By the late seventies, Pablo had perfected
his far-east style, issuing thriller after thriller on his various
Jamaican labels.
This album contains four classic Rockers rhythms, showcasing various
vocal, DJ, melodica and dub interpretations of Pablo's unique musical
vision.
The opening rhythm, Junior Delgado's "Away With Your Fussing
& Fighting", originally issued as a 12" disco in 1979
and now a much sought-after item, is Included here in Its entirety.
Delgado, In fiery accusatory form, riles against warmongers and
hypocrites, until the youthful Hugh Mundell In his DJ guise as Jab
Levi comes in to chant an enthusiastic adjunct.
As Mundell drops the mike, Pablo takes It up to blow one of his
most fluid melodica sides In the tradition of the biblical King
of Israel, "King David's Melody".
Finally, the fourth cut, a subtle "Solomon Dub" sets the
seal on what was a classic 12".
The following three rhythms come from an earlier era, considered
by many to be Pablo's golden period.
Jacob Miller's "False Basta", from 1975, has Miller testifying
to his new-found faith after turning dreadlocks, in a lyric adapted
from a previous recording "The Time Has Come Again" for
producer Tommy Cowan.
The thunderously heavy onedrop rhythm was originally built in 1974
for Pablo's melodica track "555 Crown Street", also here
along with its crashing dub "1 Rutland Close".
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Next is Pablo's most cherished rhythm: "Cassava Piece / King
Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown", built originally for producer
Herman Chin Loy at Byron Lee's Dynamic Studio in 1972.
The best-known cut is obviously Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love
You So" and its famous King Tubby's version (both available
on Greensleeves' album Who
Say Jab No Dread).
Strangely, considering its potency, Pablo never really exploited
the rhythm in the way he did other rhythms.
Apart from Big Youth's cut "Cassava Rock", he didn't come
back to the rhythm until the late seventies, when he cut erstwhile
Viceroys singer Norris Reid's "Black Force" on it, Included
here with Its dub "Straight A Yard" and Pablo's "Cassava
Piece" melodica lick.
The album continues with three cuts to Jacob Miller's 1974 ode
to ghetto education "Each One Teach One", again featuring
a DJ cut by Mundell / Jab Levi entitled "Zion A Fe Lion".
After Introducing the song as "a brand new sound from Rockers
International" much as he must have done while DJ-ing on Pablo's
Rockers sound-system, Mundell proceeds to chant nyabinghl and hall-up
King Selassie 1, before the dub "Zimblan Style" crashes
in.
So there you have it; fifteen tracks, five great rhythms; displaying
all the spiritual power, majesty and mystique that have made Pablo
and his Rockers International sound revered world-wide.
:: Lol Bell-Brown (Boomshackalacka Magazine) 1992
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