LEROY SMART
MR SMART IN DUB

Leroy Smart the self proclaimed ‘Don’, carries much respect in the Jamaican musical community.His attacking vocal style gives his lyrics and tunes that extra meaningfulness.

Born in Jamaica and orphaned as a young child,Leroy was sent to Maxfield Park children's home and educated at the famed Alpha Boys School.The school was run by nuns who encouraged musical talent and would provide the world with the cream of Jamaica’s artistic talent.Such legends as Don Drummond,Tommy McCook,Johnny’ Dizzy’ Moore,to name but a few, all learnt their musical trade in this strict environment.

Leroy worked with many Jamaican producers, but seemed to find his feet working with Bunny ‘ Striker ' Lee.With whom he cut many of his greatest tunes.It’s from this period that we have compiled this album.Featuring lost to now dubs to many of his classic tunes, like ' Wreck up my Life’,featured here as ‘Dub Wrecker’.’God Helps the Man’ [ Help yourself to Dub ],Pride and Ambition [ If I should Dub ].Fittest of the Fittest [ Dub for the Fittest ] and the title track of this selection his self affirming Mr Smart [ Mr Smart in Dub ].These work alongside less known cuts that he also puts his musical stamp on .’No Love’ [ No Love In Dub ].which sees him working over the ‘Zion Gate’ rhythm, made famous by Mr Horace Andy.The ‘My Conversation’ rhythm originally cut by Slim Smith,but made into Leroy’s own ‘Jah Jah Forgive them’ [ For They Know What They Dub ].All portrayed in his enviable style.

Such was Mr Leroy Smart’s stature in his homeland Jamaica, that when the ‘One Love’ peace concert lineup was put together for the 22nd of April 1978.The best of Jamaica’s Reggae stars were picked to play alongside Bob Marley & the Wailers.Such greats as Dennis Brown,The Mighty Diamonds,Peter Tosh and Inner Circle were chosen alongside the Don himself,Mr Smart.Whose stage shows were always colourful and to say the least eventful..
Mr Smart has continued to release music during the 80’s & 90’s, most notably with ‘She Just a Draw Card’ & ‘I’m the Don’.But as a set we feel this stands up with the best of them.Hope you enjoy the ride...
Respect Jah Floyd.

1.MISTER SMART IN DUB.
A Lost dub to Leroy’s self affirming ‘Mr Smart’ .

2.MISTER RICH DUB.
A Lost dub cut to Leroy’s scathing
‘ Mr Rich Man’, still sounds as relevant today...

3.HELP YOURSELF TO DUB.
Another Leroy classic, ‘Jah Helps the Man’
gets the dub treatment.

4.IF I SHOULD DUB.
Leroy’s ‘Shame & Pride’ never sounded better
than on this lost dub cut ....Nice..

5.BAD MINDED DUB.
This time ‘Bad Minded People’ gets stripped
to the bone for this version.

6.DUB FOR THE FITTEST.
A rhythm originally voiced by Jimmy Riley
as ‘Thanks and Praise’,that Leroy worked
into his ‘Fittest of the Fittest’ of which this
is a lost dub cut to....

7.DUB WRECKER.
Mr Smarts ‘Wreck Up My Life’
gets the dub treatment...

8.STOP THE DUB FIGHT.
This classic rhythm gets worked over
for Leroy’s ‘Stop the Fighting’
of which this is a dub cut...

9.FOR THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DUB.
The classic and many versioned ‘My Conversation’
rhythm gets worked one more time for Leroy’s
‘ Jah Jah Forgive Them’.Here in it’s dubbed form.

10.NO LOVE IN DUB.
Leroy’s ‘No Love’ track of which this is a dub cut to,
used the same rhythm Horace Andy cut his ‘Zion Gate’
with.Both tracks do it justice...

11.GHETTO DUB.
This time ‘Ghetto Girl’ gets worked and
stretched into fine dub version.

12.A DUB SLAVE.
Leroy rides over Sly & Robbie's steppers
style version of Dennis Brown’s ‘Tribulation’,
to cut his own ‘In Slavery’ , this is its dub cut

13.UNDERPRIVILEGED DUB.
Leroy works the classic ‘Money Money’ rhythm

14.KEEP DUBBING EVERYDAY.
Last but not least the the timeless ‘Satta Massa Gana’
rhythm gets the Don treatment,’To Keep on Fussing,
everyday, makes no sense’ fine words for a fine rhythm....