Secret Black Ark/Lee Perry Productions

[Visitor]

I stand by my words.

But I understand that the whole truth will never be known because there aren't any sure facts. But that doesn't make it an opinion question.

[suzifan]

"Till now most people listen to the drum and decide if has the black ark sound it is a Perry production. But e.g. the Bolivar production from 1972 has got that drum but cannot be Black Ark. This 'man a scanker' hasnt got the drum but the keyboard with the right sound and 1974 is a operation black ark year. So tell me? I recalll to have read on the internet in which they say he(bolivar) had his own studio. Which studio is that???"

I have some ideas about that. Lee Perry had never owned a studio before. He was not actually an engineer, but a producer-arranger until this point. Compared to the equipment he regularly use at Dynamic, and even Randy's, the first gear at the Black Ark was limited and he would not have done the physical miking up. At the Ark, at first, His skill was in making the most of what was actually probably badly-miked up drum kit circa 1974 and getting that distinctive sound from it. As for the electric piano, well, he didnt make that. I don't kno what it was, but it was probably cheap so he would not have had exclusive use of a piano with that partickular sound. I have seen records for sale said to be Black Ark, because they have the same piano sound and frankly badly miked up drums, but they were recorded in the uk in the same kind of era. But they don't have the Perry magic in the mix. What I am saying is, the equipment was limited, not exclusive, and Perry's skill as an engineer in terms of physically miking up and setting up the gear was limited too. But he was good on the board which made up for it. But there is going to be some similarities between some weakly-recorded tunes and early Ark magic.

There are also Lee Perry productions from the Ark that dont sound it. Like the Grace Thrillers material. We will never get to the bottom of it. That is why, some 35 years after the event, we are still discussing it.

As for Bolivar's studio, I have Woman A Genal by Andell and Bolivar on a JA 45. The label is SRS, which means Simmons Recording Studio. Credits are "Arranged and Produced by N Simmons in the SRS, Kingston, Ja". It too has a raw, early Ark sound. But I think it isn't. Dub side is, Genel Version, credited to "Tony" by the way. Dunno who that is but I don't think it's the guy who sang I Left My Heart In San Francisco...! Anyone else heard of SRS or know if it evolve into something else?
Simmons might well be Bolivar and SRS his studio.

The thick plottens.

[slappy 2]

i dont think that one is either...i definately have tunes that I think are ark and no one agrees with me..."a ganja do it" by the Hot Rocks on Triumphant fr'instance and "knit up your tam dread" by Noel Campbell, .....

[suzifan]

"knit up your tam dread" by Noel Campbell, ....."

This definitely is. Totally.

[Zigy]

Suzifan interesting theory could be the case.

One of mine is also that the Ark was built slowly. So you had more or less also songs that were recorded there when the ark was being built. So that includes also the beginning of 73 and even 1972. Look what Watty said in the interview on reggae-vibes. Those songs recorded in that period differ in sound.

Q: I mean this is around '72 or '73, and the Ark was ready in 1974. Where were those early songs recorded - Federal? Randys?

A: No, no - right at the Ark. And it was the first recordings before the studio was even finished! Right in the Ark. Because what happened was he didn't have everything together but we could further things there and that was what it was - it was recorded there. The first several tracks that was recorded there. Same with 'I Man Free', yep... and with Jr Byles and everything. Those were the earlier tracks.

Nevertheless I also don't think Bolivar productions are Perry's or Ark, why not. The mix on the version give it away. Doesnt have Perry signature and the ark wasnt for hire in the beginning. But still what studio was it recorded in. The productions indeed doenst sound as recorded in one of the big studios at the time. A homestudio in JA could be, but then very unique or was it more common those days? Or does it might be recorded at a not ready built off Ark. Well doenst matter but if somebody knows I am interested.

But to contribute to the topic and to rule the question marks out hereby two scarces Perry productions:

Watty Burnett - Is Him - Culture Star
Max Romeo - Promises - Blank

Nice talking to you
Zigy

[Visitor]

I like the theories but I don't like the way you guy claim some tunes to be Perry productions although you really don't know for sure. Thanks

[Zigy]

Well visitor contribute to the discussion and bring in new tunes so we can listen to them and make up our minds. That is how it works unless it is documented, heavy phased, or a known Perry-Upsetter Rhythm.

Hate to bring it to you but all reggae sites got faulty listings or remarks. Also the Perry ones. And there is no one with absolute knowledge regarding this topic. Also there is not one peron with the magix perry ear that can say yes or no on a certain production. Only by discussing it and making assumptions like Suzy and I did you can say something about certain tunes. But it still is guessing.

In my prospective that is what a forum and community is about discussing. Not steal eachother knowledge and btw I listed enough standing firm scarces Perry/black ark productions in this forum.

Visitor Your reaction is why people donnot discuss it here but in innercircle collector or one on one relation.

Hope you understand what iam saying.

[slappy2]

some people don't agree its true...but I like the forum for suggestions to make up my own mind.

[3pan1]

... i have not any problem identifying whats Ark and what isnt.

[slengteng]

Dub side is, Genel Version, credited to "Tony" by the way. Dunno who that is but I don't think it's the guy who sang I Left My Heart In San Francisco...!

Toney is Michael Rose; This was his very first song.