Record Label: Heartbeat/Studio One
Genre: Dub
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Ah, dub. You are my lullaby, my bedtime story, my overdose of Ambien. The looping rhythms, the repetitive organ melodies, the thumping bass. The soundtrack to any respectable opium den.

This classic comp collects b-sides produced by Coxsonne Dodd and Studio One, the powerhouse of early Jamaican music. (On many of Studio One’s 45’s, the b-sides were often wacked-out instrumental versions of the a-sides). Heartbeat Records has collected them here for the first time on CD.

Any fan of even modern ska and reggae music will recognize the basic melodies behind many of these dub tracks – they’ve been recycled over and over again throughout the years. And for good reason – it’s great stuff. See, dub can emulate the effects of pot – relaxing and smooth or irritating and paranoid, depending on what you’re listening to – but Studio One had always created a pleasant trip. Coxsonne didn’t have the inventiveness of King Tubby or the insanity of Lee Perry, but he was all about the good vibes. Plus the Soul Vendors and Soul Dimension (who dominate this comp) were organ-heavy and incredibly melodious.

I wouldn’t say this is the best place to start your dub collection, but both casual and hardcore fans will want this for their next makeout session.

Bottom Line: Classic Studio One versions and dubs
Notable Tracks: Armagideon Version, the funky Version Dread, the upbeat Give Me This Version
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