Smokers Delight, 11 Dec 2006
Like lots of Reggae/ Carribean Soul this album really strikes a chord when you are under the influence. The groove is somewhere between Church singer, Soul rebel hornplay and slow reggae drift groove to your average man in the street.
But then you listen to the album as a whole while really relaxed and you actually wonder how an album can be created that is so utterly timeless and even verging on futuristic! I believe this album was one of the first Reggae albums to use a drum machine and it augments the Dub styling and core Religious values along with the knowledge that Max Romeo was a down and dirty dub artist before and after.
The album is centred on inner peace and making things right and I wonder if the album is slightly introspective of the artist, because it is incredibly personable, I felt Max was a friend giving me close knowledge of what he had fought against in life. The man has Rastafari values and it shines through in his communication.
Then you wake up next day, listen again and wonder why it was great last night under the influence.

Can't give favourite songs on this album because it's 60 minutes of atmosphere, not individual highlights.

Under Lee Scratch Perry, Romeo is on fire!!!!!!, 05 Nov 2001
This excellent and normally very hard to find gem is a must for any fans of reggae/funky music.Under the supervision of mentalist producer and inventor of dub, Lee Scratch Perry (a.k.a Pipecock Jackson) and with the help of Perry's Upsetters group, Romeo made a classic of Jamaican music.The hit, 'War In A Babylon' features but the outanding track is most definitely 'I Chase The Devil'.In this song Romeo sings how he will 'put on an iron shirt and chase the devil outta earth'.This song was sampled heavily by the Prodigy for their breakbeat hit 'Outa Space' and used more recently in a trance dance track; none of them compare to the orignal!!!!The album is worth buying for this track alone but there are still many other great smoking tunes such as 'Norman' and 'Smokey Room'.Buy this album, you will not be dissapointed.

Smokers Delight, 11 Dec 2006
Like lots of Reggae/ Carribean Soul this album really strikes a chord when you are under the influence. The groove is somewhere between Church singer, Soul rebel hornplay and slow reggae drift groove to your average man in the street.
But then you listen to the album as a whole while really relaxed and you actually wonder how an album can be created that is so utterly timeless and even verging on futuristic! I believe this album was one of the first Reggae albums to use a drum machine and it augments the Dub styling and core Religious values along with the knowledge that Max Romeo was a down and dirty dub artist before and after.
The album is centred on inner peace and making things right and I wonder if the album is slightly introspective of the artist, because it is incredibly personable, I felt Max was a friend giving me close knowledge of what he had fought against in life. The man has Rastafari values and it shines through in his communication.
Then you wake up next day, listen again and wonder why it was great last night under the influence.

Can't give favourite songs on this album because it's 60 minutes of atmosphere, not individual highlights.

Under Lee Scratch Perry, Romeo is on fire!!!!!!, 05 Nov 2001
This excellent and normally very hard to find gem is a must for any fans of reggae/funky music.Under the supervision of mentalist producer and inventor of dub, Lee Scratch Perry (a.k.a Pipecock Jackson) and with the help of Perry's Upsetters group, Romeo made a classic of Jamaican music.The hit, 'War In A Babylon' features but the outanding track is most definitely 'I Chase The Devil'.In this song Romeo sings how he will 'put on an iron shirt and chase the devil outta earth'.This song was sampled heavily by the Prodigy for their breakbeat hit 'Outa Space' and used more recently in a trance dance track; none of them compare to the orignal!!!!The album is worth buying for this track alone but there are still many other great smoking tunes such as 'Norman' and 'Smokey Room'.Buy this album, you will not be dissapointed.

His best reggae period?, 15 Jan 2008
First up I want to say I've got the 3 LP versions, but it's the same tracks in the same order. Despite the fact this is volume 4 of a series documenting the complete out put of a long defunct record label it will appeal to all reggae fans, no matter how casual their interest. The reason is the strength of the music presented here. If you want bona fide classics you have Beat Down Babylon by Junior Byles, Cow Thief Skank by The Upsetters and a couple of Wailers biggies for good measure. Top draw Scratch productions for the collectors? Preacher Man by The Stingers (one of his very very best) and the impossibly rare Natty Natty by Alva 'Reggie' Lewis. Oh and the 'version' sides too. And 4 takes on the Beat Down Babylon rhythm. And it doesn't wear out its welcome. Highlights are the DJ tracks, using familiar rhythms to great effect. All that is needed is 'Words Of My Mouth' by The Gatherers and 'King Of Babylon' by Junior Byles (neither released on UK Upsetter) and you would have the complete picture of post Wailers, pre - Black Ark Lee Perry - one of his most creative and rewarding periods. The booklet is informative, lots of artist biog details and an intresting essay. There are some nice label scans and photo's, but I would have liked more dates for the recordings. I don't want to sound too gushing, but: Buy this - its brilliant, joyous, enjoyable and essential music.

Smokers Delight, 11 Dec 2006
Like lots of Reggae/ Carribean Soul this album really strikes a chord when you are under the influence. The groove is somewhere between Church singer, Soul rebel hornplay and slow reggae drift groove to your average man in the street.
But then you listen to the album as a whole while really relaxed and you actually wonder how an album can be created that is so utterly timeless and even verging on futuristic! I believe this album was one of the first Reggae albums to use a drum machine and it augments the Dub styling and core Religious values along with the knowledge that Max Romeo was a down and dirty dub artist before and after.
The album is centred on inner peace and making things right and I wonder if the album is slightly introspective of the artist, because it is incredibly personable, I felt Max was a friend giving me close knowledge of what he had fought against in life. The man has Rastafari values and it shines through in his communication.
Then you wake up next day, listen again and wonder why it was great last night under the influence.

Can't give favourite songs on this album because it's 60 minutes of atmosphere, not individual highlights.

Under Lee Scratch Perry, Romeo is on fire!!!!!!, 05 Nov 2001
This excellent and normally very hard to find gem is a must for any fans of reggae/funky music.Under the supervision of mentalist producer and inventor of dub, Lee Scratch Perry (a.k.a Pipecock Jackson) and with the help of Perry's Upsetters group, Romeo made a classic of Jamaican music.The hit, 'War In A Babylon' features but the outanding track is most definitely 'I Chase The Devil'.In this song Romeo sings how he will 'put on an iron shirt and chase the devil outta earth'.This song was sampled heavily by the Prodigy for their breakbeat hit 'Outa Space' and used more recently in a trance dance track; none of them compare to the orignal!!!!The album is worth buying for this track alone but there are still many other great smoking tunes such as 'Norman' and 'Smokey Room'.Buy this album, you will not be dissapointed.

His best reggae period?, 15 Jan 2008
First up I want to say I've got the 3 LP versions, but it's the same tracks in the same order. Despite the fact this is volume 4 of a series documenting the complete out put of a long defunct record label it will appeal to all reggae fans, no matter how casual their interest. The reason is the strength of the music presented here. If you want bona fide classics you have Beat Down Babylon by Junior Byles, Cow Thief Skank by The Upsetters and a couple of Wailers biggies for good measure. Top draw Scratch productions for the collectors? Preacher Man by The Stingers (one of his very very best) and the impossibly rare Natty Natty by Alva 'Reggie' Lewis. Oh and the 'version' sides too. And 4 takes on the Beat Down Babylon rhythm. And it doesn't wear out its welcome. Highlights are the DJ tracks, using familiar rhythms to great effect. All that is needed is 'Words Of My Mouth' by The Gatherers and 'King Of Babylon' by Junior Byles (neither released on UK Upsetter) and you would have the complete picture of post Wailers, pre - Black Ark Lee Perry - one of his most creative and rewarding periods. The booklet is informative, lots of artist biog details and an intresting essay. There are some nice label scans and photo's, but I would have liked more dates for the recordings. I don't want to sound too gushing, but: Buy this - its brilliant, joyous, enjoyable and essential music.

Essential stuff but get the Original Super Ape!, 27 Oct 2003
This album is a must for Lee Perry fans and reggaelovers alike! However, try to get a copy of 'The Original Super Ape', which incorporates the 'Return of the super ape' album with 5 rare bonus tracks added!
For me the absolute killers on this 1978 Black Ark album are (amongst others) the mindbending "Jah Jah ah Natty Dread" & "Psycha & Trim" (both with divine Perry madness/beauty/mastership) and the unique and incredibly beautiful "Bird in Hand"...

Hail to the mighty Upsetter!

Smokers Delight, 11 Dec 2006
Like lots of Reggae/ Carribean Soul this album really strikes a chord when you are under the influence. The groove is somewhere between Church singer, Soul rebel hornplay and slow reggae drift groove to your average man in the street.
But then you listen to the album as a whole while really relaxed and you actually wonder how an album can be created that is so utterly timeless and even verging on futuristic! I believe this album was one of the first Reggae albums to use a drum machine and it augments the Dub styling and core Religious values along with the knowledge that Max Romeo was a down and dirty dub artist before and after.
The album is centred on inner peace and making things right and I wonder if the album is slightly introspective of the artist, because it is incredibly personable, I felt Max was a friend giving me close knowledge of what he had fought against in life. The man has Rastafari values and it shines through in his communication.
Then you wake up next day, listen again and wonder why it was great last night under the influence.

Can't give favourite songs on this album because it's 60 minutes of atmosphere, not individual highlights.

Under Lee Scratch Perry, Romeo is on fire!!!!!!, 05 Nov 2001
This excellent and normally very hard to find gem is a must for any fans of reggae/funky music.Under the supervision of mentalist producer and inventor of dub, Lee Scratch Perry (a.k.a Pipecock Jackson) and with the help of Perry's Upsetters group, Romeo made a classic of Jamaican music.The hit, 'War In A Babylon' features but the outanding track is most definitely 'I Chase The Devil'.In this song Romeo sings how he will 'put on an iron shirt and chase the devil outta earth'.This song was sampled heavily by the Prodigy for their breakbeat hit 'Outa Space' and used more recently in a trance dance track; none of them compare to the orignal!!!!The album is worth buying for this track alone but there are still many other great smoking tunes such as 'Norman' and 'Smokey Room'.Buy this album, you will not be dissapointed.

His best reggae period?, 15 Jan 2008
First up I want to say I've got the 3 LP versions, but it's the same tracks in the same order. Despite the fact this is volume 4 of a series documenting the complete out put of a long defunct record label it will appeal to all reggae fans, no matter how casual their interest. The reason is the strength of the music presented here. If you want bona fide classics you have Beat Down Babylon by Junior Byles, Cow Thief Skank by The Upsetters and a couple of Wailers biggies for good measure. Top draw Scratch productions for the collectors? Preacher Man by The Stingers (one of his very very best) and the impossibly rare Natty Natty by Alva 'Reggie' Lewis. Oh and the 'version' sides too. And 4 takes on the Beat Down Babylon rhythm. And it doesn't wear out its welcome. Highlights are the DJ tracks, using familiar rhythms to great effect. All that is needed is 'Words Of My Mouth' by The Gatherers and 'King Of Babylon' by Junior Byles (neither released on UK Upsetter) and you would have the complete picture of post Wailers, pre - Black Ark Lee Perry - one of his most creative and rewarding periods. The booklet is informative, lots of artist biog details and an intresting essay. There are some nice label scans and photo's, but I would have liked more dates for the recordings. I don't want to sound too gushing, but: Buy this - its brilliant, joyous, enjoyable and essential music.

Essential stuff but get the Original Super Ape!, 27 Oct 2003
This album is a must for Lee Perry fans and reggaelovers alike! However, try to get a copy of 'The Original Super Ape', which incorporates the 'Return of the super ape' album with 5 rare bonus tracks added!
For me the absolute killers on this 1978 Black Ark album are (amongst others) the mindbending "Jah Jah ah Natty Dread" & "Psycha & Trim" (both with divine Perry madness/beauty/mastership) and the unique and incredibly beautiful "Bird in Hand"...

Hail to the mighty Upsetter!

Essential stuff but get the Original Super Ape!, 27 Oct 2003
This album is a must for Lee Perry fans and reggaelovers alike! However, try to get a copy of 'The Original Super Ape', which incorporates the 'Return of the super ape' album with 5 rare bonus tracks added!
For me the absolute killers on this 1978 Black Ark album are (amongst others) the mindbending "Jah Jah ah Natty Dread" & "Psycha & Trim" (both with divine Perry madness/beauty/mastership) and the unique and incredibly beautiful "Bird in Hand"...

Hail to the mighty Upsetter!