Creation Dub : The Bullwackies All-Stars

This is a solid dub set from the powerhouse dub label Wackies (Lloyd Barnes). The label started out as a record shop and soon became a popular studio stop for such legends as Horace Andy and Wayne Jarrett. The presence of Wackies made a huge impact on the American reggae scene and continues this heavy role by releasing their classics on CD (Natures Dub, Tribesman Assault, Jamaican Super Dub, etc.). Creation Dub was released on LP in 1977 and 1983 and then released on CD in 2003. There are ten tracks of clean and "old school" dub on this one and it's almost like it should be played on huge heavy wood speakers to give the sound some weight. There are four standouts on this disc for me: #1 (Asmara), #3 (Next to Jah), #8 (Tell it to them Roots Dread), and #9 (East Africa Dub). Tell it to them Roots Dread had a little vocal in it, but the others are straight up roots dub. East Africa dub is a bounding and upbeat track with some nice guitar and very clean drumming. The quality of Wackies dub makes it a great label to build your collection with and also a great example of classic roots dub. Very nice.

Zim Zim : Billy Boyo

You might not have ever heard of Billy Boyo, but this dj was heavy on the dancehall scene when he was just a teenager back in the early eighties. Zim Zim is his most popular compilation studio work and the material was recorded in 1983. My CD copy of this album was released by the Silver Kamel label out of London in 2002. There are 12 tracks total on this disc. Six straight-up dj vocal tracks alternating with their dub track counterparts inna showcase style. My favorite tracks on this one are: #1 (Jamaica Nice), #2 (Dub Freeze), #6 (Dread Skank), and #12 (BB's Posse). The sound quality on the 2002 cd release is very clean and sounds excellent with the dub tracks cranked up. Billy Boyo was not as famous as some of his contemporaries like Little John, Ranking Trevor, and Dillinger but his youthful voice and flow are true and his message is clearly heard.

Pablo & Friends : Augustus Pablo

Here's a peak at another Augustus Pablo disc. Pablo & Friends is a kind of greatest hits CD with 18 tracks total. You get to hear the original track by such artists as: U Roy, I Roy, Derrick Morgan, John Holt, and Prince Jammy. That's followed by the Pablo instrumental version. Showcase style a la Pablo. This album set-up allows you to experience the pure Pablo and gain insight into how he's contributed to the evolution of reggae music. His instrumental interpretations of these reggae classics are good to have in your collection. My favorite tracks on this one are: #5 (It Dread Inna Earth), #6 (Pablo's Majestic Mood), #8 (A Tuff Dub), #15 (Cow Town Skank), and #16 (Pablo in Cow Town). When you listen to the disc as a whole, it's really like listening to 9 extended tracks - nice to leave on around the house. My copy of this disc is RAS '92, but there might be other releases out there. With all the popular reggae artists on this one, I would almost consider this a various artists CD.