Already in autumn 2022, “Augustus Pablo and Rockers All Stars: Lightning and Thunder" a fantastic collection of largely previously unreleased material from the Pablos' archives. Two and a half years later, Augustus Pablo's son Addis once again unearthed some treasures from the Rockers International archives for the French label Only Roots. The title of the vinyl LP "Augustus Pablo: King Tubbys Meets Rockers At 5 Cardiff Crescent, Washington Garden, Kingston" refers unmistakably to the address of the legendary Black Ark Studios. The new album is once again a treasure trove of largely unreleased pieces. The thirteen timeless riddims of the Rockers All Stars are said to have all been recorded at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark Studio and mixed at King Tubby's. In Goethe's classic, I hear Dr. Faust saying: "I hear the message well, but I lack faith." I feel the same way, because I hardly hear the typical Black Ark sound. On "Tide Rope Dub” Scratch’s craftsmanship is definitely noticeable. Nevertheless, the album delivers Dub-Versions of gems like “Keep a Good Dub” (Immortals: “Why Keep a Good Man Down”), “North Street Dub” (Hugh Mundell: “Run Revolution a Come”), “Home of Dub(Immortals: "A House Is Not a Home") and "Stop Them Jah" feat. Jacob Miller (riddim: "Who Say Jah No Dread"). Also of particular interest are two alternate versions of Pablo's "Unfinished Melody." Some tracks from the LP first appeared, if at all, decades ago on extremely rare, scratched 10-inch releases.
This compilation is not a mere reissue, but rather a collection of extremely rare recordings that have now been made available to a wider audience. I find it significant that the cover features a very young Augustus Pablo with his trademark melodica. However, the melodica is not heard on any of the tracks on this release.
Addendum on July 25.07.2025, XNUMX:
My last sentence is simply wrong! After another intensive listening, I have to revise my statement, because the melodica is in the “Home of Dub” clearly perceived – even if only briefly.
11 Responses to “Augustus Pablo: King Tubbys Meets Rockers At 5 Cardiff Crescent, Washington Garden, Kingston”
Mmmmmmh, yes, that's right Ras Vorbei !
No melodica! And no exaggerated tinkling with additional sound distortion on the hi-hat! I usually get a little scared when I hear Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, but actually, this "fear" is completely unfounded, because "Augustus Pablo meets King Tubby at Rockers Uptown" is a huge highlight for me too, and both names are the headliners, so to speak.
Here at “King Tubby meets Rockers ……” the DubTo be honest, it doesn't sound that typical to me, just as I unfortunately don't often appreciate King Tubby's style. And the melodica doesn't tear me out of my trance when I listen to this brilliant piece, hidden under the patina of time. Dubs. Strongly accentuated drums, which occasionally remind me of Carlton Barrett's playing, and bias lines, which, especially in the examples you mentioned, have simply become milestones in reggae. The effects also seem terrific to me, and yes, in the "Tight Rope" Dub“I hear – but only with your help” – Lee Perry’s handwriting is also the most obvious. But to be honest, I couldn’t really recognize it with 100% certainty. Nevertheless, the DubAtmosphere at “Tight Rope Dub“ is most pronounced, it seems to me. But actually, I feel the entire
Disc (!) as DubMasterpiece, from a time when Dub was beyond any doubt. Even if I sometimes have some doubts because, as a newcomer, I apply other criteria to myself at a later time. In any case, the musicians here play excellent riddims and the Dubbing is at a level where I really enjoy being part of.
I could now ask whether it's also possible that the music was recorded in Black Ark but not yet given Lee "Scratch" Perry's signature sound, because he might not have found that sound yet. Perhaps I should forward this question to Helmut Philipps, but I think you can answer it for me as well. Ras VorbeiOtherwise he could get in touch, because here in DubBlog are the biggest DubFans of all times gathered ;-)
Here are not only the “Neo Steppers” (not on the move), but the real DubCannaisseurs ;-)
Time is infinite and yet always scarce ……..
That must be the “lemmi paradox” …………. lemmi
hi lemmi,
For many years there has been a rumor that Augustus Pablo recorded a complete album in the Black Ark Studio that has not yet been released.
We can certainly agree that not a single track on the album reviewed above sounds like the brilliant "Vibrate On." From the mid-seventies until the end of Black Ark, "Scratch" had its typical, unmistakable sound—but that's not what "King Tubbys Meets Rockers At 5 Cardiff Crescent" sounds like.
No comment on the abysmal sound quality on this? good on them for trying but completely unlistenable IMO…I have the original source of this and it sounds A LOT better than this LP – albeit with a lot of tape hiss, which they have hamhandedly tried to remove for this release. A filtered, garbled, mess…better to leave the extraneous noise and leave the frequency range and dynamics of the music intact. A very negative comment to leave I know, but reissue companies should have more respect for the music…especially when it comes from King Tubby's..
Sad “news”!
Until yesterday, I liked the album very much. Now i cant hear it again with the same feeling innocent of a little boy ;-( with a new toy.
Thank you for this negative motivation ;-)
On the album cover, they apologized themselves, that they couldn't make it better.
No problem, because I don't know the original sound. So I can't miss it!
Greetings ………. lemmi
Moin together,
A quick note on Black Ark: Perry also rented out his studio, or offered musicians studio time in lieu of a fee. He was the engineer during the recordings, but not always responsible for the mix. Therefore, there are several Black Ark recordings that don't really sound like them.
Pablo recorded a lot in the Ark, that's well documented (see David Katz's "People Funny Boy" or "Scratch the Super Ape" by Jeremy Collingwood). Unfinished Melody is one of the tunes, I'm not so sure about the other tracks - Perry, like Tubby, likes to be on the packaging more often than the content allows.
And just a little commercial: If you want more “Black Ark recorded but not Perry produced”, feel free to check it out here: https://www.mixcloud.com/RockersVibration/hidden-treasures-of-lee-perrys-black-ark/
Greetings one and all
In any case, I don't want to miss the opportunity to praise this fantastic compilation to the highest heaven. Especially the tune that starts around 6:30! For me, a truly great moment in reggae music, and especially from the Black Ark. This is such awesome psychedelic music, like you won't find anywhere else in the world. I wanted to write, but for Dub It's actually normal to be "caressed" in such a psychedelic way. But the tune starting at about 6:30 min. is a BIG one for me.
Unfortunately, I don't know the previous tune at all. It's also absolutely fantastic, if I do say so myself ;-) I'll definitely use Shazam to find out who and what it is.
Great mix!!! ……………………….. lemmi
hi lemmi,
The track is by Zap Pow and is called "Reggae River." This is exactly what Lee "Scratch" Perry's stunning mixes are, and what has always completely won me over. And this is precisely the sound missing from the album reviewed above.
The name Lee “Scratch” Perry still sells.
Yo Ras Vorbei !
Thanks for the information !
The best thing about it is that I also have this version of ZapPow on a vinyl maxi. I don't have that many special tunes on maxi vinyl, but this DubTune just makes me happy. Well, after spending a bit longer on the site, I realized there were even more options for learning more about the tunes. This version of Althea and Donna, towards the end of the SupaMix, is just exactly my thing. I'd never heard it before. But Lee "Scratch" Perry will probably still be good for a surprise for me in a thousand and one years...
The producer is actually just the financier, with the money that is needed to be able to produce an album in the first place. I mean in DubHaving read the book, I realized that it's also a Jamaican trait to even mention the producer. The only thing that really matters to me is who the engineer was or is. He's the one responsible for the magic, if you leave the musicians aside for a moment.
But I still don't seem to have quite figured it all out. I always thought the engineer was automatically the person who does the mixing, but I think "mixing" actually means something else. For me, the engineer is like the chef who mixes all the ingredients together and ingeniously seasons them with reverb and echo and all sorts of other possible and impossible effects and samples. The mixing console is both the stovetop and the oven.
That's why the music is so hot and always sharp.
For example, if it comes from the Black Ark and was "cooked" by Lee "Scratch" Perry. This (not only)
Lee Perry also uses the very best organic and biological ingredients, which were and always will be beyond reproach. There was no artificial, inhumane poison!
All of this, if I'm not mistaken …………………… lemmi
Oh I am sorry !
I forgot the most important question! Is there something like a link to the AlbumVersion with the better sound?
But on the other side, I am not sure that I really want to know that. Because I just want to find the result that it is not so worse. If I find out that it is more than worst, I will go in my goal and eat some balls, shot by someone, like michael ballak.
In my face ……………….. lemmi
“This version of Althea and Donna towards the end of the SupaMix is just exactly my thing.”
You probably have those at home too and just haven't heard them in a long time, lemmi.
https://pressuresounds.bandcamp.com/album/roaring-lion
“NO! YES! OOOOO!”
All right Ras Vorbei Now things are getting really weird... You know my record collection better than I do ;-)
That's right! I bought this album, too. Probably shortly after it was reviewed here. I swear I heard it at least once, but I must have been listening to Althea and "Thunder."Dub mentally not quite up to scratch.
Yes, this also makes it clear again that I'm probably doing too well. Even with the records I have at home, I can't get enough rotation speed to form all the necessary synapses. And then you come at me with a bunch of albums that are only available as data, and as if all that wasn't overwhelming enough, now an AI wants to Dub I tell you, reggae – and Dub – Fans should have at least 10 lives of 100 years each so that they can even partially grasp the creativity of the musically blessed Jamaicans.
Amazing!!! And just yesterday I opened another lovely package containing four new discs (one missing).
But before that, “Roaring Lion” will definitely be released again.
I can’t wait ………….. I have the Dub from Althea and Donna at home! “Live is a miracle” ………………….. lemmi