Greetings,

Spent Thanksgiving Week cratedigging and vaping my way across Las Vegas. Nice to be only a cliche’ and not a criminal in the land of 8 down!

Just like Evanston on a Friday afternoon, 80% of the cars in the parking lot had Utah plates.

Well fortified, I hit Vegas and cratedug the city’s good record shops (Zia is the place in Vegas and Phoenix for good vinyl.) Their several vinyl only shops (Moondog Records, 11th Street Records). Video poker and black jack.

Watched Green Bay play awful in a Green Bay bar in North Las Vegas. Red beers (beer + tomato juice at 10am.) Caught Blade Runner 2049 on the big screen.

Good week except my laptop became a craptop. It died on me just as I was trying to upload this Digital Dubplate devoted to Lee “Scratch” Perry and his mythic Black Ark Studios.

From 1974-1979 when he destroyed it, some of spookiest and thickest Reggae was crafted here. Listen for the mooing cow! Everybody of note made their best Reggae albums in that studio: Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, Prince Jazzbo, George Faith. Even Marley’s Punky Reggae Party, recorded in England, had that throbbing Black Ark sound leavened with some shimmering high end.

At high volumes, I guarantee this will chase the mice away and knock the cobwebs off your walls!

Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark Studio

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica: Digital Dubplate – Lee “Scratch” Perry at the Black Ark Studio

0-30 min.

• Lee “Scratch” Perry – Soul Man; Upsetter Box Set (Trojan)  ’73 Sam & Dave cover: 3 Hours of Black Ark/Lee “Scratch” Perry
• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Punky Reggae Party (Tuff Gong) ‘77
• Jolly Brothers – Conscious Man; Conscious Man (Roots/Seven Leaves) ‘78
• The Congos – Children Crying; Heart of the Congos (Blood & Fire)  ’77 
• Aisha Morrison – Ethiopia; Stay Red (Rhino UK)
• Robert Palmer – Love Can Run Faster;  Double Fun (Island) ’78 rocker recorded/mixed at the Black Ark
• Max Romeo – One Step Forward; War ina Babylon (Mango) ‘76

30-60 min.

• George Faith – I’ve Got the Groove; To Be a Lover (Mango)  ’77
• Heptones – Mistry Babylon; Open the Gate (Trojan) ‘77
• Candy McKenzie – When the Big Day; Lee “Scratch” Perry Presents (Trojan)  ’77
• Mystic & the Upsetters – Forward With Jah Orthodox; Rastafari LIveth Itinually (Justice League) ‘78

60-90 min.

• Native – Rockstone; Rockstone (Pressure Sounds) ‘77
• Prince Jazzbo – Prophet Live + Prophet Dub (Satta); Ital Corner (Clocktower) ‘76
• Peter Tosh – Downpressor; Upsetters Showcase (Trojan) ’71
• Dr. Alimantado – Reggae Music; 12” (Upsetter Disco Jam) ‘77
• Dreadlocks Fay – Back Wey + Version; 7” (Upsetter) ’75  

90 min. – 2 hr.

• Meditations – House of Parliament; 7” (Black Art) ‘78
• Jack Lord & the Disciples – Economic Crisis; 7” (Upsetter) ‘78
• Lion Zion – Arise America; Reggae in America (House of Natty) ‘76
• Ralph Haughton & the Ebony Sisters – Take Warning; 7” (Wild Flower) ‘76
• Denzil Dennis – Women and Money; 7” (Upsetter)
• Earl “Chinna” Smith – Bingo Kid; 7” (Black Art) ’76 B side to Junior Murvin Police & Thieves
• The Stingers & King Iwah – Give Me Power; Give Me Power (Trojan) ’71 

2 hr. – 2 and 1/2 hr.

• The Silvertones – Rejoice in Ja Jah Children; Words of My Mouth (Trojan)
• Junior Murvin & Dillinger – Roots Train; Police & Thieves (Mango) ’77
• Augustus Pablo – Vibrate On; 7” (Black Art)
• Flying Sensation – Shoulder to the Wheel; Lost Treasures of the Ark (Jet Star) 

2 and 1/2 – 3 hr.

• Junior Byles & the Versatiles – Cutting Razor; Cutting Razor (Heartbeat)
• Watty Burnett – I Man Free; Produced and Directed by the Upsetter (Pressure Sounds) ‘74
• Lloyd & Devon – Wolf Out Deh; Voodooism (Pressure Sounds) ’77