Arkology

by Lee "Scratch" Perry

Arkology cover art
  • Type: Compilation
  • Released: 14 July 1997
  • Label: Island
  • Country: Jamaica
  • Length: 3:53:42
  • Community rating: 4.25/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

This exhaustive three-disc box set serves as the ultimate testament to the eccentric genius of reggae's most innovative producer. Compiling his prime mid-1970s output recorded at his legendary Black Ark studio, 'Arkology' showcases Perry utilizing crude four-track tape machines to conjure vast, incredibly dense psychedelic dub soundscapes. It remains a foundational textbook illustrating how studio manipulation itself could be utilized as a primary instrument.

Genres

Descriptors: rhythmic, political

Tracklist

  1. Dub Revolution (Part 1) (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take) (4:44)
  2. One Step Forward (3:52)
  3. One Step Dub (Extended Mix) (4:06)
  4. Vampire (3:17)
  5. Vamp A Dub (3:16)
  6. Sufferer's Time (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take) (3:55)
  7. Sufferer's Dub (Extended Mix) (4:17)
  8. Sufferer's Heights (Alternate Mix) (4:32)
  9. Don't Blame On I (4:05)
  10. Much Smarter (3:56)
  11. Much Smarter Dub (4:42)
  12. Life Is Not Easy (Alternate Mix) (4:46)
  13. Life Is Not Easy Dub (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) (5:07)
  14. Tedious (Extended Mix) (5:04)
  15. War In A Babylon (4:51)
  16. Revelation Dub (5:01)
  17. Mr. President (4:13)
  18. Chase The Devil (3:28)
  19. Dreadlocks In Moonlight (3:46)
  20. Dread At The Mantrols (3:47)
  21. In These Times (4:39)
  22. In These Times Dub (3:24)
  23. Norman (Extended Domino Mix) (8:42)
  24. Police & Thieves (3:40)
  25. Magic Touch (4:03)
  26. Soldier And Police War (4:09)
  27. Grumblin' Dub (3:18)
  28. Bad Weed (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) (4:02)
  29. John Public (4:21)
  30. John Public (Version) (4:23)
  31. Roots Train (Extended Mix With Previously Unreleased Toast) (8:59)
  32. No Peace (3:30)
  33. No Peace Dub (4:20)
  34. Rasta Train (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) (4:54)
  35. Party Time (Part 2) (4:34)
  36. Vibrate On (Previously Unreleased Alternate Cut) (4:40)
  37. Vibrator (Previously Unreleased Alternate Cut) (4:35)
  38. Bird In Hand (3:30)
  39. Congoman (Previously Unreleased Alternate Vocal Take) (5:52)
  40. Dyon Anasawa (Alternate Mix) (3:39)
  41. Rastaman Shuffle (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) (5:16)
  42. Why Must I (Version) (Extended Mix With Previously Unreleased Scat Vocal) (4:57)
  43. Make Up Your Mind (3:45)
  44. Closer Together (6:15)
  45. Groovy Situation (3:26)
  46. Groovy Dub (3:33)
  47. To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy) (7:56)
  48. Soul Fire (3:58)
  49. Curly Locks (4:09)
  50. Feast Of The Passover (Extended Mix) (3:36)
  51. Roast Fish & Cornbread (Extended Mix) (4:26)
  52. Corn Fish Dub (Extended Mix) (4:26)

Credits

  • Boris Gardiner - bass
  • Robbie Shakespeare - bass
  • Winston Wright - bass, organ
  • Benbow - drums
  • Lowell Dunbar - drums
  • Michael Richards - drums
  • Egbert Evans - flute
  • Earl "Chinna" Smith - guitar

More from Lee "Scratch" Perry: full discography