Rough Guide to Dub
Dub got its name from the Jamaican practice of taking instrumental mixes of popular songs and using them as B-sides or special for-DJ-only releases. Presupposing and influencing modern electronic dance music and its interest in remixes by 25 years, famed producers like King Tubby did these primordial mixes in the 1970s of rock steady and reggae tracks, adding cavernous echo, heavy reverb and surreal bits of sound that often had a wildly psychedelic effect. This music just seemed heavier and weirder, particularly when King Tubby was manning the mixing board, than the original song with vocals ever could be, and the genre gained a following that remains to this day. Assembled by noted dub historian Steve Barrow, this vintage collection features 20 prime dubs from King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Yabby You and Lee Scratch Perry. As is usually the case with Rough Guide collections, the music here is typically available on other releases, but seldom will you find a better collection within the stated theme.--Tad Hendrickson