SLY AND ROBBIE MEET BUNNY LEE AT DUB STATION

Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare or Sly and Robbie as they are affectionately known are the drum and bass backbone of Reggae Music, they have played on,produced, invented, reinvented more records then many of their contemparies put together.

Sly Dunbar born Lowell Charles Dunbar on 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica, drummed his first session for Mr Lee Perry which included a Jamaican hit ,a track called 'Night Doctor', before moving on to the group Skin ,Flesh & Bones who had a residency at Kingston's famous 'Tit for Tat' club.This band would evolve into the Channel One house band The Revolutionaries where Sly named after his fondness of the band Sly and the Family Stone would begin to play along side a bass player who would become his long standing partner in music, namely one Robbie Shakespeare.

Robbie Shakespeare born 27 September 1953, Kingston, Jamaica, had worked his way through session bands including the legendary Aggrovators before uniting with Sly Dunbar in The Revolutionaries. Both musicians had worked with other respective bass / drum players including such figures as Lloyd Parks [bass], Carlton 'Santa' Davis [drums], but everything seemed to fall into place when they worked together. They also both had a quest to push the boundaries of reggae music,which they would do throughout their careers, over many sessions to numerous to mention. But highlights would include the ground breaking Mighty Diamonds 1976 set 'Right Time' with its fresh rockers rhythms which lead the way in the 1970's.Also their work with the bands Culture and Black Uhuru the later of which they toured extensively with,spreading the reggae vibes across Europe and America.Not to forget to mention their Taxi label / productions which are always inventitive whether its in the reggae field or outside where their playing / production skills are much in demand.

The third piece of this jigsaw is the mighty Mr Bunny 'Striker' Lee who brought these legends together .Born Edward O'Sullivan Lee 23 August 1941, he must be one of reggae's most underrated producers.Leading the way in the 1970's especially in the dub field and being one of the early exponents of a King Tubby remix ,which would see nearly all his 7'' releases carrying a Tubby reworking on its flip side.Bunny started his musical career in 1962 working for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label and soon moved into the world of production gaining his first hit in 1967 with 'Musical Field' by Roy Shirley for the WIRL label. The 1970's was a very productive time for Bunny Lee and saw the launch of his LEE'S label which was producing hits in Jamaica. Not having a studio of his own and renting studio time from the existing establishments like Randy's Studio 17 and Channel One he had to have a crack team of session players to carry out this task, fast and efficiently. This happened firstly under the guise of THE AGGROVATORS [ see The Aggrovators dubbing it studio 1 style JRCD005] and then with the group of musicians THE REVOLUTIONARIES[ see The Revolutionaries at Channel 1 dub plate specials JRCDOO3] . Its here in the latter of these groups that Bunny matched Sly and Robbie together for the first time and its this match made in heaven that these tracks on this release are culled from. Sessions that Bunny Lee produced with Sly and Robbie during this magical 70's period. These rare dubs are taken from the original master tapes, you may have heard the tune before but not these versions. So sit back and enjoy Reggae Musical History in the making....Respect Jah Floyd.

1. DUB TAKEOVER.
Bunny Lee counts in a dubbed version of Slim Smith's 'Everybody needs love'.Sly Dunbar on fine form with his rockers drumming setting the pace.

2.NOBODIES DUB.
This track was written by Sly Dunbar for Johnny Clarke and recorded at Channel1 during
Sly & Robbies second only session playing together. The vocal track of this dub was called ' Nobodies Business'.

3.A DUB TRIBULATION
Sly and Robbies steppers style version of Dennis Brown's 'Tribulation'. Leroy Smart sang on the vocal version of this long lost dub.

4.LIQUIDATOR DUB.
You may know The Staple Singers 'I'll Take you there' track came from Harry J's All Stars 'Liquidator' which in turn was based on Winston Wrights [ who played organ on Liquidator ] 'What am i too do now'.But you will not have heard this version, so sit back and let Sly & Robbies dub take you there....

5.AFRICAN DUB CHILD [ PART 1].
Johnny Clarke's 'Roots Natty ' given the Channel 1 dub treatment.

6.NONE SHALL ESCAPE THE HOUSE OF DUB.
A stripped dub version of Johnny Clarke's 'None shall escape the Judgment'.

7.LEGALISE THE DUB.
Johnny Clarke again features on vocals over Sly & Robbies early version of Peter Tosh's controversial 'Legalise it'.

8.SANTA MASS DUB.
This exclusive horns dub of Sly & Robbies version of The Abyssinians classic 'Santa Mass Gang'.

9.A BAD WAY TO DUB.
Great rockers drum & bass push this Johnny Clarke dubbed vocal, its a bad bad sin....

10.DUB TO THE ROOTS.
Johnny Clarke's 'African Roots' stripped to its raw dub.

11.ZION GATES OF DUB.
A bass lead instrumental from the Channel 1 sessions. Sly and Robbie in fine form.

12. LOOKING IN THE EYES OF DUB.
Listen to what Sly & Robbie can do over Toots Hibbert's 'Monkey Man' rhythm and Johnny Clarke's dubbed vocal...Strictly Rockers....

13.AFRICAN DUB CHILD [ PART 2 ].
PART 2 OF 'Roots Natty' dub featuring Winston Wrights organ as lead instrument giving the track a more spacier feel...

14.MOVING OUT OF DUB LAND.
A lost till now dub version of 'Move out of Babylon', raw dub style enjoy.....