Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Early Works Enshrined in ‘Crucial Cuts From The Heart of the Ark (1973-1978)’

When Lee “Scratch” Perry passed away in 2021, he left behind a legacy not only as an undisputed foundational figure in reggae, but also as one of the most innovative producers and performers of all time. From his start in the Kingston scene of the early ‘60s–where he found early engineering and A&R work with sound systems and producers like Coxsone Dodd–through the year of his death, Scratch released more than 80 records that bridged avant-garde production, offbeat songwriting and eye-popping performance to create hypnotic, infectious dance and dub triumphs.

Many of Perry’s most iconic offerings were born in the five-year heyday of Black Ark, his backyard studio, built on the foundation of his breakthrough recordings with The Wailers and The Upsetters in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Today, Shanachie Entertainment has unveiled its plans to honor that influential period with Crucial Cuts From The Heart of the Ark (1973-1978). Set to release on June 20, the special vinyl LP compiles some of the groundbreaking results of Scratch’s newfound artistic freedom through iconic collaborations with reggae’s biggest names.

The landmark recordings featured on Crucial Cuts run the range of Perry’s singular, multifaceted style; still-potent political messages like Max Romeo’s “War Ina Babylon” and Junior Murvin’s “Police & Thieves” highlight the artist’s focus on powerful and often incendiary social commentary, while spaced-out pieces like his “Fishermann Dub” with The Congos and “Dreader Dub” with The Upsetters emphasize his revolutionary use of effects like echo, phasing, reverb and wah-wah that have since become cornerstones of dub production. Other entries include Augustus Pablo’s “Vibrate On,” The Heptones’ “Sufferer’s Time” and The Upsetters, King Tubby and Dillinger’s “Search the Dub Organizer.”

In 1978, Black Ark met its abrupt end when Perry, overwhelmed by pressures from fans, pan-handlers, manipulative industry titans and purist moral objectors, abandoned the studio and set it ablaze. Nearly five decades later, the pathbreaking sounds conjured from its jury-rigged equipment are still fondly recalled, and the influence of the mad genius–The Upsetter–continues to ring out through generations of devotees.

Pre-order Crucial Cuts From The Heart of the Ark (1973-1978) here.

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