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Avg: 4.0 (53 ratings)
- Date Released: July 2, 2002
- Genre: International
- Style: Dub, Roots Reggae
- Label: Cleopatra Records / The Orchard
The triumphant debut of the "small axe"
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We Say...
When the Wailers teamed with original dub master Lee "Scratch" Perry, Jamaican music was at a turning point: rock steady had run its course, ska's first incarnation was fading out and mystical Rastafarianism was gaining prominence. The Wailers and Perry filled this moment of flux with these historic sides, which establish the sound that would become modern reggae.
Their focus and ambition could be summed up in the words they sang over Perry and the Upsetters' "Soul Rebel" riddim: "Run for cover, rebels taking over!" "Small Axe" encapsulated that world-conquering attitude, a sufferer's anthem and a challenge to the island's "Big T'ree" record labels. The strategy was to crush the competition by matching their braggadocio with bigger risks. It was a case of iron sharpening iron.
Perry stripped away ska's busy beats, and roughened up rock steady's sweet melodies, inventing the blueprint for the rhythmically tougher roots sound. He cooled down the Wailers' wild, exuberant singing, and their individual styles cohered. Bunny Wailer's soaring utopianism suffuses "Dreamland," while Peter Tosh bares a terse ferocity on "Downpressor." But Perry's minimalist style most benefited Marley, who now projected a worldly self-assurance. On tracks like "African Herbsman" and "My Cup," he seems bound for stardom. "Sun Is Shining" is a peak — in a few words, Marley becomes inviting, menacing, and mysterious all at once. The second disc highlights the B-sides and dubs that arose from this collaboration. Mastering each others' idiosyncrasies, Perry and Marley developed a bounty of musical ideas in three short years. "Duppy Conqueror Version 4" displays an angular, almost mathematical precision, while the lopsided funk of "Dracula (Mr. Brown Version)" threatens to fall apart at every change. For "Copasetic," Perry overdubbed and remixed the Wailers' medley "All In One," pointing forward to his Black Ark dub work. Superior musicianship and bold mixing shine through in every groove. -
They Say...
Purple Pyramid's Complete Upsetter Singles: 1970-1972 covers the territory laid out in the title -- 36 songs, both A and B sides, plus dub versions and bonus tracks, spill out over the course of two CDs. Though this material has appeared numerous times on numerous labels over the years, this particular collection is logically assembled, boasts pretty good sound, and is comprehensive, making it a good choice for those seeking a thorough overview of these pivotal, Lee Perry-produced sessions.
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| 01. |  |
My Cup |
3:36 |
|
| 02. | |
Man To Man |
3:32 |
|
| 03. | |
Duppy Conqueror (Mono) |
3:00 |
|
| 04. | |
Mr Brown (Mono) |
3:33 |
|
| 05. | |
Kaya (Mono) |
2:40 |
|
| 06. | |
Small Axe |
3:56 |
|
| 07. | |
More Axe |
3:32 |
|
| 08. | |
All In One (Parts 1 And 2) |
4:25 |
|
| 09. | |
Dreamland |
2:45 |
|
| 10. | |
Lovelight |
2:47 |
|
| 11. | |
Downpressor |
3:13 |
|
| 12. | |
Keep On Moving (Mono) |
3:08 |
|
| 13. | |
African Herbsman (Mono) |
2:25 |
|
| 14. | |
Run For Cover (Escort 7") |
3:12 |
|
| 15. | |
Sun Is Shining (Escort 7") |
2:12 |
|
| 16. | |
Stand Alone (Mono) (Blackheart 7") |
2:13 |
|
| 17. | |
No Sympathy (Trojan 7") |
2:53 |
|
| 18. | |
Secondhand (Justice League 7") |
3:10 |
|
18 Total Tracks, 56:12 Total Length
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 24 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 24 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. | |
Version Of Cup (My Cup Version) |
3:15 |
|
| 02. | |
Necoteen (Man To Man Version) |
2:38 |
|
| 03. | |
Duppy Conqueror Version 4 |
3:23 |
|
| 04. | |
Dracula (Mr Brown Version) |
2:54 |
|
| 05. | |
Kaya Version |
2:38 |
|
| 06. | |
Battle Axe (Small Axe Version) |
3:31 |
|
| 07. | |
The Axe Man (More Axe Version) |
2:48 |
|
| 08. | |
Copasetic (All In One Version) |
3:06 |
|
| 09. | |
Dreamland Version |
2:27 |
|
| 10. | |
Shining (Lovelight Version) |
2:58 |
|
| 11. | |
Downpressor Version |
3:12 |
|
| 12. | |
Keep On Moving Version |
3:06 |
|
| 13. | |
African Herbsman Version |
2:24 |
|
| 14. | |
Run For Cover Version |
2:42 |
|
| 15. | |
Sun Is Shining Version |
2:11 |
|
| 16. | |
Stand Alone Version |
2:11 |
|
| 17. | |
No Sympathy Version |
2:24 |
|
| 18. | |
Secondhand Version |
3:06 |
|
18 Total Tracks, 50:54 Total Length
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Credits
- Bob Marley - Vocals // Bob Marley - Vocals // Bob Marley - Vocals // Glen Adams - Keyboards // Aston Barrett - Bass // Carlton "Carlie" Barrett - Drums // Bunny Wailer - Vocals // Bunny Wailer - Vocals // Bunny Wailer - Vocal Harmony // Bunny Wailer - Vocal Harmony // Peter Tosh - Vocals // Peter Tosh - Vocal Harmony // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Lee "Scratch" Perry - Producer // Matt Green - Research // Matt Green - Annotation // Alva Lewis - Guitar // Bob Marley & the Wailers - Performer // Eunah Lee - Graphic Design // Barry Plummer - Photography // Kim Gottlieb-Walker - Photography // Judson Leech - Remastering
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