Roots Archives Forum

Looking through my Lee Perry archives, I've recently been focusing on the Megaton Dub collections. Scratch never released any dub LPs during dub's heyday, so we had to wait until Seven Leaves released the two Megaton Dub collections in the 1980s. Ever since, they've been in and out of print and can be hard to find.

Listening to the LPs, they have their faults, and I think the choice of material could be better. So, far all you Scratch fans, I present an alternative version of Megaton Dub - if only someone would actually release it!

**Seven Leaves releases:**
*Megaton Dub V1:*
Dem No Know Dub (Know Love - Twin Roots)
Conscious Man Dub (Conscious Man - Jolly Brothers)
Such Is Dub (Such Is Life - Lord Creator)
Corn Picker Dub (African Freedom - Brother Hood)
Rasta Dub (Rastafari - Leroy Sibbles)
Freedom Dub (Freedom - Earl Sixteen)
Megaton Dub (unknown, voiced as Step By Step - Earl Sixteen)
Dreader Dub (Dread Dreader - Jolly Brothers)
School Girl Dub (School Girl - Mikey Dread)
Simon The Sorcerer (Dread Lion - Upsetters)

*Megaton Dub V2:*
Traveling In Dub (Travelling - Debra Keese)
Fisherman Dub (Fisherman - Congos)
Zion In Dub (Zion's Blood - Upsetters)
Groovy Dub (Groovy Situation - Keith Rowe)
Dub Crisis (Economic Crisis - Jack Lord & The Disciples)
Green Bay Killing (Lord Sassafrass)
Big Neck Dub (Big Neck Police - Lee Perry)
Living In Dub (Living My Life - Keith Rowe)

**Mick Sleeper version:**
1. Zion's Dub (Zion's Blood - Upsetters)
2. Forward With Dub (Forward With Love - Mystic Eyes)
3. Rasta Dub (Rastafari - Leroy Sibbles)
4. Dub Crisis (Economic Crisis - Jack Lord & The Disciples)
5. Groovy Dub (Groovy Situation - Keith Rowe)
6. Know Dub (Know Love - Twin Roots)
7. Fisherman Dub (Fisherman - Congos)
8. Megaton Dub (Unknown)
9. Such Is Dub (Such Is Life - Lord Creator)
10. Dreader Dub (Dread Dreader - Jolly Brothers)
11. Mr. Dub (Mr. Cop - Gregory Isaacs)
12. Travelling In Dub (Travelling - Debra Keese)
13. African Dub (African Freedom - Brother Hood)
14. Freedom Dub (Freedom - Earl Sixteen)
15. Dub Cloud [AKA Bo Yarka Dub] (Storm Cloud - Heptones)
16. School Dub (School Girl - Mikey Dread)
17. Big Neck Dub (Big Neck Police - Lee Perry)
18. Conscious Dub (Conscious Man - Jolly Brothers)
19. Corn Fish Dub (Roast Fish & Cornbread - Lee Perry)
20. Simon The Sorcerer (Dread Lion - Upsetters)
21. Happy Dub [Alternate Mix] (Forward With Love - Mystic Eyes)
22. Groovy Dub [Alternate Mix] (Groovy Situation - Keith Rowe)
23. Living My Dub (Living My Life - Keith Rowe)

No Black Ark nerds with an opinion?

If only this ever happened...
Am I the only one to feel these [Seven Leaves] tracks were quite speeded up (circa +3 %) ?
Some tracks were also quite shortened, on Force 2002 (Ballistic 12") Such is Dub clocks at nearly 5 minutes.
Simon The Sorcerer is a bit off topic here, it's only the 2-track basic riddim part for Dread Lion and other tunes - no dub here. But very nice to do your own mixes !
There are also various Freedom Dub cuts here and there - at least 2 different ones (one being on a Ballistic 12" - repeated twice to last longer).
The dub to Nuh Fe Run It Down should also be included.

And yes, there is enough material do re-release crucial compilations.

N.

Yea I recently did a remix of Simon the sorcerer track by splitting the left and right channels

Looking at the track list again, I would probably get rid of Simon The Sorcerer. It's an oddball mix, and not a particularly good dub. Leave it off and make room for the heavier, better tracks.

Wow, i've been a Rootsdub-afficionado for many years, but i have only recently joined the forum; very interesting topic, this one: for several of the Megaton tracks, I had no idea what the original song was. So thanks!
I must agree with mr. Sleeper that Megaton is the best Black Ark dub selection available, but could be a lot better; as for myself i've created my own personal selection (maily based on bits from Megaton 1+2, Arkology, Upsetter in dub, and a few tracks found on other compilations), including a much better version of Simon the sorcerer (or Natty passing dub). It starts with a laughter (probably Jazzbo's) ans has a much 'deeper' sound than the one on Megaton, but unfortunately I don't remember on which album I found this one: ayone an idea?