Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some Early Ska, March 16, 2006
This record is nothing more, and nothing less, than 12 fantastic early ska/early rocksteady cuts from Lee Perry while still working at Studio One as a vocalist. Not only does Perry have a great voice, he's backed by the peerless Skatalites band, and background vocals include the Soulettes, the Dynamites, the Wailers.
These are previously unavailable songs from the 1964-1966 period, so its early on in this music's development. But this is simply fantastic songwriting, with elements of doo-wop and jazz brought into this Jamaican idiom...it's a true fusion sound, cutting-edge.
The poor production is actually welcome; it adds tremendous charm to this record, and gives it a certain "historical importance" mood.
Them's the facts folks, mixed with my opinion. But I did want to point out the misinformation in that one review...this is early Lee Perry on vocals, before he became the producer that fans know, and most of the backing vocals are not the Wailers. Rita Marley shows up with the Soulettes.
Anybody interested in Jamaican music should look into getting this. It's an accessible intro to the early sound, which is not easy to find. Any ska/punks (such as myself) who wanna know their roots need to come here.
4 Stars because it's a great album, but not a timeless classic.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
ORIGINAL SKA FROM STUDIO ONE, April 1, 2002
This cd showcases Lee Perry's earliest work on the Studio One label from 1961 to 1966, when he was employed by Jamaica's premier sound system operator and producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd as a talent scout, dj, sound engineer and vocalist. As such it is a fascinating glimpse into Perry's formative years before his emergence as a producer and a must for any serious Upsetter collector. The sound throughout is that of authentic 60's ska and early rocksteady with joyful musical accompaniment provided by the Skatellites and Soul Brothers. As well as his theme song "Chicken Scratch" the album includes Perry's first encounter with The Wailers ("Man to man") while other tracks feature the backing vocals of Rita Marley's Soulettes. After leaving Dodd, Perry worked with various producers before launching his own Upsetter label in 1968. But that's another story....
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
better out there, September 21, 2000
This cd showcases a few of the Wailers' 1968 Studio One output, with Lee Perry as engineer and producer.For anyone who is expecting vintage "Scratch"- the studio wizard-you will not find it on these recordings. In fact, Perry was ironically a very laissez-faire engineer in the beginning, which was a blessing for the rude boy era Wailers. They could record their very raw recordings in a relaxed atmosphere, and the results, while somewhat unprofessional versus what Marley and Tosh achieved later in their careers, has a quaint charm in it of studio novices learning their trade. One last word of warning- for fans of the original Wailers, these recordings were done during Bunny's jailtime for herb possession, so Rita Marley is the 3rd voice. Nice recordings, but they can be had in better condition on other Perry or Marley collections.
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by Perry, Lee "Scratch" 
