Album: Original Rockers by Augustus Pablo (1979)
Genre: Reggae
Record Label: VP Records
Format: Album

Description: This collection of mid-‘70s dub singles captures Augustus Pablo and producer King Tubby at the top of their game. Pablo’s eerie melodica floats majestically over instrumentals like “Jah Dread” and “Up Warrika Hill”, infusing them with his exotic, minor-key, far-East sound. Dillinger’s vocals on “Brace a Boy” crackle with Kingston ghetto intensity, and brothers Aston and Carly Barrett propel “Thunder Clap” and “Park Lane Special” with a lean, hard-edged rockers beat. Dub doesn’t get any heavier than this.

Artist Background: As any business person will tell you, the way to success is through the discovery of a niche or a previously unexploited market. Still, few business people, and even fewer musicians, would have believed that there was a market for the sound of the melodica. What next, they would have sniggered, a kazoo? Yet Augustus Pablo would take this child's toy and launch a revolution in Jamaican music. Not only was Pablo's melodica unique, it would sweep the entire island's scene and become an integral ... Emerged in the classic era. Associated with Reggae movement.

Related Artists: Keith Hudson, The Upsetters, Scientist, King Tubby

Music Scene: Emerged in the classic era. Associated with Reggae movement.

Tags: Reggae, 1970s, Album, VP Records

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


This collection of mid-‘70s dub singles captures Augustus Pablo and producer King Tubby at the top of their game. Pablo’s eerie melodica floats majestically over instrumentals like “Jah Dread” and “Up Warrika Hill”, infusing them with his exotic, minor-key, far-East sound. Dillinger’s vocals on “Brace a Boy” crackle with Kingston ghetto intensity, and brothers Aston and Carly Barrett propel “Thunder Clap” and “Park Lane Special” with a lean, hard-edged rockers beat. Dub doesn’t get any heavier than this.

Original Rockers

Augustus Pablo

Track List

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