Question about Bunny Wailer's "Dreamland"

[sweetdudejim]

Hey there, so I have a question about Bunny Wailer's song "Dreamland" and a few of the different times it's been issued, supposedly in different versions.

First off, there's the 1970 recording issued on the Upsetter label as "The Wailers. Produced by Lee Perry, this is the version that at the very least forms the basis of all the other ones.

Then we have the 1973 Solomonic label release of "Dreamland." According to some reputable sources this version is a remix of the Lee Perry Upsetter version. However, I have this 7-inch version from 1973 and it sounds *exactly* like the Upsetter version, except that as I recall it fades out maybe a few seconds earlier? Anyways, does anybody know if this is indeed a remix? And if it indeed is, could anybody point out any differences in the sound of the 1973 version that could help me distinguish?

Lastly, we have the 1980 ***Bunny Wailer sings The Wailers*** version. Now this version seems to be the same as the 1970, even including the fade. Everything sounds the same. Did Bunny just re-use the 1970 version on this album? Seems weird, especially as he did re-record at least some of it for the ***Blackheart Man*** album version.

Actually, since we are on that, too...did Bunny reuse some of the Upsetter material for the ***Blackheart Man*** version? I mean, it's obviously quite different with a lot of the backing track, but the lead vocal and backing vocals seem to be very, very much like the Upsetter version. Plus, I think Bob Marley is credited as a backing vocalist, and I don't think he recorded anything for the album, so it seems like they used the 1970 vocals for this one, right?

Anyway, I know this is really detail oriented and probably unimportant for some, but I figure if I'd ask these questions anywhere it'd be here.

[ice]

I haven't listended to these albums for a long time but I am pretty sure all of the songs for the "Sings the Wailers" album were re-recorded, mostly with Sly & Robbie - or are you just referring to the vocals?

What makes you think Bob did not record some backing vocals for "Blackheart Man"? The I Threes surely did and pretty much all band members were involved, too

[blackarkrock]

Dreamland on "Sings The Wailers" is indeed the same as the original 1970 Wailers´ Lee Perry-produced cut.

The Solomonic 1973 7" is (supposedly) a remix of that 1970 cut, though I can´t hear the difference, either.

And the 1975 "Blackheart Man" version uses the 1970 cut, with lots of overdubs. Not sure about all vocals being original or overdubbed...

[sweetdudejim]

Thanks blackarkrock. So it seems that these things are just as I suspected. While I could understand if the 1973 Solomonic single ended up being nearly the same thing, as it in a way could just be looked at as a re-release on a different label of the 1971 version (just with a different b-side "version" or "dub"), it doesn't make sense why he would just reuse a 10 year old version of a song on a brand new album? Especially as there had been a new version of "Dream Land" in the meantime on the ***Blackheart Man*** album. However, the catalogues of many Jamaican artists are littered with these weird kind of discographic decisions, so it is what it is.

[Lick It Back]

Bunny's cover of the El Tempo's song:
The Solomonic 7" is just a slight remix of the original single but the LP version on Blackheart Man uses an adaption of the 'Peanut Vendor' Rhythm - probably so it was all his, as opposed to a Perry rhythm (money me thinks!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb8dPzJM7lQ

Finding rational sense in JA music is a tricky road: Bunny especially did many odd things with his music & indeed career...not touring for years...falling out with many....not doing PR for years....such a shame. ...sacking Robert Livingstone (later Shaggy's manager) and shutting his UK set up...

[99thfloor]

Bunny especially did many odd things with his music & indeed career...

It was a called to my attention on another forum that the two *Solomonic Singles* compilations on Dub Store are the only ones among that label's releases that are not available to stream or download anywhere, only as physical releases, so it seems he is still at it, making quirky decisions.

[99thfloor]

Here are the two singles for comparison.

Upsetter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gLUI3q2aiU

Solomonic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otak-z287gc