only tracks, spare, lean recuts of two more Studio One classics: Jackie Mittoo’s ‘Hot Milk’ and Lester Sterling’s interpretation of Bert Kaempfert’s ‘Afrikaan Beat’, both date from a slightly later period.
Although the track titles, such as ‘Brooklyn Dub’ and ‘Bronx Fashion Dub’, reflect the fact that that the album was first released in New York the original cover artwork (showcased again on this Pressure Sounds release) shows Prince Jammy at the controls of the mixing desk in King Tubby’s Dromilly Avenue studio in the heart of Kingston’s Waterhouse ghetto… the spiritual home of dub music.
Musicians:
Bass: Robert ‘Robbie’ Shakespeare
Drums: Lowell ‘Sly’ Dunbar
Guitar: Winston ‘Bo Peep’ Bowen & Radcliffe ‘Duggie’ Bryan
Organ: Ansel ‘Pinkie’ Collins & Winston ‘Brubeck’ Wright
Piano: Gladstone ‘Gladdy’ Anderson
Alto Saxophone: ‘Deadly’ Hedley Bennett
Trumpet: Bobby Ellis
Percussion: Uziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson & Noel ‘Scully’ Simms
Produced & Arranged by: Prince Jammy
Remixed at: King Tubby’s Recording Studio, 18 Dromilly Avenue, Kingston 11, Jamaica Track Listing:
Chapter 1
1. Immigrant Dub
Remixed at: King Tubby’s Recording Studio, 18 Dromilly Avenue, Kingston 11, Jamaica Track Listing:
Chapter 1
1. Immigrant Dub
2. Basement Dub
3. Brooklyn Dub
4. B.Q.E. Dub
5. Interboro Dub
Chapter 2
1. Old Country Dub
Chapter 2
1. Old Country Dub
2. 42nd Street Dub
3. 271 Utica Dub
4. Bronx Fashion Dub
5. Strictly Dub
Bonus CD only tracks
1. Mother Dub
Bonus CD only tracks
1. Mother Dub
2. Dis Dub Rule
To coincide with this re-release they are also issuing 3off superb Jammy’s seven inch singles on the Jammy’s label. They are available on heavyweight vinyl with a specially designed card sleeve.
Released late last month were Attaras 'Brimstone And Fire' c/w 'Cool Fire Version' and Freddie McKay's 'Rock A Bye Woman' c/w 'Rock A Bye Version'.
The Attras track was produced by Joe Higgs and featuring Attaras, with members of the Wailing Souls and Joe Higgs (who need no introduction) in harmony. This is a top class vocal release and also very, very rare. The 45, on Joe’s own ‘Elevation’ label, comes in a picture sleeve and is backed by a restrained old style instrumental version and is licensed exclusively to Pressure Sounds from the Estate of Joe Higgs.
McKay's track shows him to be one of the best exponents of the more soulful side of Jamaican roots music. Freddie McKay recorded for Studio One and Treasure Isle before working with various producers in the seventies. ‘Rock A Bye Woman’ is a rare self-production with an up-tempo feel and punchy horns. Seriously in demand on the revival circuit for a number of years the passionate vocal side is backed here with a riveting ‘high pass filter’ style version. Top quality music from one of reggae’s great-unsung heroes.
Finally this month will see the release of Wayne Smith's 'Time Is A Moment In Space'.
There was a time when Jammy was just a Prince and his coronation as King Jammy in the early eighties was largely due to records like this! Jammy and Wayne Smith would go on to change reggae music forever with ‘Under Me Sleng Teng’ but, when they voiced this melancholy masterpiece, there was very little hint of the forthcoming digital revolution. It Showcases the more mellow side of Jammy’s production techniques with its haunting keyboard counter melody and the chilled out dub side entitled ‘Life Is A Moment In Space’ it was a moderate seller first time around but demand for the tune has grown ever since.
To coincide with this re-release they are also issuing 3off superb Jammy’s seven inch singles on the Jammy’s label. They are available on heavyweight vinyl with a specially designed card sleeve.
Released late last month were Attaras 'Brimstone And Fire' c/w 'Cool Fire Version' and Freddie McKay's 'Rock A Bye Woman' c/w 'Rock A Bye Version'.
The Attras track was produced by Joe Higgs and featuring Attaras, with members of the Wailing Souls and Joe Higgs (who need no introduction) in harmony. This is a top class vocal release and also very, very rare. The 45, on Joe’s own ‘Elevation’ label, comes in a picture sleeve and is backed by a restrained old style instrumental version and is licensed exclusively to Pressure Sounds from the Estate of Joe Higgs.
McKay's track shows him to be one of the best exponents of the more soulful side of Jamaican roots music. Freddie McKay recorded for Studio One and Treasure Isle before working with various producers in the seventies. ‘Rock A Bye Woman’ is a rare self-production with an up-tempo feel and punchy horns. Seriously in demand on the revival circuit for a number of years the passionate vocal side is backed here with a riveting ‘high pass filter’ style version. Top quality music from one of reggae’s great-unsung heroes.
Finally this month will see the release of Wayne Smith's 'Time Is A Moment In Space'.
There was a time when Jammy was just a Prince and his coronation as King Jammy in the early eighties was largely due to records like this! Jammy and Wayne Smith would go on to change reggae music forever with ‘Under Me Sleng Teng’ but, when they voiced this melancholy masterpiece, there was very little hint of the forthcoming digital revolution. It Showcases the more mellow side of Jammy’s production techniques with its haunting keyboard counter melody and the chilled out dub side entitled ‘Life Is A Moment In Space’ it was a moderate seller first time around but demand for the tune has grown ever since.
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