LISTEN HERE
This compilation is dedicated to the memory of the late great “Prince” Philip Smart - the first apprentice of King Tubby and the first engineer at Tubby’s studio besides Tubby himself. Alongside Tubby, Philip was integral to the innovation that took place at Tubby’s studio in the mid 1970s, where the mixing of new roots reggae revolutionized the sound of Jamaican music and created styles and techniques that are still being echoed today, nearly 50 years later.
Though rarely credited on records in comparison to Tubby, Philip also mixed a lot of the paramount music produced by those close associates of Tubby’s studio such as Bunny Lee, Yabby You, and Augustus Pablo. Philip was closely tied to Pablo due to their childhood friendship and was a partner in his stylistically significant early production works. In the early years of Tubby’s studio, both men were making and cutting custom dubs there for their sound systems before starting to produce their own tunes from scratch, and Philip becoming the second chair engineer.
Several of the songs on this compilation are a selection of the aforementioned work. All of the songs here are sourced from Philip’s personal tape archive, and basically all of these mixes and versions have been scarcely if ever heard, and never released before. This double album comprises a rare and genuine glimpse into the dubplate workings of the inner circle of Tubby’s studio in the mid 1970s, where the prime players and emerging giants of reggae music production and sound system versioned, remixed and voiced rhythms for custom and exclusive cuts. Some of the cuts heard here were formerly exclusive power plays on King Tubby’s own legendary sound system, and unlike some previous issues of such material, these are genuine mixes done at the time. Some other tracks clearly exude the youthful enthusiasm of the participants. In both cases we find this collection of tracks to be truly compelling, so please enjoy this glimpse into such rare air. Rest in power Prince Philip Smart.
-RB/DKR, Summer 2023
FULL TRACKLIST:
A1. MADNESS
A2. YOU WERE MINE
A3. REVOLUTION COME
A4. MAN FREE DUB
A5. DAYS OF OLD
B1. DUBB GIRL
B2. DUBB GIRL RHYTHM
B3. OFFICIAL SOUND
B4. FRAGILE RHYTHM
B5. KID PHIL RHYTHM
C1. ZION CITY - JACOB MILLER
C2. ZION CITY DUB WISE
C3. LORRAINE DUB WISE - JACOB MILLER
C4. ROCK MY SOUL DUB WISE
C5. TRYING MAN - JOHNNY CLARKE
D1. YOU WERE DUBBING
D2. SIT AND CRY
D3. IRON BIRD - JACOB MILLER
D4. RIDING ON A HIGH & WINDY DAY (ALT. TAKE) - BREEZY & HUGH MUNDELL
D5. RIDING RHYTHM
