While he just seems to make his own music these days, this exceptional collection acts as a reminder that
Lee "Scratch" Perry's reputation was partly established as a producer of reggae songs, one who helped push the music through its early years. He was largely responsible for making
the Wailers into a band that could go on and conquer the world (just listen to "Duppy Conqueror" or "Small Axe" to understand how he helped them develop), but his work with so many other artists was impeccable -- and often very individual, such as the classic "Curly Locks" with
Junior Byles. It's also worth remembering that
Perry had a golden touch -- most of these singles were Jamaican hits, even the acerbic and hilarious "People Funny Boy," which featured himself (as well as the sound of a crying baby). Indeed, 1968-1979 was his truly fertile period, when he established his Black Ark studio (which he burned down in 1980), helped birth the sonic genre of dub, and shape the sound of roots reggae, while keeping it very much within the overall realm of pop music -- witness
the Melodians' "Round and Round." Even his own, strange material, like "Bush Weed," had an appeal. While it's a shame that some of his best work, like
Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves" or his glowing productions for
the Congos (which many deem his finest work behind the board) isn't included, there's enough here to make it a perfect primer, not just on
Perry, but on Jamaican music in the 1970s. ~ Chris Nickson