The Upsetters: Pioneers of Jamaican Reggae and Dub
The Upsetters were the legendary studio and touring band for producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, forming the backbone of his groundbreaking Black Ark studio sound. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, their work in the 1970s, particularly on Perry's productions for Bob Marley and the Wailers and their own instrumental albums, helped define the genres of reggae and dub.
Early career
The band's formation is traced to the late 1960s, evolving from Perry's earlier studio group The Hippy Boys. Centered around the formidable rhythm section of brothers Aston "Family Man" Barrett on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums, The Upsetters became Perry's primary musical vehicle. Their early output included the 1969 UK chart hit Return of Django, which reached number five, introducing a raw, instrumental reggae sound to a British audience.
Breakthrough
The true breakthrough came with their deep involvement at Lee Perry's Black Ark studio from 1973 onward. Here, The Upsetters provided the innovative, often experimental rhythms for countless classic reggae recordings. Their own album Super Ape in 1976, credited to Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters, is considered a masterpiece of dub and a definitive statement of the Black Ark aesthetic, achieving cult status and critical acclaim worldwide.
Key tracks
Return of Django — This 1969 single was their first major international hit, cracking the UK Top 5 and establishing their instrumental prowess.
Clint Eastwood — A powerful, cinematic dub instrumental from 1972 that showcased the band's tight, menacing grooves and became a signature track.
Dread Lion — Featured on the Super Ape album, this track epitomizes the dense, organic, and mystical dub sound the band perfected at Black Ark.
Blackboard Jungle — The title track from a crucial 1973 dub album that pushed the boundaries of the genre with its heavy echo and studio effects.
Curly Locks — While a Junior Murvin vocal track, the iconic rhythm was laid by The Upsetters, demonstrating their versatility in creating perfect backing tracks.
The legacy of The Upsetters is inextricably linked to Lee Perry's visionary production. Their rhythms formed the foundation for seminal works by Max Romeo, The Heptones, Junior Murvin, and of course, Bob Marley and the Wailers on albums like Soul Revolution. Though the original Black Ark era ended in the late 1970s, the band's recordings have been endlessly repackaged and reissued, with compilations like Arkology earning gold certifications for sales in various markets, cementing their historical importance.
Fans of The Upsetters' foundational reggae and dub sound should also explore the work of similar Jamaican innovators. Listen to Lee Scratch Perry for the producer's singular solo work. The rhythms of Sly and Robbie defined a later generation of digital reggae with a similar rhythmic authority. Explore Augustus Pablo for another crucial branch of instrumental and dub reggae from the same era. The music of The Wailers provides the essential vocal counterpart to the instrumental grooves The Upsetters crafted.
The pioneering sounds of The Upsetters remain a staple on specialist reggae radio stations, classic album-oriented rock streams, and independent music radio stations that delve into music history. Their influential dubs and rhythms are regularly featured in dedicated reggae and roots programming across the broadcast spectrum.
The music of The Upsetters, a cornerstone of Jamaican reggae, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover the deep catalog of this influential band through the curated reggae, classic rock, and independent music radio stations available on onairium.com.
