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]

Ras Michael, Son

Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus - Kibir Am Lak (1977)

Zion Land
Wicked Men

Ras Michael - Zion Train (1987)

Youthman Sufferer

Ras Michael creates Nyahbinghi fusion- a mix of the spritual African drumming with roots, psychedelia, rock, and more. His album Peace & Love (under the title Dadawah) could almost be called prog-roots, with 4 tracks that are roughly 10 minutes each, but whatever you want to call it, it's a unique and sadly underappreciated masterpeice in the world of reggae. The Kibir Am Lak album recorded a few years later in 1977 has a remake of Zion Land (from Peace & Love), which is itself in debt to the deep, deep roots style perfected by Yabby You (especially on his legendary debut, Conquering Lion). Another highlight from the album is Wicked Men, with a synth sound that would make Dr. Dre drool, with a Biff! Baff! a Biff, Biff, Boom! (listen to the song...).


Another interesting album from Ras Michael is Zion Train, though I'll admit it's very uneven and only interesing becasue of it's connection with HR of the Bad Brains... and it was recorded on my 4th birthday. Released by SST Records in 1987 (most likley the only reggae album on the label outside of HR/Human Rights), it has a few tracks orinally from HR's Singing In the Heart, plus some new tracks that are really sub-par. The versioned tracks have a different mix and feature HR's lead and backing vocals. I'll just give you one track from the record; "Youthman Sufferer" features delay-drenched drums, a fat fuzz bass, and eventually ends in total chaos.

We Need More Soul

Soul Syndicate - Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown (1977)

Wicked A Go Feel It
Mariwana

The Soul Syndicate is mostly recognized as a backing band that featured the cream of the crop of Jamaica's top players with the obligatory nickname (George "Fully" Fulwood, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Earl "Chinna" Smith, etc.). But as proven with their debut released in 1977, they worked just as well on their own. Haverst Uptown, Famine Downtown features a beautiful mix of roots reggae and jazzy funk with some serious messages as well as lighter numbers that make the album perfectly balanced and compelling. Check out Wicked Go A Feel It, a killer tune straight to Babylon's head, and the funky pot anthem, Mariwana. The album also features a cover of Junior Byles "Fade Away" that is surely on par with the original. The album was reissued on CD with a bunch of bonus tracks.