Search - Lee Perry :: Chicken Scratch

Better out there

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 09/21/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This cd showcases a few of the Wailers' 1968 Studio One output, with Lee Perry as engineer and producer.For anyone who is expecting vintage "Scratch"- the studio wizard-you will not find it on these recordings. In fact, Perry was ironically a very laissez-faire engineer in the beginning, which was a blessing for the rude boy era Wailers. They could record their very raw recordings in a relaxed atmosphere, and the results, while somewhat unprofessional versus what Marley and Tosh achieved later in their careers, has a quaint charm in it of studio novices learning their trade.One last word of warning- for fans of the original Wailers, these recordings were done during Bunny's jailtime for herb possession, so Rita Marley is the 3rd voice.Nice recordings, but they can be had in better condition on other Perry or Marley collections."

Some Early Ska

nimrod | 03/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This record is nothing more, and nothing less, than 12 fantastic early ska/early rocksteady cuts from Lee Perry while still working at Studio One as a vocalist. Not only does Perry have a great voice, he's backed by the peerless Skatalites band, and background vocals include the Soulettes, the Dynamites, the Wailers.



These are previously unavailable songs from the 1964-1966 period, so its early on in this music's development. But this is simply fantastic songwriting, with elements of doo-wop and jazz brought into this Jamaican idiom...it's a true fusion sound, cutting-edge.



The poor production is actually welcome; it adds tremendous charm to this record, and gives it a certain "historical importance" mood.



Them's the facts folks, mixed with my opinion. But I did want to point out the misinformation in that one review...this is early Lee Perry on vocals, before he became the producer that fans know, and most of the backing vocals are not the Wailers. Rita Marley shows up with the Soulettes.



Anybody interested in Jamaican music should look into getting this. It's an accessible intro to the early sound, which is not easy to find. Any ska/punks (such as myself) who wanna know their roots need to come here.



4 Stars because it's a great album, but not a timeless classic."