Black Ark Music 1976

 

This is Black Ark Music 1976. A discography of songs recorded at renowned Reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry's legendary recording facility during a year that saw the studio gain international recognition from a string of albums and singles picked up by major label Island Records.

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 recording at the studio around this time include Bob Marley, The Heptones, Max Romeo, Prince Jazzbo, Junior Murvin, Jah Lion (aka Jah Lloyd) and many others.

Not everything listed here was produced by Perry, lots of material was cut at The Black Ark by other producers and studio engineers including King Tubby, Clive ‘Azul’ Hunt, Augustus Pablo, Sonia Pottinger, Tappa Zukie, Rupie Edwards and many others. Also riddims cut at the Ark were often taken and further embellished elsewhere.

    

Discography:

1) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - Roast Fish & Corn Bread

2) The Upsetters - Corn Fish Dub

3) The Bluebells - Come Along (Island 7” Mix)

4) The Upsetters - Dub Along

5) The Bluebells - Come Along (Black Art 7” Mix)

6) The Upsetters - Along Came A Dub

7) The Bluebells - Come Along (Alternate Mix)

8) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Dub Along (Album Mix)

9) Brent Dowe - Down Here In Babylon

10) The Upsetters - If The Cap Fits Wear It

11) Brent Dowe - Down Here In Babylon (Alternate Mix)

12) The Upsetters - If The Cap Fits (Alternate Mix)

13) Prince Williams - Jah Jah Rock

14) The Upsetters - Dub Rock

15) The Admirals - Natty Should Be Free

16) Ansel Collins - Far East Special

17) Bobby Ellis - Ska Baby

18) The Upsetters - Ska Version

19) Dread Locks Faye - Back Wey

20) The Upsetters - Fay Dread Locks

                                                                              

1) Jah Lloyd - Doctor Natty

2) Jackie Brown All-Stars - M.D. Version

3) Jah Lion - Sata 

4) Augustus Pablo - Silent Satta

5) Augustus Pablo - Pablo’s Satta

6) King Tubby - Tubby’s Special

7) Prince Jazzbo - Prophet Live

8) The Upsetters - Prophet Dub

9) The Upsetters - Satta Dub

10) The Upsetters - Satta Dub (Dub Plate)

11) Jah Butty - Traditional Satta

12) Max Romeo - Sipple Out Deh

13) The Upsetters - Revelation Dub

14) Max Romeo - Sipple Out Deh (Alternate Mix)

15) The Upsetters - Revelation Dub (Alternate Mix)

16) Max Romeo - War In A Babylon

17) The Upsetters - Revelation Dub

18) Max Romeo - War In A Babylon (Alternate Mix)

19) The Upsetters - War In A Babylon (Version)

20) Max Romeo - War Ina Babylon (Island 12” Mix)

                                                                              

1) Max Romeo - Fire Fe The Vatican

2) Jah Lion - Leggo

3) Prince Jazzbo & The Upsetters - Black Vest

4) The Upsetters - Sipple Dub

5) Max Romeo - Smile Out A Style

6) Ronnie Davis - Laugh It Off

7) The Upsetters - Laugh Dub

8) Ronnie Davis - Laugh It Off (Dub Plate)

9) Ronnie Davis - You Are The Fool

10) The Upsetters - You Are The Fool (Version)

11) G. Murphy - The Facts Of Life

12) Sharon Isaacs - Feelings

13) The Upsetters - Feelings (Version)

14) Sharon Isaacs - Feelings (Alternate Mix)

15) Locks Lee - What Can I Do

16) Bushay All-Stars - Wa Fi Do

17) Bushay All-Stars - Dreader Version

18) Bushay All-Stars - Dreader Version (Alternate 7” Mix)

19) Jah Lion - Black Lion

20) Dillinger - Shelly With Electric Belly

21) Jah Woosh - Love Jah & Live

                                                                                      

1) Locks Lee - What Can I Do (Alternate Version)

2) Locks Lee - What Can I Do (Extended Mix)

3) Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves

4) The Upsetters - Grumbling Dub

5) Junior Murvin - False Teaching

6) The Upsetters - Teachers Dub

7) The Heptones - Crying Over You

8) The Upsetters - Crying Dub

9) Lord Creator - Big Pussy Sally

10) The Upsetters - Big Pussy Dub

11) Lord Creator - Big Pussy Sally (Alternate Mix)

12) Fay Bennett - Big Cockey Wally

13) The Upsetters - Big Cockey Dub

14) The Upsetters - Big Cockey Dub (Alternate Mix)

15) The Upsetters - Big Boy Wally

16) The Upsetters - Big Girl Sally

17) Junior Murvin - Philistines On The Land

18) Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith - Bingo Kid

19) James Booms - Psalms Twenty

20) The Upsetters - Proverbs Of Dub

                                                                               

1) Horace Smart - Ruffer Ruff

2) The Upsetters - Ruffer Dub

3) Evan Jones - Four & Twenty Dreadlocks

4) The Upsetters - Four & Twenty Dub

5) Evan Jones - Four & Twenty Dreadlocks (12” Mix)

6) Winston Heywood & The Hombres - Long Long Time

7) The Upsetters - Long Time Dub

8) Winston Heywood & The Hombres - Back Biting

9) The Upsetters - Chastising Dub

10) Prince Jazzbo - Story Come To Bump

11) James Brown - Stop The War In A Babylon

12) The Upsetters - Dub In Peace

13) Devon Irons - When Jah Come (Black Art 7” Mix)

14) The Upsetters - Iron Dub (Black Art 7” Mix)

15) Devon Irons - When Jah Come (Upsetter 7” Mix)

16) The Upsetters - Iron Dub (Upsetter 7” Mix)

17) The Heptones - Zion’s Blood

18) The Upsetters - Zion In Dub

19) Johnny Lover - Who You Gonna Run To

                                                                                 

1) The Heptones - Sufferer’s Time (Island 7” Mix)

2) The Upsetters - Sufferer’s Dub (Island 7” Mix)

3) Jah Lion - Police & Soldier

4) The Upsetters - Dub Of Justice

5) Jah Lion - Solider & Police War

6) The Upsetters - No Justice

7) Glen DaCosta - Magic Touch

8) The Upsetters - Predictions Dub

9) Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves (Island 7” Mix)

10) The Upsetters - Grumblin’ Dub (Island 7” Mix)

11) Augustus Pablo - Babylon Police Thief Dub

12) The Upsetters - Police & Dub

13) Junior Dread - A Wah Dat

14) The Upsetters - Dub Dat

15) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - White Belly Rat

16) The Upsetters - Judas De White Belly Rat

17) Jah Lion - White Belly Rat

18) Max Romeo - One Step Forward (Island 7” Mix)

19) The Upsetters - One Step Dub (Island 7” Mix)

                                                                                        

1) Max Romeo - One Step Forward (Black Art 7” Mix)

2) The Upsetters - One Step Dub (Black Art 7” Mix)

3) Max Romeo & The Upsetters - One Step Forward (12” Mix)

4) Prince Jazzbo - Ital Corner

5) Prince Jazzbo - Dread Locks Corner

6) Prince Jazzbo - Ital Corner (12” Mix)

7) Prince Jazzbo - Natty Past Through Rome (12” Mix)

8) Prince Jazzbo - Natty Past Through Rome

9) The Upsetters - Rockstone Dub

10) Dean Frazier - Concrete Castle King

11) The Upsetters - Two By Four

12) Prince Jazzbo - Blood Dunza 

13) Junior Murvin - Roots Train Number One

14) The Upsetters - Dub Number One

15) Dillinger - Roots Train Version

16) The Heptones - Sufferer’s Time (Black Art 7” Mix)

17) The Upsetters - Sufferer’s Dub (Black Art 7” Mix)

18) Junior Dread - Sufferer’s Heights

19) The Upsetters - Heavy Manners

                                                                                            

1) The Heptones & Junior Dread - Sufferer’s Time (Disco Mix)

2) Joe Bannan - Serious Time

3) The Upsetters - Serious Time (Version)

4) The Heptones - Sufferer’s Time (Album Version)

5) The Heptones - I Shall Be Released (Album Version)

6) Devon Irons - Vampire

7) The Upsetters - Vamp A Dub

8) Devon Irons - Vampire (12” Mix)

9) The Avengers - Who Feels It Knows It

10) The Avengers - Ghetto Rock

11) The Survivors - Run Bald Head

12) The Survivors - Mr. Head

13) Gregory Isaacs - Mr. Cop

14) The Upsetters - Mr. Cop (Dub)

15) Rupie Edwards - Baby It’s You

16) Edwards All-Stars - It’s You Dub

17) Rupie Edwards - Rise & Fall

18) Edwards All-Stars - Rise In Dub

19) Rupie Edwards - Oh Black People

20) Edwards All-Stars - Oh Black People (Version)

                                                                                               

1) Rupie Edwards - Three Pan One A Murder

2) Edwards All-Stars - Say A Prayer

3) Rupie Edwards - Prayer Dub

4) The Bluebells - Call Me Teacher

5) The Bluebells - Call Me Teacher (Dub)

6) The Bluebells - Freedom Fighters

7) King Burnett All-Stars - Freedom Fighters (Version)

8) Bunny Wailer - Dream Land

9) I Stan - Vision Land

10) Knowledge - Lend A Helping Hand

11) Lion Zion - Who Killed The Buffalo

12) The Upsetters - Buffalo Dub

13) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Smile Jamaica (Part One)

14) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Smile Jamaica (Part Two)

15) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Smile Jamaica (Island 12” Mix)

16) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rat Race

17) The Wailers - Rat Race (Part II)

18) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rat Race (Alternate 7” Mix)

19) The Wailers - Rat Race (Dub) (Aletrnate 7” Mix)

                                                                                                      

1) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Natural Mystic (7” Mix)

2) The Wailers - Mystic Version

3) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Natural Mystic (12” Mix)

4) The Wailers - Natural Mystic (Version) (12” Mix)

5) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Natural Mystic (Dub Plate)

6) The Wailers - Mystic Version (Dub Plate)

7) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rainbow Country

8) The Wailers - Rainbow Version

9) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rainbow Country (12” Mix)

10) The Wailers - Rainbow Version (12” Mix)

11) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Mr. Music (Dub Plate)

12) The Wailers - Mr. Music Version (Dub Plate)

13) Bobby Floyd - Rainbow Skies

14) Dennis Brown - Wolves & Leopards

15) Soul Syndicate - No Conscience

16) Dennis Brown - Wolves & Leopards (12” Mix)

17) Niney The Observer - Mischievous Dub

18) Fay Bennett & Sex Specialist - Bum Specialist

19) Bongo Herman - Drums Of Sex

20) I Roy - Sister Maggie Breast

21) I Roy - Step On The Dragon

                                                                                 

1) Jah Ford - Hold Not Thy Peace

2) Niney The Observer - Hold Not This Version

3) Augustus Pablo - Cow Horn Dub

4) Dennis Brown - Here I Come

5) Bobby Ellis & Soul Syndicate - Head Shot

6) I Roy - Jah Come Here

7) Niney The Observer - Jah Come Here (Version)

8) Leroy Smart - Zion

9) Soul Syndicate - Zion (Version)

10) Dennis Brown - Take A Trip

11) Soul Syndicate - Take A Dub

12) I Roy - Fresh & Clean

13) Dennis & Bully Walks - Don’t Curse Dreadlocks

14) Progress All-Stars - Don’t Curse Dub

15) Junior Dread - U Roy Special

16) Dread All-Stars - U Roy Special (Part Two)

17) Errol Carter - Ram Goat Manish Water

18) Rupie’s All-Stars - Renking Dub

19) Jah Lloyd - I & I A Search For Survival

20) The Upsetters - Survival Part Two

21) Lizzy - Bandulu Skank

                                                                                  

1) Jimmy Riley - Somebody Told Me

2) Riley’s All-Stars - Ital Dub

3) Jimmy Riley - Somebody Told Me (12” Mix)

4) Junior Byles - Can You Feel It

5) Reggae Crusaders - I A Feel It

6) Junior Sinclair - The Beginning Of It All

7) The Mighty Titans - Beginning Dub

8) Keatus I - Living In Illusion

9) Keatus I - Illusious Dub

10) Devon Irons - Set Up Yourself

11) Jah Lion - Dread In A Jamdong

12) The Upsetters - King Tubby Ina Jamdong

13) King Tubby - Sahara Dub

14) King Vupp - Another Moses

15) Smokey & The M.G’s Band - Moses Version

16) King Vupp - Lie Down Girl

17) Smokey & The M.G’s Band - Lie Down Girl (Version)

18) Glen Sloley - All That Glitters Is Not Gold

19) Glen Sloley - All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Alternate 7” Mix)

20) Glen Sloley - All That Glitters Is Not Gold (12” Mix)

21) Natty Locks - Dub In Gold (12” Mix)

                                                                                                           

1) The Upsetters - Patience

2) The Upsetters - Underground Root

3) The Upsetters - Root Underground

4) Clive Hylton - From Creation

5) The Upsetters - Creation Dub

6) Clive Hylton - From Creation (Dub Plate)

7) Max Romeo - Norman

8) The Upsetters - Norman Dub

9) Max Romeo & Jah Lion - Norman The Gambler (12” Mix)

10) Max Romeo & Jah Lion - Sexy Natty (12” Mix)

11) Max Romeo - Chase The Devil

12) Prince Jazzbo - Croaking Lizard

13) Max Romeo & Jah Lion - Norman (Island 12” Mix)

14) Max Romeo & Prince Jazzbo - Chase The Devil (Island 12” Mix)

15) The Upsetters - Devil’s Dub Plate

16) Max Romeo - Norman (Album Version)

17) Max Romeo - Smokey Room (Album Version)

                                                                                                      

1) Max Romeo - Tan & See

2) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Dub Revolution (Alternate Take)

3) Max Romeo - Tell The People The Truth

4) Chenley Duffus - Peace (Alternate Mix)

5) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Super Ape

6) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Curly Dub

7) Lee Perry & The Heptones - Dread Lion (Alternate Mix)

8) Lee Perry & The Heptones - Three In One (Alternate Mix)

9) The Heptones - Party Time

10) The Upsetters - Party Time (Part Two)

11) The Heptones - Party Time (12” Mix)

12) The Heptones & Junior Dread - Sufferer’s Time (12” Mix)

13) R. Zee Jackson - Chain Gang

14) Rajah Ruffin - Street Walking

15) The Upsetters - Street Dancing

16) Ronnie Davis - Traditional Song

17) King Tubby - Traditional Dub

                                                                                 

1) Luddy Pioneer & Joe Slicker - Right On Time

2) Luddy Pioneer & Joe Slicker - Right On Time (Dub)

3) Ranking Charlie - Caught Her Red Handed

4) Hopeton Junior - Sit Down & Wonder

5) Soul Defenders - Wonder Rock

6) The Bluebells - Live As One

7) Bluebells All-Stars - Living Dub

8) The Cimarons - Paul Bogle

9) The Cimarons - Bogle

10) The Cimarons - Paul Bogle (Disco Mix)

11) The Cimarons - Greedy Man

12) The Cimarons - Greed

13) The Cimarons - On The Rock

14) The Cimarons - On The Rock (Alternate Take)

15) The Fantails - Stand & Look

16) The Upsetters - Stand & Dub

17) The Fantails - Stand & Look (Alternate Mix)

18) The Upsetters - Stand & Dub (Alternate Mix)

19) Dad Brown - Stand & Look (12” Mix)

20) The Upsetters - Rocky Road

                                                                                   

1) The Gaylads - Love & Prosperity

2) The Gaylads - Love Version

3) The Gaylads - Love & Understanding

4) The Gaylads - Dub & Understanding

5) The Manchesterians - Girl Won’t Treat Me Right

6) The Merry Makers - Untouchable Special

7) The Heptones - Now Generation

8) Ranking King - Now Generation (Part Two)

9) The Heptones - Mr. President

10) Jah Lion - Mr. President (Part Two)

11) The Heptones - Why Must I

12) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - Why Must I (Part Two)

13) The Heptones - Crying Over You (Alternate 7” Mix)

14) Jah Lion - Crying Over You (Part Two)

15) The Heptones - Serious Time

16) The Upsetters - Serious Time (Version)

17) The Heptones - Storm Cloud

18) The Upsetters - Storm Cloud (Version)

19) The Heptones - I Shall Be Released

20) The Upsetters - I Shall Be Released (Version)

21) The Upsetters - Party Time (Alternate Dub)

22) The Upsetters - Why Must I (Alternate Dub)

23) The Upsetters - Why Must I (Alternate Version)

                                                                                                     

1) Lion Zion - Reggae In America

2) Lion Zion - Beautiful Day

3) Lion Zion - Arise America

4) Lion Zion - Third Century

5) Tony Laidley - Happy Birthday Jamaica

6) The Upsetters - Happy Birthday Jamaica (Disco Dub)

7) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jah Live

8) The Wailers - Concrete

9) The Wailers - Jah Live (Version)

10) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry - Dreadlocks In Moonlight

11) The Upsetters - Cut Throat

12) The Upsetters - Locks In Dublight

13) The Upsetters - Moonlight Version (Dub Plate)

14) The Congos - Feast Of The Passover

15) The Congos - Don’t Blame It On I

16) The Congos - Ark Of The Covenant

17) The Upsetters - Noah Sugar Pan

18) The Upsetters - No Food A Run (Dub Plate)

19) The Congos - The Wrong Thing

20) The Congos - Solid Foundation

21) The Upsetters - Deep & Deadly

22) Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters - Dread Lion (Jamaican Album 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.

If you would like to contact us then feel free to comment below or email us:

pipcockjackxonrrm@gmail.com