Trojan Announce New Compilation Album ‘King Scratch’
TROJAN RECORDS ANNOUNCE NEW COLLECTION FROM THE LEGENDARY LATE LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY
KING SCRATCH
(MUSICAL MASTERPIECES FROM THE UPSETTER ARK-IVE)
OUT 26TH AUGUST ON 2xCD, 2xLP
+ 4xLP & 4xCD BOX SET WITH ILLUSTRATED BOOK
PRE-ORDER HERE | WATCH TRAILER HERE
Trojan Records have today announced a new compilation album King Scratch (Musical Masterpieces from the Upsetter Ark-ive). The album, out on double CD, double vinyl, and a deluxe box set, will comprise tracks from across the career of the legendary late great Jamaican record producer and artist Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. Released on the 26th August, the collection will mark the 1st anniversary of his passing, showcasing the very best of his work across his own releases and his productions for other artists.
As arguably the greatest Jamaican record producer of all time, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was instrumental in transforming Jamaica’s national sound throughout the 60s and 70s, with his unique approach to production pushing the music beyond previously perceived boundaries. This release will not only mark the first anniversary of his passing at the age of 85 but it falls on the weekend of London’s iconic Notting Hill Carnival, the first event since 2019. “This new box-set of Lee’s golden years shows the visionary genius that drove him to push all creative boundaries, and solidify his status as a cultural icon. Lee’s art and music will live on forever,” says his widow Mireille Perry on behalf of Lee’s estate.
The deluxe box set comprises 109 tracks across four vinyl LPs and four CDs, featuring his best known and most influential recordings along with some rare and unreleased DJ mixes. It includes a previously unreleased mix of Junior Murvin’s powerful ‘Police And Thieves’, UK chart-buster ‘Hurt So Good’ by Susan Cadogan, and the Upsetters’ boss reggae classic ‘Return’ Of Django’, as well as numerous major Jamaican hits. The box set will also include a 50 page fully illustrated book, penned by Scratch’s official biographer David Katz and will feature photos from celebrated photographer Adrian Boot, as well as a newly designed two-sided full colour 24″ x 24″ poster.
The 2x gatefold LP and 2x CD set collection focuses upon the legendary music-maker’s best-known productions from the 60s and 70s, performed by some of the giants of Jamaican music, with both iconic imagery and extensive notes on the man whose talent and imagination took reggae to new heights of excellence.
Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s vision and talent has had a significant impact on the musical landscape of today,
inspiring many of the world’s greatest musicians including the likes of The Prodigy, The Rolling Stones, The Beastie Boys, The Clash, and Diplo who carried his sound forward. This brand new release pays homage to a legend whose astounding legacy will never be forgotten.
About Lee Scratch Perry
Jamaican record producer and singer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry (1936 – 2021) was noted for his unique approach to music-making, which resulted in the creation of an astounding body of work that proved instrumental in shaping not just the sound of Jamaican music, but profoundly influencing, entertaining and inspiring generations the world over. 1963 saw him make his debut with driving ska number ‘Old For New’, the success of which led to the follow up ‘Chicken Scratch’ which was the track that led to his most enduring nickname ‘Scratch’.
After sessions with Karl ‘JJ’ Johnson, WIRL (West Indies Records Ltd.), and Prince Buster, Scratch was employed as a sound engineer for Joe Gibbs and created a series of superior rock steady singles including his own ‘I Am The Upsetter’, which established another of his long-lasting nicknames. It was Scratch’s own ‘People Funny Boy’ that became one of the biggest sellers of Jamaican music in 1968, not only ensuring the future of Scratch’s label ‘Upsetter Records’, but also prompting a deal with Trojan Records in Britain, who in 1969 set up its own Upsetter label to showcase the best of Scratch’s productions. After months spent building the British club scene, The Upsetters’ ‘Return Of Django’ backed with ‘Dollar in the Teeth’ broke into the pop charts, peaking at the number 5 spot.
A variety of performers began to benefit from Scratch’s imitable talents, including a vocal trio that became Bob Marley and The Wailers. The 70’s saw Scratch re-affirm his standing as one of Jamaica’s most successful and influential producers and by 1973 he had built his Black Ark Studio, which saw him produce some of the most spellbinding music of the decade, with significant hits including Susan Cadogan’s popular cover of ‘Hurt So Good’, Junior Byles’ hypnotic lament, ‘Curley Locks’ and a series of compelling roots anthems, such as ‘Sufferer’s Time’ by The Heptones, Max Romeo’s ‘Sipple Out Deh’ (aka ‘War in a Babylon’) and Junior Murvin’s strident ‘Police and Thief’ aka ‘Police and Thieves’.
Over the years that followed Scratch continued to perform and achieve significant success with his 1983 Trojan collection Jamaican ET winning a GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album. A pioneer and true innovator, Scratch was responsible for some of the greatest recordings in Jamaican music history and this album brings together such tracks, commencing with his breakthrough hit, ‘People Funny Boy’, right through to the title track of the Grammy Award-winning collection Jamaican E.T.
About Trojan Records
From its inception in 1968, Trojan Records changed the British musical and cultural landscape, bringing a new sound and ethos to the world. Introducing the music of Jamaica to the UK and wider audiences, it brought the likes of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers, Bob Marley, Prince Buster and Jimmy Cliff to a mainstream audience. Now part of the BMG family, the label celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.
King Scratch (Musical Masterpieces from the Upsetter Ark-ive) tracklist
Box Set Track List
LP1, Side 1
- People Funny Boy – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Tighten Up – The Inspirations
- Return of Django – The Upsetters
- Shocks of Mighty – Dave Barker & The Upsetters
- Place Called Africa aka A Place Called Africa – Junior Byles
- All Africans aka Don’t Cross The Nation (7″ mix) – Little Roy +
- Beat Down Babylon – Junior Byles
LP1, Side 2
- Words of My Mouth – The Gatherers
- Hot Tip – Prince Django
- Jungle Lion (7″ mix) – Lee Perry & The Upsetters
- Curly Locks – Junior Byles
- Hurt So Good (7″ mix) – Susan Cadogan
- Bushweed Corntrash – Bunny & Ricky
LP 2, Side 1
- Three Blind Mice – Max Romeo
- Three Times Three – King Tubby & The Upsetters
- Sufferers Time – The Heptones
- Sufferers Heights – Junior Dread
- Roast Fish And Corn Bread (Jamaican mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Sipple Out Deh aka War In A Babylon (Jamaican mix) – Max Romeo
LP2, Side 2
- One Step Forward (12″ mix) – Max Romeo & Prince Jazzbo*
- Rise And Shine – Watty & Tony
- Police And Thieves (12″ mix) – Junior Murvin & Jah Lion *
LP3, Side 1
- Ethiopia Land – Peter & Paul Lewis
- Chase The Devil / Disco Devil – Max Romeo & Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry with The Full Experience *
- City Too Hot (“7 mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Vibrate Onn (“12 mix) – Augustus Pablo
LP3, Side 2
- Rainy Night In Portland (12″ mix) – Watty Burnett
- Garden of Life – Leroy Sibbles
- Sons of Slaves (12″ mix) – Junior Delgado
LP4, Side 1
- Roots Train (“7 mix) – Junior Murvin +
- History (7″ mix) – Carlton Jackson
- Neckodememus aka Nicodemus (7″ mix) – The Congos
- Soul Fire (Jamaican mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
LP4, Side 2
- One Drop – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- I Am A Madman (LP mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Exodus (12″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Jamaican E.T (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry*
CD1. THE EARLY YEARS, 1968 – 1973
- None Such Busted Me Bet (aka Sufferation – The Mellotones)
- Stranger On The Shore – Val Bennett & The Upsetters
- A Place In The Sun – David Isaacs
- Dollar In The Teeth – The Upsetters
- Check Him Out – The Bleechers
- Live Injection – The Upsetters
- Prisoner Of Love – Dave Barker & The Upsetters
- Clint Eastwood (7″ Mix) – The Upsetters
- Babyloose Burning aka Babylon’s Burning – Maxie, Niney & Scratch
- Give Me Power – The Stingers
- This World – Milton Henry as King Medious
- Lick The Pipe Peter Part 4 – Jah T
- French Connection – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters
- Da Da – Junior Byles
- Rasta Bandwagon – Max Romeo
- Blackman Time – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Bucky Skank – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters
- Cow Thief Skank – Charlie Ace & Lee Perry
- Black IPA aka Green Island – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters
- Dub Organizer – Dillinger & The Upsetters
- News Flash – Leo Graham
- Better Days – Carlton & The Shoes
- Sick And Tired – Neville Grant
- Rasta No Pickpocket
- Black Candle – Leo Graham
CD2. BLACK ARK ADVENTURES PART 1 (1974 – 1976)
- Doctor Demand – Leo Graham & Prince Jazzbo
- Stay Dread – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Herb Vendor – Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace
- Lady Lady – Cynty & The Monkees
- Enter The Dragon (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters
- Public Jestering – Judge Winchester
- Cane River Rock – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & the Upsetters
- Do It Baby (aka Nice And Easy) (7″ mix) – Susan Cadogan
- The Long Way (7″mix) – Junior Byles
- Many Are Called aka Yagga Yagga – The Unforgettables
- Be Thankful (For What You’ve Got) – Bunny Scott
- I Man Free – Watty Burnett
- I Man Stand Still – Jimmy Riley
- To Love Somebody – Bunny Scott
- Son of Negus – Jimmy Riley
- Down Here in Babylon – Brent Dowe
- Big May – Bunny Scott
- Babylon Deh Pon Fire – Truth, Fact & Correct
- Natty Pass Through Rome – Prince Jazzbo
- Back Wey – Fay Bennett
- Fever / Influenza Version – Susan Cadogan & The Upsetters
- White Belly Rat – Lee Perry
- Fire Fe The Vatican – Max Romeo
- Stop The War In A Babylon – James Boom +
CD3. BLACK ARK ADVENTURES PART 2 (1976 – 1977)
- I Shall Be Released – The Heptones & Jah Lion +
- A Wah Dat – Junior Dread
- Take Warning – Ralph Haughton & Ebony Sisters
- Four And Twenty Dreadlocks (7″mix) – Evan Jones
- Groovy Situation (Jamaican mix) – Keith Rowe
- I Forgot To Be Your Lover (7″ mix) – George Faith
- Voodooism – Leo Graham
- Rasta Train – Raphael Green & Alimantando
- At The Feast (Of The Passover) – The Congos
- Wolf Out Deh – Shaumark & Robinson
- Reggae Music – Hugo Blackwood & Alimantado
- Open the Gate (7″ mix) – Watty Burnett +
CD 4. BLACK ARK & BEYOND (1977 – 2002)
- Bad Weed (12″ mix) – Junior Murvin
- Bionic Rats (12″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Forward With The Orthodox – Mistic I
- Know Love (12″ mix) – Twin Roots
- Big Neck Police – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Green Bay Inquest – Lord Sassafrass & Debra Keese
- Free Up The Prisoners (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Home Guard – Michael Campbell (aka Mikey Dread)
- Cross Over (7″ mix) – Junior Murvin
- Bafflin Smoke Signal (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry *
- Introducing Myself – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- For Whom The Bell Tolls (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry *
- I’ll Take You There (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry *
13. Vampire (7″ mix) – Devon Irons & Alimantado
Track list CD:
CD1: THE EARLY YEARS, 1968 – 1976
- People Funny Boy – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Tighten Up – The Inspirations
- Return Of Django – The Upsetters
- Shocks Of Mighty – Dave Barker
- Place Called Africa – Junior Byles
- All Africans (7″ mix) – Little Roy +
- Beat Down Babylon – Junior Byles
- Words Of My Mouth – The Gatherers
- Bucky Skank – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters
- Jungle Lion (7″ mix) – Lee Perry & The Upsetters
- Hurt So Good (7″ mix) – Susan Cadogan
- Curly Locks – Junior Byles
- Bushweed Corntrash – Bunny and Ricky
- Stay Dread – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Three Blind Mice – Max Romeo
- Do It Baby (aka Nice and Easy) (7″ mix) – Susan Cadogan
- Natty Pass Through Rome – Prince Jazzbo
- One Step Forward/ Ital Corner (12″ mix) – Max Romeo and Prince Jazzbo *
- Sufferer’s Time – The Heptones
- Police and Thief aka Police and Thieves (12″ mix) Junior Murvin and Jah Lion *
- Roast Fish And Cornbread (Jamaican mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Sipple Out Deh (Ja. mix) – max Romeo
CD2: THE EARLY YEARS, 1976 & BEYOND
- Fire Fe The Vatican (7″ mix) – Max Romeo
- Rise and Shine – Watty and Tony
- Chase The Devil / Disco Devil – Max Romeo & Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry With The Full Experience *
- Voodooism – Leo Graham
- Open The Gate – Watty Burnett +
- Roots Train (7″ mix) – Junior Murvin +
- Soul Fire (Jamaican mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Cross Over (12″ mix) Junior Murvin
- At The Feast (Of The Passover) – The Congos
- Free Up The Prisoners (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Sons of Slaves (7″ mix) – Junior Delgado +
- Big Neck Policeman – Lee ‘Scratch Perry’
- Neckodememus (7″ mix) – The Congos
- Bafflin Smoke Signal (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry *
- One Drop – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- I Am A Madman – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Exodus (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry +
- Jamaican ET (7″ mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry *
Track list 2x Vinyl:
LP1
Side 1
- People Funny Boy – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Tighten Up – The Inspirations
- Return Of Django – The Upsetters
- Shocks Of Mighty – Dave Barker
- Place Called Africa – Junior Byles
- All Africans (7″ mix) – Little Roy +
- Beat Down Babylon – Junior Byles
Side 2
- Words Of My Mouth – The Gatherers
- Hot Tip – Prince Django
- Jungle Lion (7″ mix) – Lee Perry & The Upsetters
- Curly Locks – Junior Byles
- Hurt So Good (7″ mix) – Susan Cadogan
- Stay Dread – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- Sipple Out Deh – Max Romeo
LP2
Side 1
- One Step Forward (Jamaican mix) – Max Romeo
- Police And Thieves (12″ mix) – Junior Murvin & Jah Lion *
- Sons of Slaves – Junior Delgado
Side 2
- Chase The Devil / Disco Devil – Max Romeo & Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry With The Full Experience *
- Soul Fire (Jamaican mix) – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
- I am Madman – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry +
- Exodus – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry +
- Jamaican ET – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
Written by: Amarae Lobban
