King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown   w/ Augustus Pablo

Album notes

King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown compiles King Tubby's dubwise mixes of 12 classic Augustus Pablo-produced tracks. Personnel: Augustus Pablo (piano, Clavinet, organ); Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar); Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall (tenor saxophone); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Vincent "Don D Junior" Gordon (trombone); Robert "Robby" Shakespeare, Aston "Family Man" Barret, Leroy (bass); Carlton "Carlie" Barret (drums).

According to the Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, this is "regarded by many as one of the greatest dub albums of all time." Such regard is doubtless thanks to the stature of the individual talents collaborating here. Augustus Pablo, born Horace Swaby, 1954, proprietor of Rockers International record store and sound-system, was better known as an artist in his own right (developing a signature "Far East Sound" both as producer and soloist on the melodica). King Tubby, born Osbourne Ruddock 1941, began his adult life as a radio repairman and sound engineer, going on to pioneer a revolution in sound production, single-handedly inventing the art of the remix and the sub-genre of dub.

These tracks are less characterized by echo-chamber pyrotechnics and tricky manipulation of sonic space than many dub versions of the era, focusing more on subtle shifts in mood and complex ensemble playing. In addition to Pablo on melodica, the sessions feature such Jamaican studio legends as bassist Robbie Shakespeare and virtuoso drummer Carlton Barret of Wailers fame.

Ranked #38 among The Greatest Albums Of The '70s    NME (09.18.1993)

Included in The Rough Guide To Reggae
...100 Essential CD's...    (09.1999)

Included in Mojo's 50 Greatest Reggae Albums
...the definitive dub album...
Mojo (08.01. 2002)