Lee Perry
title:: I Am The Upsetter
label:: Trojan
format:: 4xCD
Reviewing this 4 CD box set is beyond daunting. Lee 'Scratch' Perry is practically untouchable. His hands have been deep in every era of reggae from the late 60s to today (he recently collaborated with Lazyboy for a pretty fine double 7inch).
I thought I exclusively liked instrumental dub, but after immersing myself in this set, the old wonder I used to have when I was a kid and listened to Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and The Heptones has returned. All the tracks on this set are pretty incredible.
This box set is divided into eras: Disc 1: 1968 to 1971, Disc 2: 1972 to 1974, Disc 3: 1975 to 1978, and Disc 4: 1974 to 1978 Dub & Instrumentals.
Trojan has also issued a companion box set of 7inch singles to go along with this. I have not been able to find that set in the store. The vinyl box set has completely different tracks than are here, and they are all dub instrumentals.
On disk 1, Lee Perry & The Defender's Set Them Free is a spoken piece with music below. The speaker is representing a couple of rascals that were arrested for thieving. He asks Your Honor to spare them, as their life of poverty drove them to steal. Many such heavy topics appear on this set.
Django Shoots First by Sir Lord Comic has high pitched and super low vocal exclamations over an upbeat bed of music with organ and handheld percussions. It is fun party music. The Upsetters' Return of the Ugly is somewhat similar, and just as good.
Though disk 4 is the instrumental disc, there are several tracks without vocals scattered on the other discs. Clint Eastwood by Lee "Scratch" Perry is one of my faves, with cow bell and strong rhythm.
Junior Byle's Beat Down Babylon has the beautifully voiced Junior Byles singing a catchy track, with a whip sound as the hook, and an organ with a sound that makes you want to dance.
David Barker's Small Axe closes out disc 1 with an incredible guitar lick that provides a slamming hook to the James Brown styled vocals and already catchy music.
These are only a sprinkling of my faves - in fact, all these are from disc 1. This set will be a worthy investment for any fans of Lee Perry, no matter how much of his material you already own.
Faves:
CD1: 2, 4, 10, 12, 23, 25
CD2:
CD3: 14
CD4: 6, 7, 17
---Carl
Disc 1: 1968 to 1971
- I Am the Upsetter - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Set Them Free - Lee Perry & The Defenders
- People Funny Boy - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Django Shoots First - Sir Lord Comic
- What a Botheration - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- You Crummy - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Return of Django - The Upsetters
- Check Him Out - The Bleechers
- Prisoner of Love - David Barker
- Return of the Ugly - The Upsetters
- Rightful Ruler - U-Roy
- Clint Eastwood - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Medical Operation - The Upsetters
- Kill Them All - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Shocks of the Mighty - David Barker
- Sipreano - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Duppy Conqueror - Bob Marley
- Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying - David Barker
- Son of Thunder - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Place Called Africa - Junior Byles
- Give Me Power - King Iwah
- Small Axe - Bob Marley
- Beat Down Babylon - Junior Byles
- All Over - Clancy Eccles
- Small Axe Version 2 (aka Shocks '71) [Version] - David Barker
Disc 2: 1972 to 1974
- Public Enemy Number One - Max Romeo
- Professor Ironside - Lloyd Parks
- Hot & Cold - Augustus Pablo
- Back Biter - Dennis Alcapone
- Preacher Man - The Stingers
- Blackman Time - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Babylose Burning - Maxie
- Justice to the People - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Cow Thief Shank - Charlie Ace
- Black Ipa - The Upsetters
- Jungle Lion - The Upsetters
- Bathroom Skank - The Upsetters
- Words - Gatherers
- Dub Organiser - Dillinger
- Better Days - The Carltons
- Station Underground News - King Koba
- Rebels Train - The Upsetters
- To Be a Lover - George Earl
- Herb Vendor - Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
- Hurts So Good - Susan Cadogan
- Curley Lock - Junior Byles
- Golden Locks - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Woman & Money - Denzil Dennis
Disc 3: 1975 to 1978
- Bury the Razor - The Upsetters
- Woman Gotta Have Love - Jimmy Riley
- Stay Dread - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Fire fe the Vatican - Max Romeo
- Roots Train Number One - Junior Murvin
- Ital Corner - Prince Jazzbo
- Thanks & Praise - Junior Ainsworth
- Forward With the Orthodox - Mistic I
- I Was Appointed [Alternate Cut] [Alternate Take] - Junior Murvin
- Groovy Situation [Dub Plate Mix] [Dub][Mix] - Keith Rowe
- Words [12" Disco Word] [Version] - Anthony "Sangie" Davis
- Know Love [12" Disco Love] [Version] - Twin Roots
- Sons of Slaves [12" Disco Cork] [Version] - Junior Delgado
- Bad Weed [12"] - Junior Murvin
- City Too Hot [12"] - Lee "Scratch" Perry
Disc 4: 1974 to 1978 Dub & Instrumentals
- Cloak & Dagger - Tommy McCook
- Rude Walking - Tommy McCook
- Caveman Skank - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Black Panta - The Upsetters
- Flashing Echo - The Upsetters
- Kojak - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Bush Weed - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Enter the Dragon - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Fungea - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Judgement Day - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Voodoo Man - Vin Gordon
- Kingdom of Dub [Dub] - The Upsetters
- Dubism - The Upsetters
- Lizard Stick - The Upsetters
- Dub fu Ye Rights - The Upsetters
- Foundation Solid [Alternate Mix] - The Upsetters
- Babylon Thief Dub [Dub] - Augustus Pablo
- Vampire [Horns][Version] - The Upsetters
- Lover Dub [Dub] - Augustus Pablo
- Huzza Hana - Lee "Scratch" Perry
