More Info
• Many tracks new to CD
• Includes numerous major Jamaican hits
• Most tracks unavailable for 20+ years
By the summer of 1971, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was widely recognised as Jamaica’s most creative music-maker. Since launching his career as an independent producer in 1968, his experimentations with sound and style had resulted in some of the most exciting and popular works to see issue during reggae’s formative years.
Now, primarily employing one of the island’s most accomplished band, The Now Generation as his regular session crew, the sound of Perry’s output from the latter half of 1971 contrasted strongly with the more rugged style the epitomised many of his earlier productions.
Otherwise, however, his general approach to music-making remained unaltered and during this six-month period, he released a series of popular singles by some of Kingston’s finest, performing a variety of compositions that ranged from covers of soul and pop songs to original early roots material.
As a stand-alone compilation or an accompaniment set to previous Doctor Bird anthologies of Perry’s Jamaican singles, ‘Better Days’ is a must for any serious fan of his always compelling work, as well as all enthusiasts of classic reggae sounds.
Tracklist
1. Paul Freeman - Don't Give Up
2. The Upsetters - Don't Give Up Version
3. Donald Smythe - Where Love Goes
4. The Hurricanes - You Can Run
5. David Isaacs - Just Enough
6. The Untouchables - Can't Reach You
7. Mahalia Saunders - Right On The Tip Of My Tongue
8. The Upsetters - Right On The Tip Version
9. Max Romeo - Ginalship
10. The Upsetters - Ginalship Version
11. Hortense Ellis - Piece Of My Heart
12. The Upsetters - Piece Of My Heart Version
13. Danny & The Flames - Zion
14. The Adis Ababians - Zion Version
15. Mahalia Saunders - Suspicious Minds
16. Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon
17. The Upsetters - Ital Version
18. Dennis Alcapone - Alpha and Omega
19. The Upsetters - King Alpha
20. Lloyd Parks - Mighty Cloud Of Joy
21. The Upsetters - Mighty Cloud Version
DISC TWO
1. Lee Perry - Inna Iwah
2. The Upsetters - Inna Iwah Version
3. Winston Wright - Example Part 1
4. The 3rd & 4th Generation - Example Part 2
5. Shenley Duffus – To Be A Lover
6. The Upsetters - I Forgot To Remember
7. Dennis Alcapone - Africa Stand
8. Dennis Alcapone – Jah Rastafari
9. Junior Byles - Poor Chubby
10. The Carltons - Better Days
11. Busty Brown - My Girl
12. Junior Byles - Come Again
13. The Hurricanes - Walking The Street
14. The Bleechers - Jump And Rail
15. The Viceroys - Come On Over
16. The Bleechers - Trying My Faith
17. The Viceroys - Fancy Clothes
18. The Righteous Flames - One Love One Heart
19. U Roy - Rhythm Land
20. Shenley Duffus - Bet You Don't Know
21. The Upsetters - Ring Of Fire