• Artist: Lee "Scratch" Perry
• Rating:
• Styles: Roots Reggae, Dub
• Track Picks: "Dub Along," "Underground," "Zion's Blood"
• Similar Albums: Chapter 2 of "Words", Live at Maritime Hall, Declaration of Dub, Technomajikal, Power of the Trinity: Great Moments in Reggae Harmony, Chant Down Babylon: The Island Anthology, Columbia Colly, 'Til Shiloh, Harder Than the Best, Live, Marcus Garvey, Best Dressed Chicken in Town, Heart of the Congos

Review

By 1976, Lee "Scratch" Perry was well established at his Black Ark studio, a fact proven by the quality of the creations emerging from its walls. The success of Max Romeo's "War in a Babylon" brought a deal with Island Records and the possibility of greater financial rewards. The single was followed by a full-length album of the same name as well as deejay Jah Lion's Columbia Colly LP. Riding this crest of productivity, Scratch then turned to a creation of his own. Super Ape offered a series of the producer's finest 1976 rhythms, from Devon Irons' "When Jah Come" and the Blue Bells' "Come Along" to Romeo's "War in a Babylon" and "Chase the Devil." All are bathed in the distinct, murky atmosphere that was becoming a Black Ark trademark, then served up in the form of dub-like de-constructions. Island's U.K./U.S. sequencing of Super Ape places "Dread Lion" at the album's heart. If any track fulfills the cover's promise to "Dub it up, blacker than dread", this is it. Vocals from numerous cuts seem to compete for their spot on the rhythm, while a dizzying mix of horns, flute and melodica swirl around them. Punctuating the song's rock-solid underbelly, Perry conjures startling thunderclaps from his mixing board. Other Super Ape heavyweights include "Croaking Lizard" and "Zion's Blood": thick muscular constructs from the Upsetter session team. The former features an excellent Prince Jazzbo toast over the "Chase the Devil" rhythm, while the latter, a cut of "When Jah Come," draws its elusive meaning from vocal phrases courtesy of Heptones Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn. Super Ape is a dubwise, alternate universe to Perry's Black Ark vocal hits. It awaits anyone willing to heed it's closing call: "This is the ape-man, trodding through creation, are you ready to step with I man?". ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Zion's Blood	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:57)
Croaking Lizard	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:27)
Black Vest	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(4:41)
Underground	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(2:58)
Curly Dub	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(4:16)
Dread Lion	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(4:32)
Three in One	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:39)
Patience	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:51)
Dub Along	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:12)
Super Ape	...	Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters	(3:48)

Credits

Boris Gardiner (Bass), The Upsetters (Main Performer), Noel Benbow (Drums), Bobby Ellis (Horn), E. Evans (Flute), Vin Gordon (Horn), Dirty Harry Hall (Horn), Herman Marquis (Horn), Mickey (Drums), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Percussion), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Composer), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Conga), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Vocals), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Producer), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Engineer), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Main Performer), Skullying (Conga), Earl "Chinna" Smith (Guitar), E. Stirling (Piano), Benbow (Drums), Harry Marquis (Horn)

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