Spanning the divide between some early reggae he produced during the late '60s (the Bleechers) and his more contemporary solo work from the '80s, Trojan Upsetter Box Set frames Lee "Scratch" Perry in a varied set of choice and often obscure vocal, dub, and DJ sides. Perry was adept in each style, lending his idiosyncratic and spookily roots-heavy touch to cuts by Junior Byles, Bob Marley, the Stingers, U-Roy, Jah Lloyd, and the Congos. And that's not to forget his own unearthly turns at the mic, including "Sipreano" and ...
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Spanning the divide between some early reggae he produced during the late '60s (the Bleechers) and his more contemporary solo work from the '80s, Trojan Upsetter Box Set frames Lee "Scratch" Perry in a varied set of choice and often obscure vocal, dub, and DJ sides. Perry was adept in each style, lending his idiosyncratic and spookily roots-heavy touch to cuts by Junior Byles, Bob Marley, the Stingers, U-Roy, Jah Lloyd, and the Congos. And that's not to forget his own unearthly turns at the mic, including "Sipreano" and latter-day confessional "I Am a Madman." This three-disc bargain roundup has all of these highlights and performers, as well as plenty of fine instrumentals by Perry's early house band, the Upsetters; some funk-inspired musings from DJ Dave Barker; and, of course, more inimitable work by the fantasy-friendly boss himself. A primer that does stretch a bit too far in the name of all-inclusiveness, Trojan Upsetter Box Set still succeeds as a potent and fitting tribute to this singular Jamaican son. ~ Stephen Cook, Rovi
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