The Upsetters - Black Board Jungle Dub

An essential album for discussing the history of Dub, courtesy of Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Originally released in Jamaica in 1973 as “Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle,” this work was later issued in the US by Clocktower Records under the title “Blackboard Jungle Dub.”

Perry boldly deconstructs recorded rhythms, bringing bass and drums to the forefront while reconstructing the sound itself through echoes, muting, and stereo channel manipulation.

Widely considered a seminal work of early Dub, with King Tubby also reportedly involved in the mixing.

The way it transforms the original roots reggae rhythms of tracks like “Fever Grass Dub,” “Sin Semilla Kaya Dub,” and “Moving Forward” into entirely different spaces is fascinating.

Beyond serving as direct source material for Hip-Hop sampling, the Dub concept of “dismantling existing recordings to rebuild them into new works” is a vital philosophy that paved the way for later Hip-Hop, remixes, and sampling culture.

This is music that used the studio as an instrument long before the advent of the sampler.

Details
Format : LP Vinyl, Album
Label : Clocktower Records
Catalog Number : LPCT 0115B
Country : USA
Genre : Reggae / Dub

Key Tracks :
“Blackboard Jungle Dub”
“Rubba, Rubba Words”
“Cloak A Dagger”
“Dub From Africa”
“Fever Grass Dub”
“Sin Semilla Kaya Dub”
“Moving Forward”

Condition : VG
Jacket : Good
Vinyl : Good

Graded as VG. The jacket is in good condition, and the vinyl surface is also in good condition.

This is a pre-owned record that has been stored in a private home. Please understand that this is a used item kept by an individual, which includes signs of aging typical of vintage records, before making your purchase.