Rhythm Shower
Encyclopedia
Rhythm Shower is an album by The Upsetters
, released in 1973. Originally released in a very limited Jamaican pressing with no sleeve, it became better known when re-released by the Trojan
label as part of its originally 3 LP, later 2 CD set The Upsetter Collection, first issued in 1986. Many of the rhythms on the album will be familiar to Lee Perry fans; "Double Power" versions "Give Me Power" by the Stingers, "Lover Version" features Perry's production of Chenley Duffus covering William Bell's "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" (he later gifted the rhythm to Winston "Niney" Holness, who passed it on to producer A Folder who enjoyed massive success with cuts of it by Delroy Wilson
, Augustus Pablo
, Tommy McCook
and Jah Lloyd
in 1975 and 1976), "Connection" versions the "Space Flight" rhythm, and "Kuchy Skank" is an Augustus Pablo version to "Words of My Mouth" by Sangie Davis and the Gatherers. "Operation" is an early example of the then-experimental technique of cutting together parts of different backing tracks to create a single track - it opens with a different dub of "Give Me Power", which then segues into a dub of The Ethiopians
"Love and Respect", then a dub of Junior Byles
"Fever", ending with the bass melodica
cut to "Give Me Power", released in its own right on 45 as "Tipper Special".
The Upsetters
The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am The Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Coxsone Dodd....
, released in 1973. Originally released in a very limited Jamaican pressing with no sleeve, it became better known when re-released by the Trojan
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
label as part of its originally 3 LP, later 2 CD set The Upsetter Collection, first issued in 1986. Many of the rhythms on the album will be familiar to Lee Perry fans; "Double Power" versions "Give Me Power" by the Stingers, "Lover Version" features Perry's production of Chenley Duffus covering William Bell's "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" (he later gifted the rhythm to Winston "Niney" Holness, who passed it on to producer A Folder who enjoyed massive success with cuts of it by Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer.-Biography:Wilson released his first single "Emy Lou" in 1961 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen...
, Augustus Pablo
Augustus Pablo
Horace Swaby , known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub record producer, melodica player and keyboardist, active from the 1970s onwards. He popularized the use of the melodica in reggae music...
, Tommy McCook
Tommy McCook
Tommy McCook was a Jamaican saxophonist. A founding member of The Skatalites, he also directed The Supersonics for Duke Reid, and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or with The Revolutionaries at Channel One Studios in the 1970s.-Biography:McCook was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Jamaica in...
and Jah Lloyd
Jah Lloyd
Jah Lloyd, aka Jah Lion, The Black Lion of Judah, and Jah Ali was a reggae singer, deejay and producer.-Biography:...
in 1975 and 1976), "Connection" versions the "Space Flight" rhythm, and "Kuchy Skank" is an Augustus Pablo version to "Words of My Mouth" by Sangie Davis and the Gatherers. "Operation" is an early example of the then-experimental technique of cutting together parts of different backing tracks to create a single track - it opens with a different dub of "Give Me Power", which then segues into a dub of The Ethiopians
The Ethiopians
The Ethiopians were a ska, rocksteady, and reggae vocal group, founded by Leonard Dillon , Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris.-History:...
"Love and Respect", then a dub of Junior Byles
Junior Byles
Kerrie Byles is a reggae singer, born July 17, 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica.-The Versatiles:...
"Fever", ending with the bass melodica
Melodica
The melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
cut to "Give Me Power", released in its own right on 45 as "Tipper Special".
Side one
- "Tighten Up" – DillingerDillinger (musician)Dillinger is a reggae artist.-Biography:As a young man growing up in Kingston, Dillinger would hang around Dennis Alcapone's El Paso sound system...
- "Django Shoots First" – Sir Lord ComicSir Lord Comic-Biography:His career began as a dancer with the Admiral Dean sound system. In the late 1950s, following the lead of Count Machuki, he began deejaying with the sound system, and recorded what is considered the first deejay recording, "Ska-ing West" in 1966. Comic also recorded one of last great...
- "Uncle Charley"
- "Sokup"
- "Double Power"
- "Lover Version"
Side two
- "Rumpelsteelkin"
- "Skanking" – Dillinger
- "Kuchy Skank"
- "Connection" – Dillinger
- "Operation"