Black Ark Music 1973

 Black Ark Music 1973

This is Black Ark Music 1973. A discography of songs recorded at renowned Reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry's legendary recording facility during its first year in operation.

For those who don't know, the Black Ark Studio was located in the Washington Gardens district of Kingston, Jamaica and built in Lee Perry's own back yard at his home in Cardiff Cresent.
   
The first recordings at the studio began in 1973 and with only the most basic of equipment in the studio "Scratch" was able to create some fantastic riddims and instrumentals, eventually it began to attract artists, producers, engineers and musicians from across the island.

Bob Marley, Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, Jah Lion, The Silvertones and Susan Cadogan were among some of the big names who recorded music at the Black Ark in it's early years and on into what some would say was the Ark's 'Golden Era' of the mid to late seventies.

Many reggae fans agree that some of Jamaica's finest ever musical creations were recorded at the Black Ark including some incredible albums such as Max Romeo's "War Ina Babylon", The Heptones "Party Time" and of course "The Heart Of The Congos" which is considered one of the greatest reggae albums of all time.

It's incredible just how much music was produced from such a small and rudimentary studio, it's estimated that the numbers are well into the thousands of single songs and yet it operated only from around 1973 to about 1981.

It is of course well documented that around 1982 the Black Ark was destroyed after burning to the ground, the accounts of what happened vary, some suggesting that Scratch himself did it to rid himself of the constant stream of visitors disrupting his genius, others simply claim it was an electrical fault.
   
Either way by 1983 the Black Ark was no more and Lee Perry seemed to lose interest in rebuilding the Ark instead leaving for Europe.

Reggae music of course would continue, evolving digitally in eighties and the roots rockers style that was predominantly the Black Ark sound had begun to fade from Jamaica's musical taste.

The musical legacy left by Lee Perry and the phenomenal sounds created by him and others at his studio live on however with the constant re-issues of material but there is still so much that remains left behind in vinyl obscurity that remains unreleased.

Artists that recorded at the studio around this time include Sangie Davis & The Gatherers, Leo Graham, Max Romeo, Dillinger, Jimmy Riley, Junior Byles, I Roy and The Silvertones.

Not everything listed here was produced by Perry, lots of material was cut at The Black Ark by other producers and studio engineers including Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Sonia Pottinger, Pat Francis and many others. Also riddims cut at the Ark were often taken and further embellished elsewhere.

   

Discography:

1) The Gatherers - Start Over

2) The Upsetters - Start Over (Version)

3) The Gatherers - Start Over (Dub Plate)

4) The Gatherers - Words (Upsetter 7”)

5) The Upsetters - Words (Version)

6) The Gatherers - Words Of My Mouth (Orchid 7”)

7) The Upsetters - Words Of My Mouth (Version)

8) The Gatherers - Words (Trojan 7”)

9) The Upsetters - Kutchi Skank

10) Dillinger - Bring The Kutchi Come

11) Prince Django - Hot Tip

12) The Upsetters - Tip

13) Prince Django - Hot Tip (Dub Plate)

14) Lee ‘Scratch Perry & The Upsetters - Khasha Macka

15) Glen Adams - What About Africa

16) Augustus Pablo - Meditation Dub

17) The Gatherers - Words (10” Dub Plate)

18) The Gatherers - Words (Alternate Take)

19) The Towerchanters - Little Flute Chant

20) Bobby Floyd - Sound Doctor

21) Leo Graham - Three Blind Mice

22) The Upsetters - Mice Skank

23) Dillinger - Ensome City Skank

24) The Upsetters - Boloman Skank

                                                           

1) Max Romeo - Three Blind Mice

2) King Tubby - Three Times Three

3) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Three Blind Dub (Dub Plate)

4) I Roy - Dread In The West

5) The Upsetters - Lizard Tongue Rock

6) Leo Graham - Revelation Time

7) Lee Perry & Bunny Lee - Labrish

8) Leo Graham - Dig Pit

9) Leo Graham - Double Attack

10) Prince Williams - Action Wood

11) Jubby All-Stars - Action Wood (Part II)

12) Annette Clarke - I Want To Be There

13) Annette Clarke - Sinner Man

14) The Upsetters - Sinner Man Dub

15) Annette Clarke - Just One Look

16) The Upsetters - Dub Power

17) I Roy - Cow Town Rock

18) Augustus Pablo - Cow Town Skank

19) Augustus Pablo - Cow Town Version

20) Big Joe - Selassie Skank

21) Augustus Pablo - Skanking Easy

22) Augustus Pablo - Skanking Dub

                                                             

1) Charley Ace & Lloyd Tyrell - Lightning Stick

2) Gladstone Barrett & The Riders - Dem Laughing

3) Glen Adams - Can’t Hide Your Love

4) Junior Byles - Beat Down Comrade Man

5) Honey Boy - Peace In The Land

6) Bunny & Ricky - Freedom Fighter

7) The Upsetters - Iron Wolf

8) Bunny & Ricky - Freedom Fighter (Alternate 7” Mix)

9) The Upsetters - Iron Wolf (Alternate 7” Mix)

10) Trevor Wilson - Not I

11) Trevor Wilson - Give One Remie

12) The Upsetters - Better Reach

13) Hopeton Lewis - Don’t Take Your Guns To Town

14) Tony Brevett & The Upsetters - Don’t Get Weary

15) The Upsetters - Getting Weary

16) I Roy - Don’t Get Weary Joe Frazier

17) The Upsetters - Don’t Get Weary Joe Frazier (Version)

18) Little Youth - Zion Train

19) Stop Point All-Stars - Zion Train Dub

20) Big Joe - Zion Train (Alternate 7” Mix)

                                                                         

1) Jackie Bernard - Dread Out There

2) King Oney - Jah Jah Know

3) The Upsetters - Jah Jah Know Dub

4) Jackie Bernard - Jah Jah Way

5) The Upsetters - Jah Jah Way Dub

6) Jimmy London - Cathy’s Clown

7) Hot Shot All-Stars - Cathy’s Clown (Version)

8) Jimmy Riley - Darkness In The City

9) Chenley Duffus - Peace

10) The Soul Avengers - Peace Dub

11) The Professionals - Virginia Skank

12) Dr. Alimantado - Ride On Brother

13) Dr. Alimantado - Weak Heart Is Babylon

14) Lenroy Moffett & The Soul Tops - What It Takes

15) Leo Graham - Jump It

16) The Upsetters - Retail Love

17) Lee Perry & Jerry Lewis - Burning Wire

18) Leo Graham - We Have Got A Date

19) Blue Jay All-Stars - Meet Me At Eight

20) Prince Jazzbo - Penny Reel (Upsetter 7”)

21) The Upsetters - Penny Version

22) Prince Jazzbo - Penny Reel (DIP 7”)

23) Prince Jazzbo - Good Things (DIP 7”)

                                                                       

1) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - Bucky Skank

2) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - Yucky Skank

3) The Upsetters - Jucky Skank (Dub Plate)

4) Pat Francis & The Upsetters - King Of Kings

5) The Upsetters - King Of Kings Dub

6) Sir Clarkie - Madness

7) Charley & The Inswings - Mad Mad Dub

8) Stranger & Gladdy - My Application

9) The Ethiopians - It’s Impossible

10) Keith Poppin - Be Prepared

11) Junior Byles - Fever

12) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - In This Iwa 

13) King Medious - This World

14) The Upsetters - Medious Serenade

15) Prince Philio - Hot Pipe

16) Augustus Pablo - Hot & Cold

17) Jah T - Lick The Pipe Peter

18) Val Bennett & The Upsetters - Full Charge

19) Lee Perry & Melinda Slack - Want A Grine

20) The Upsetters - Jungle Fever

                                                                                 

1) Junior Byles - Curly Locks

2) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Dreader Locks

3) Junior Byles - Curly Locks (Alternate Take)

4) Junior Byles - Curly Locks (Alternate Take II)

5) Junior Byles - Curly Locks (Capo 7”)

6) The Upsetters - Lock & Key

7) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Militant Rock

8) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Golden Locks

9) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Golden Locks (Alternate Take)

10) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Golden Locks (Alternate Take II)

11) The Upsetters - Perry’s Mood

12) The Upsetters - Silver Locks

13) Johnny Lover & The Destroyers - Curley Locks

14) Johnny Lover - Ital Locks

15) Bradsetter All-Stars - Vital Drums

16) Junior Byles - Now Generation

17) Milton Henry - Sweet Taste Of Melody

18) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Cloak & Dagger

19) Dillinger - Dub Organizer

20) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - The Rightful Organizer

                                                                                         

1) Tommy McCook & The Upsetters - Cloak & Dagger (Dub Plate)

2) Judge Winchester - Public Jestering

3) Tommy McCook & The Upsetters - Rude Walking

4) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Bad Walking

5) Tommy McCook & The Upsetters - Table Turning

6) Prince Jazzbo - Crab Walking

7) New Establishment - Sky Rhythm

8) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Stagger

9) The Upsetters - Upsetters Shuffle (Dub Plate)

10) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Caveman Skank

11) The Upsetters - Apeman Skank

12) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Black Panther

13) The Upsetters - Panther Rock

14) I Stan - Vision Land

15) The Upsetters - Dreamland Skank

16) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Drum Rock

17) Delroy Butler & The Upsetters - Oppression

18) Jacob Miller - Knot Up Dread Locks

19) The Mighty Two - Knot Up Dread Locks (Version)

20) I Roy - Knotty Knots

21) I Roy - Knots Version

22) Tony Sexton - My Heart Is Gone

23) Vin Gordon - Heartically

24) Him & Her - Boneache

25) The Upsetters - Pussy Galore

                                                                  

1) Jah Martin & The Upsetters - Kung Fu

2) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Kung Fu (Part Two)

3) Jah Vill & The Upsetters - The Bump

4) The Upsetters - Bump Version

5) Ronnie Davis - Live In Unity

6) Sparkes & The Upsetters - Unity Version

7) Prince Far I - Psalm 53

8) The Bluebells - Tighten Up

9) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Cane River Rock

10) The Upsetters - River Side Rock

11) The Upsetters - Rocky River

12) Lee Perry & The Silvertones - Standing On The Hill

13) The First Editions - See & Blind

14) Johnny Sexology & The Upsetters - See & Blind Version

15) Max Romeo & The Silvertones - Are You Sure

16) The Silvertones - Early In The Morning

17) The Silvertones - Rock Me In Your Soul

18) The Upsetters - Rocking Dub

19) The Silvertones - Soul Sister

20) The Silvertones - Sweet & Loving Baby

21) The Silvertones - Rejoice Jah Jah Children

22) The Upsetters - Rejoicing Skank

23) The Silvertones - Rejoice Jah Jah Children (Alternate Horns Mix)

24) The Silvertones - Rejoice Jah Jah Children (Dub Plate)

25) Jah Lion - Colombia Colly

26) The Silvertones - Bring It On Home

27) The Silvertones - Give Praise (Alternate 7” Mix)

Be sure to track down all available Black Ark recorded albums and compilations many of which are out on Island Records, Trojan Records, Pressure Sounds. Just a simply search on Google and you can find many of them on Amazon or eBay. Also for listeners there is a fantastic selection of obscure material available on youtube.

As always feel free to let us know what you think, comment below or email pipecockjackxonrrm@gmail.com