Arktober 77, part I: The Holy Trinity

Junior Murvin - "Tedious" from Police & Thieves (1977)

The Heptones - "Mr. President" from Party Time (1977)

The Congos - "Open Up the Gate" from Heart of the Congos (1977)

Lee "Scratch" Perry is widely recognized as one of reggae's most inspiring and important figures, and the string of recordings he made at his own Black Ark studio from 1974-1978 is not only the peak of Perry's work, but some of the most creative recordings in the entire genre. I could go on about the relevance of Perry and the Ark, but enough has been written already, and if you're really interested in learning more about him I highly recommend People Funny Boy, written by David Katz, one of the most respected biographers of JA music. The book's not only an exhaustive history of Perry, but the entire JA music scene- get it.

This month the Beatdown will feature classic and rare cuts recorded and/or released at the Black Ark in 1977; Welcome to Arktober.

We'll get to the more obscure tracks later in the month, but first let's just cover the big 3; During the heyday of the studio, Perry produced tons of indispensable sides of wax, including somewhat of a holy trinity of LPs in 1977 (following Max Romeo's timeless War Ina Babylon and Perry's own Super Ape from the year before).

The first LP is Junior Murvin's debut and masterwork, Police & Thieves, probably the most well-known release from Perry. It's a shame that the title track is usually the only song known from this album (and probably even more popular is the Clash's brilliant cover) as every track is.. well you know. Murvin comes off as Jamaican Curtis Mayfield, and Mayfield indeed had a huge influence on him as well as reggae overall, not just the sweet falsetto, but his socially conscious writing and funky guitar work. The album has been remastered on CD with some great bonus tracks and on vinyl (tho EB's is often sold out).

The next LP is Party Time by the Heptones, one of the most important groups from the rocksteady era and one of the few to make a (very) successful transition to the roots era. Their album On Top is probably their defining record, but this one is right up there. Check out "Mr. President", a song still relevant today (fuck you, Bush). The album is available on CD and vinyl.

Last but definitely not least- in fact it's my favorite of them all (very close call), and many other reggae enthusiasts place this at the top of Perry's cannon- is The Congo's debut album, Heart of the Congos. Never mind reggae- if you're into any kind of creative music, this album is absolutely essential. Drenched in reverb, delay, and all of the distinct effects that make the Ark so great, Cedric Myton's falsetto and Congo "Ashanti" Roy's tenor voices combine with great songwriting and top players to make this unique, tripped out album. The definitive reissue of Heart of the Congos comes from Blood & Fire, and although is a little more expensive due to it's import status, it also comes with a bonus CD of great remixes and a beautiful booklet. Blood & Fire has apparently shut down for good, which is a huge loss for the reggae community since they, along with Pressure Sounds, have set the standard for essential reggae reissues. I would get this CD before it's too late (tho there is still the great VP Records version, also available on vinyl).

These three records alone are enough to put Perry in the top echelon of producers of all time. Stay tuned for further proof to come.

[The Scratch illustration at top is by LA artist Nathan Ota]