Search - Johnny Clarke :: Ruffer Version: At King Tubby's 1974-1978

THE RUFFER THEY COME

Locks Lion | Blue Mountain Peak | 09/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A RUFFER VERSION: Johnny Clarke was a sensation in the 1970s, especially so in Jamaica where he enjoyed one big hit after another between 1974 and 1980. Teaming up with the island's number one hitmaker, Bunny Striker Lee, Clarke and company set the dancehalls alight with a series of blazing "rockers"-style originals as well as popular do-overs and King Tubby's essential version sides. A RUFFER VERSION collects a healthy number of Clarke's biggest hits, each presented alongside Tubby's ruff-n-tumble dub mix and/or alternate vocal takes. As such, this collection is all killer, no filler. Kicking off with the massive NONE SHALL ESCAPE THE JUDGMENT, A RUFFER VERSION takes us on a tour of Clarke's catalogue by way of such classic cuts as MOVE OUT OF BABYLON; POOR MARCUS (a.k.a. The Mighty Diamonds' THEM NEVER LOVE POOR MARCUS) and Tubby's whiplashed version side, A HARDER VERSION; and the moody JUST GIVE UP THE BADNESS ("You're a no good, no good man...you don't come near me, you fool! I just don't want to see your face..."). For some reason, Clarke's star faded rapidly in the 1980s - where other fan favourites like Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs made very successful transitions into the dancehall decade - but A RUFFER VERSION captures the singer, not to mention Bunny Lee and King Tubby's each at the peak of his considerable powers. Along with Pressure Sounds' DREADER DREAD, this is the very best Johnny Clarke collection currently available."