This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

King Tubby

1976

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown is a dub studio album by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, released in 1976. It features Carlton Barrett on drums, Robbie Shakespeare and Aston Barrett on bass guitar, and Earl "Chinna" Smith on guitar. Pablo produced the album and played melodica, piano, organ and clavinet. The album was recorded at Randy's in Kingston, Jamaica. A distinctly different mix of the title song with vocals and dub, titled "Baby I Love You So", can be found on the Jacob Miller and Augustus Pablo 1975 album, Who Say Jah No Dread. The album has been released on several different labels, often with slightly different artworks and track lists. The album was listed in the 1999 book The Rough Guide: Reggae: 100 Essential CDs.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.18

Votes

110

Genres

  • Reggae

Submitted by

View Project

Reviews

Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!
Sort by: Top Date
Jan 29 2024
View Author
5

I'm so glad someone put this on here! There's a handful of reggae albums on the list (mostly Marley), but no dub, which is, I think, a huge musical innovation, and worthy of having at least one album to represent the genre. If there would be a single pick to represent all of dub, this would be a strong contender. Others might be Keith Hudson's "Pick a Dub" or something like Lee Perry's "Blackboard Jungle Dub." Dub is pretty much the birth of the remix, and has been highly influential on the the effects and techniques used in all kinds of music, especially electronica. Dub is also intertwined with the birth of hip-hop. Groundbreaking stuff that deserves more attention. This album is an exquisite example of using the studio as an instrument.

👍
Mar 15 2024
View Author
4

The thing about Dub, is that it is what I think people are actually referring to as music you need to be high to enjoy. While it does need an entry in the list, I just fully don't vibe as strongly as I do to proper Reggae.

👍
Feb 11 2024
View Author
3

I thought I liked dub, so was sad to have this largely slide past me. Very soundscapey, which means a revisit is in order. No particular hooks but also no predictable groove.

👍
Feb 02 2024
View Author
2

Wasn't really interesting to me. 4/10

👍
May 02 2024
View Author
2

Thank you for adding in some dub reggae (as opposed to superstar Marley, Tong, Toots). Not essential, but good to hear and test the bass speakers! First half is entertaining then it gets boring.

👍
Feb 01 2024
View Author
5

SO GOOD. Ordering the vinyl right now. Thanks for adding this.

👍
Feb 29 2024
View Author
5

Can always use more dub in my life

👍
Mar 02 2024
View Author
5

One of the truly great summer albums, love it

👍
Jan 29 2024
View Author
4

Surprised this also wasn't on the list. I'm always dub-appreciative and this one was a banger, albeit a bit one-note.

👍
Feb 01 2024
View Author
4

I'm glad someone suggested this as Dub is sinfully under-represented in the book. This dates from the mid-70s so the effects are somewhat crude but still very effective today. King Tubby basically invented this genre, putting echoes and reverb into the forefront for a psychedelic effect that would probably best be listened to in a hazy room full of ganga smoke. I also love the drum flourish that introduces almost all of the songs. The highlight for me is King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown which has spectacular reverb action for the drums, melodica and vocals and a remix of Baby I love you so.

👍
Feb 22 2024
View Author
4

Very nice! Excellent groove to the whole thing. 4 stars.

👍
May 20 2024
View Author
4

I was previously aware of Dub from various electronic samples here and there, but had never given a full LP a listen until now. Clearly I've been missing out – the warped and twisted alleyways this album took its tracks down was right in my wheelhouse. Loved the ethereal, hazy sense the chopped rhythms and punchy guitars produced, and the vocals wandered in and out to only further the sense of a trip gone horribly right. Big ups for adding this one to the list, I've already come back to this one a few times and see it hitting my heavy rotation.

👍
Jun 04 2024
View Author
4

Right in my wheelhouse, the sort of thing I'd have taken a chance on thumbing through albums at a used record store. Shame on everyone in my life for never introducing me to this previously.

👍
Jun 19 2024
View Author
4

Dub is not well represented in the original list which is strange because some genres that are well represented such as post-punk, drum and bass, etc. are hugely influenced by dub especially in the UK. This album was a lot of fun. The beats were great and I could hear so much of the seeds of music that was to come.

👍
Jun 20 2024
View Author
4

It's sunny outside, couldn't go lower than a 4

👍
Oct 03 2024
View Author
4

Very cool vibes, iconic contribution to the dub scene. This was definitely overlooked in the first draft of the official list.

👍
Jan 23 2024
View Author
3

A dub classic of classics! Shame it was a cold winter day for me... not same vibes as an evening summer in the sun...

👍
Jan 30 2024
View Author
3

Very relaxing music to listen while working. But not exactly some album I would play in my spare time

👍
Feb 02 2024
View Author
3

6/10. Definitely pleasant and mellow. Not something I'd have sought out on my own, but a cool little recommendation.

👍
Feb 14 2024
View Author
3

I don't feel like I have a very knowledgeable or sophisticated ear for dub and reggae but even I can tell this is the real original business of this era. I felt like it lost me in the back half with its many stripped down, mostly instrumental pieces and heavy-handed reverb and delay effects.

👍
May 17 2024
View Author
3

Enjoyable. Chilled. But no a lot going on, really. Undoubtedly listening to the album under influence of something stronger than beer would add a star to the review.

👍
Aug 07 2024
View Author
3

Dub (reggae). Un poco rollo. Ni fu ni fa.

👍
Sep 10 2024
View Author
3

A really rich, resonant sound that I enjoyed quite a bit. I think the album needed more vocal effects though just to break things up a bit. For a relatively short album, it sometimes feels like long stretches of sameness. Fave songs: King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown, Stop Them Jah, Skanking Dub, Keep On Dubbing, Each One Dub

👍
Oct 08 2024
View Author
3

This is what I’d imagine stereotypical dub is like except it’s not a stereotype it’s the real thing. Just some funk dub beats with some dub lyrics for 35 minutes. To me it’s a very unique style of music that is probably best listened to while under the influence of a specific plant. Overall though it’s fun and easy going. 6.1/10

👍
Oct 19 2024
View Author
3

Definitely needed some other substance to enjoy it more

👍
Oct 25 2024
View Author
3

Good to have dub reggae represented. Pleasant to have on in the background. Rating: 3 Playlist track: King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown Date listened: 31/09/24

👍
Nov 04 2024
View Author
3

I agree with this being on the secondary list there wasn’t enough dub on the main list, I enjoyed this album but did just get a bit repetitive for me to add this to my frequent rotation.

👍
Nov 18 2024
View Author
3

Ambient 70s reggae was a nice change of pace from the type of stuff I’ve been getting recently.

👍
Mar 15 2024
View Author
2

Decent reggae but nothing particularly outstanding in my opinion

👍
Mar 30 2024
View Author
2

Not a reggae fan. Just tooooo samey. 2/5.

👍
Apr 09 2024
View Author
2

Not my genre and frankly not much going on here, sorry.

👍
Apr 15 2024
View Author
2

All of these songs sound exactly the same

👍
Sep 07 2024
View Author
2

I'm sorry. I don't get it. It's all so repetitive. If there was more variety I would be more into it.

👍
Apr 09 2024
View Author
1

Truly sorry, but reggae and dub never have been for me. After one song I am done, especially when there is no vocal to be spotted.

👍
May 08 2024
View Author
1

Who thought there was not enough reggae on list ? Choices like this amazes me 1

👍