Burning Spear – Garvey's Ghost

Were the Fox/Wolf JA pressings any different mix/masterings than the Island Mango pressings?

To put this album into context, the first dub albums had been released only a year and a few months before, in late 1973, and the idea of dub had not yet propagated to the wider musical world outside of JA. Also, the idea of pairing a dub companion album to its non-dub vocal album was also just beginning.

Spear wanted a dub counterpart to his Island label debut 'Marcus Garvey' so Island complied and released what I think must have been the first non-JA pressed dub album in this release.

To add to this album's distinctions, the label enlisted not a JA dub mixer but John Burns, a UK engineer most noted for his work with prog bands like Genesis, and musician Dick Cuthell, who would show up on albums related to the Two-Tone scene later in the 70s and 80s.

I'm not sure about Cuthell, but Burns never worked on any other dub albums, before or after this one so his choice was interesting and ultimately controversial because of the results, which were anecdotally disparaged in JA in general, and by Spear in particular.

As a collector of dub, it isn't the best dub album, but it is functional, and mainly works because the band and rhythm tracks are so strong. However, I agree with the main criticism from JA reggae fans which is the lack of bottom. This is nothing new for non-JA released reggae because record labels feared that people wouldn't like the amount of bass preferred by Jamaican audiences.

That's why when there is a choice to buy the JA or non-JA mix of any reggae album, I think most knowledgable reggae fans would always opt for the JA version if it is available. I have heard that there is/was a JA mix of this album but JA pressings I've heard use the Burns/Cuthell mix so it may be a wishful thinking myth.

So, while I can recommend the album, it helps to know the context and details. And if you are going to play it, to boost the bass in a sound system style.

Looking for a reasonably priced vinyl copy of this - UK, US, CAN, doesn't need to be 1st press.

Great early Dub album. Not as trippy or as heavy as say Lee Perry's "Blackboard Jungle" or the immortal Augustus Pablo/King Tubby " Meets The Rockers Uptown" albums but it definitely has its merits and charm.

This all sounds nice enough, not the heaviest dub, but all laid back and good to relax to.

roll a fattie, lay back and go to heaven with this here release by tha Spear.
Triple A+ reggae/dub tracks rivaling those of Scratch and Bob.
10 outta 5