The Black Ark Revisited - A Tribute Album

Greetings! The next offering we have here is exactly what it says on the box:
The Black Ark Revisited.

Songs that had been recorded at Lee "Scratch" Perry's legendary studio in the back yard of his home in Washington Gardens, Kingston Jamaica, The Black Ark, re-recorded, updated and covered by the original artists and some of todays biggest names who pay tribute to the mighty little studio.

Max Romeo recorded his incredible album at the Black Ark, "War Ina Babylon" which was released on Island records in 1976 and is still kept in print to this day because of it's quality and the production work from Scratch.

In 2010 Max Romeo released the self-produced "Best Of Max Romeo & Friends", which saw him re-unite with former Black Ark musicians and artists including The Congos, Prince Jazzbo and Carl Dawkins and also some other well known names including The Viceroys and Ruffi-Ann.

The album finds Romeo and his collaborators updating and re-recording his older hits including some his great Black Ark material, most of which is included on this album, including "Chase The Devil", "Uptown Babies Don't Cry" and "One Step Forward" (which features Prince Jazzbo who re-creates his take on the rhythm "Ital Corner").

Another Black Ark recording legend is Junior Murvin whose massive hit "Police & Thieves" has been covered by many including punk rockers The Clash who included a version on their debut album.

In 2007 Murvin recorded the album "Inna De Yard" which was released on the Makasounds label and included a number of his Black Ark songs, re-recorded including "Roots Train", "Solomon" and "Memories" (a track from his unreleased second Black Ark album "Cross Over") which are included here.

Leroy Sibbles began his career as a member of the wonderful vocal trio The Heptones who recorded their impressive 1976 album "Party Time" at the Black Ark with Scratch on fine form production-wise.

In 1983 Sibbles went solo and released the album "On Top" which included an updated version of "Party Time" which is also included on this album.

The Heptones often got back together to record through-out the 80's and 90's and in 2002 released the album "Good Vibes" which contained a version of the Paul Anka penned "Diana", a track recorded by George Faith at the Black Ark for his "To Be A Lover" album. The Heptones version is an up-dated take on the Black Ark cut.

The Congos (Roy Johnson & Cedric Myton) recorded the powerful epic "Heart Of The Congos" album at the Black Ark in 1977. Some say the greatest production of a vocal group by Scratch during the Black Ark years and one of the greatest Reggae albums of all time.

When Island records failed to release the album things turned sour between The Congos and Lee Perry who had a big falling out and The Congos left the Black Ark to record for other producers in Jamaica.

The groups follow-up album, "Congo Ashanti" released in 1979 was a nice record but never really hits the heights of their debut, originally released on a French label it was picked up in 2003 by Blood & Fire, who had also re-released the groups debut. The label included a few bonus tracks on the re-issue including a re-make of the Black Ark recorded "At The Feast" in a 'disco mix' style, and is included here.

In 2010 a French agency called Mediacom brokered a deal between The Congos and Lee Perry to finally get back together and collaborate. The agency managed to get Roy Johnson, Cedric Myton, Lee Perry and Watty Burnett back in the studio in Kingston for four days with former Black Ark musicians, bassist Boris Gardiner and guitarist Robbie Lynn among them to record the (mis-leading but enjoyable) "Back In The Black Ark" album.

Of course it wasn't really recorded in the Black Ark which had burned to the ground in the early 80's but the premise was correct and the album was nice with The Congos on good form and even Lee Perry seems quite restrained compared to his own musical offerings of modern times which are certainly hit and miss.

Produced by Perry and Clive Hunt "Back In The Black Ark" is a mix of Myton/Johnson originals and some covers including "Rainy Night In Georgia" which has Watty Burnett on lead vocals. Indeed Watty had recorded this track before under the adapted title of "Rainy Night In Portland" with Scratch at the Black Ark in late 1977.

George Faith (real name Earl George Lawrence) recorded his beautiful debut album "To Be A Lover" at the Black Ark in 1977. An album of well chosen soul covers drenched in the sounds of the Black Ark and released by Island subsidary label Black Swan. Lee Perry had also released it prior to this in Jamaica only on his 'Black Art' imprint under the title "Super Eight".

When George Faith returned to the studio in 1978 to record the follow-up "Working On The Guideline" he was met with problems. Firstly the studio had become home to a large number of ghetto-folk and Nyahbinghi bredren who would hang around the studio day and night. Secondly Scratch was acting very strange and was very unfocused, he was trying to work on a number of projects all at once and so Faith had to take a back seat whilst other albums were completed.

A handful of songs were recorded by George Faith and Perry including the title track and "Don't Be Afraid" but eventually Faith decided to leave the studio and take the songs he had started at the Ark over to Alvin Ranglin and Bunny Lee. It was during these sessions that Faith re-recorded his popular hit "To Be A Lover (Have Mercy) and the song "Working On The Guideline" around 1979.

Earl Sixteen is a name that pops up in Black Ark folklore and indeed the young artist did record a number of tunes at the studio in the very late 70's. The album "Phoenix Of Peace" that appeared in the early 80's was credited at the time as being a long lost Black Ark album however even tho all the rhythm tracks are official Black Ark recorded tunes the vocals were recorded later at another studio.

Either way it seems Earl Sixteen did have a love of the Black Ark sound and has often used it as inspiration for his material. Included here is his fine take on the Black Ark standard "Words Of My Mouth" (originally by Sangie Davis & The Gatherers) released on the Bombist label in 2012 and produced by Bost & Bim.

Interestingly the B-Side to this release is a track called "Love Inna Mi Heart" by Lee Perry's son Omar.

The next artist, Rankin' Alpha, whose 2011 album "Babylon Is Fallin'" released on the Cucca & Racha label contains covers of two Black Ark classics. The first is a take of "Throw Some Water In", a song written and recorded by Lee Perry for his solo album "Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread" in 1978 and the second is a cover of The Congos "Children Crying" from the previously mentioned "Heart Of The Congos" album. Both are fantastic versions and Rankin' Alpha even resembles Perry vocally at times.

J-Boog is an up and coming youngster from Hawaii who has been making an impact recently with the singles "Let's Do It Again" and his self-titled debut E.P which includes an excellent version of Junior Murvin's "Police & Thieves". One to watch I think.

Yami Bolo has been around for a while now, breaking through in the late 80's, he was a popular figure through-out the 90's dancehall scene. In 1997 he collaborated with Ragga DJ Merciless on a cover of the Junior Byles Black Ark classic "Curly Locks" with legendary producer duo Sly & Robbie, released on the Music City label.

Another well known artist to cover "Curly Locks" is Freddie McGregor, the lover's rock legend, who included it on his 1992 album "....Sings Jamaican Classics - Vol. 2" which also contains a cover of another Junior Byles classic "Beat Down Babylon".

Bob Marley also frequently visited the Black Ark to record from time to time and in 1978 he recorded the track "I Know A Place" which didn't surface for many years until after Bob's untimely death.

In 2001 Island Records were putting together the compilation album "One Love - The Very Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers" and asked European DJ's Secret Agents to remix the song for inclusion. Their resulting mix was also issued as a single to promote the album.

After The Congos had left the Black Ark Lee Perry began working with another roots group called The Jolly Brothers who recorded the album "Conscious Man" in 1978. It was a fine album with some great songs including the title track which broke into the top 50 of the UK singles chart. It also contained a number of other singles which Perry gave to a small independent label called Seven Leaves, who also issued a number of other Black Ark cuts Perry produced around 1978.

The Jolly Brothers went on to record a follow up album when they signed with CBS Records called "Consciousness" which included the Black Ark recorded "Conscious Man" along with some less successful tracks recorded elsewhere and the group faded from view.

In 2009 two of the original Jolly Brothers re-united and recorded the album "Cool Down" which contained new versions of "Conscious Man" and "Cool Down" which had also been recorded at the Black Ark.

British based producer Mad Professor (real name Neil Frazer) has always expressed his love of Lee Perry and the Black Ark and when he finally got to collaborate with Perry in the 80's it was a dream come true for the young artist. However, the many albums the two worked together on were usually pretty poor with Perry often drunk and rambling jibberish over Mad Professors' lazy dubs.

One of the slightly better offerings from the two was the album "DubFire" and probably better still the dub album counterpart "Fire In Dub" in 1998 which contained versions of Black Ark classics including "Soul Fire" and "Favourite Dish" and was released on Professor's Ariwa label and also RAS records.

Mad Professor also worked with another Black Ark name, Susan Cadogan, whose Perry produced track "Hurt So Good" became a massive chart hit in the UK in 1975. Cadogan recorded her debut album at the Black Ark with Perry before leaving for England to work with British producers on what would turn out to be weaker material and she would eventually fade from popularity.

Susan Cadogan would return to the studio periodically and in 2008 recorded the album "Two Sides Of Susan" with producer Mad Professor. It was a great lover's rock record with some really nice tunes and a much more polished sound from the Professor, it included a re-make of "Hurt So Good" with a DJ cut by legend U-Roy on the b-side.

The late, great 'cool ruler of reggae' Mister Gregory Isaacs was another regular visitor of the Black Ark who cut the fantastic single "Mr. Cop" with Perry in 1976. Although it's likely that Isaacs recorded enough material at the studio for a full release only a handful made it onto the album "Extra Classic" which is still one of his biggest selling albums of his career.

In 1992 Isaacs released the album "Pardon Me!" which contained a re-make of "Mr. Cop" featuring British MC Macka B, issued on the Rounder label.

In 1978 Island records sent British rock artist, the late, Robert Palmer to the Black Ark to record some material for his 4th solo album "Double Fun". Palmer was a fan of Perry and also of Reggae in general and wanted to include some of the island sound on his latest record.

The track "Love Can Run Faster", a great slice of the Black Ark sound complete with Full Experience harmonies, has so far been the only song released from these sessions. It was included as a b-side to Palmer's rock hit "Bad Case Of Loving You". When the album "Double Fun" was released however the Black Ark version had been replaced by an updated recording from a different studio and the remaining tracks cut with Lee Perry remain unreleased.

In 2006 the Blood & Fire label, who had done a great job in remastering the classic Congos album "Heart Of The Congos", released a one-riddim album entitled "The Congos & Friends - Fisherman Style". The album saw a number of modern reggae artists and former Black Ark regulars including Prince Jazzbo and U-Roy perform new vocals over the Congos original Black Ark rhythm to "Fisherman".

Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, a group made up of Bob Marley's children, enjoyed some success in the 80's with their debut album "Conscious Party" which contained the smash hit "Tomorrow People". In 1991 the band released the album "Jahmekya" which included a cover of their father's classic Black Ark recording "Rainbow Country".

Finally this compilation ends with the man himself, Lee "Scratch" Perry, whose post Black Ark material I have always found very hard work, more misses than hits. He seems to just chat nonsense through albums whilst collaborators including Mad Professor, Munchie Jackson, Lloyd 'Bullwackie' Barnes and Adrian Sherwood provide usually bland and uninspiring backing tracks.

In 2008 however, in collaboration with Adrian Sherwood, Lee Perry released the album "The Mighty Upsetter" which finally was some kind of return to form for the reggae legend.
Having stopped eating meat, drinking alcohol and smoking ganja it seemed Perry had found some sort of co-hearance, enough at least to record easily his best album in over 20 years.

The album is made up mainly of old Black Ark rhythms, re-recorded and updated by Sherwood and has Perry delivering some great vocal toasts with female harmonies reminisant of Full Experience.
The song included here is "Yellow Tongue" which features Samia Farah and is on an updated "Fever" rhythm and includes the fantastic line "I'll use my intestines like a lasso to catch them"!

Enjoy!   : )

Tracklisting

Disc One:

1) Lee Perry & Mad Professor - Soul Fire
2) Max Romeo & Prince Jazzbo - One Step Forward (Ital Corner)
3) Junior Murvin - Roots Train
4) Leroy Sibbles - Party Time
5) The Congos - At The Feast (Discomix)
6) George Faith - To Be A Lover (Have Mercy)
7) Max Romeo & Kamau - Chase The Devil
8) J-Boog - Police & Thieves
9) Earl 16 - Words Of My Mouth
10) Rankin' Alpha - Throw Some Water In
11) Yami Bolo & Merciless - Curly Locks
12) Luciano - Going Home (Fisherman Rhythm)
13) The Jolly Brothers - Conscious Man
14) Junior Murvin - Memories
15) Bob Marley & The Wailers - I Know A Place (2001 Single Remix)
16) Max Romeo & Brandy - Wha Yuh Ago Tell Jah Say?

Disc Two:

1) Lee Perry & Mad Professor - Favourite Dish
2) Max Romeo & The Viceroys - War Ina Babylon (Sipple Out Deh)
3) Rankin' Alpha - Children Crying
4) Susan Cadogan & Mad Professor - Hurt So Good
5) Gregory Isaacs & Macka B - Mister Cop
6) George Faith - Working On The Guideline
7) Watty Burnett & The Congos - Rainy Night In Georgia
8) The Jolly Brothers - Cool Down
9) Junior Murvin - Solomon
10) The Heptones - Diana
11) Max Romeo & Carl Dawkins - Uptown Babies Don't Cry
12) Freddie McGregor - Curly Locks
13) Early One - Jig Jig Jig (Fisherman Rhythm)
14) Robert Palmer - Love Can Run Faster
15) Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers - Rainbow Country
16) Lee "Scratch" Perry & Samia Farah - Yellow Tongue (Fever Rhythm)


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