King Tubby

Considering how iffy the world of reggae reissues can be, Original Music has repeatedly done itself a disservice by not taking the extra step that would separate the label from all the charlatans and ripoff artists. Original Music could have a Blood & Fire or Soul Jazz-sized reputation if it only provided substantial liner notes, but even without the history lesson, its King Tubby on the Mix, Vol. 1 collection is worth any reggae fanatic's attention -- and it won't disappoint the casual fan of early-'70s roots and/or dub, either. Included within are sides King Tubby engineered and mixed for producer Jah Woosh at the Channel One studio. For every song the vocal cut is provided along with the dub, while legendary house bands like the Aggrovators and the Revolutionaries provide the backing tracks. Vol. 1 features Delroy Wilson's excellent and upbeat cry for more "Money" and Roman Stewart's cool take on the Beatles' "You Won't See Me," along with Woosh's own uplifting "Jah Is the Ruler." As far as the dubs, Original Music has done a wonderful job bringing out the deep bass and warm, expansive reverb Tubby recorded, all without sacrificing the intended rough spots. The only thing left to complain about is how the great DJ version of "Scarpion Granny" doesn't get a mention on the outside packaging, since it deserves much better than "hidden track" status. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide