Arthur "Duke" Reid: Treasure Dub Vol.1 (Music On Vinyl 180g, Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP

"I’m in the mood for love, cuz of the feeling…” One of only two dub albums recorded by famed Jamaican record producer, Treasure Isle Records boss, soundsystem operator and infamous rude boy (and ex-cop!) Duke Reid just before his death in 1975. Friend and producer Sonia Pottinger purchased the label shortly thereafter and commissioned Reid’s nephew (and dub master in his own right) Errol Brown to version the album, resulting in this literal treasure trove of early dubwise groovers (Vol. 2 also just reissued). Decades-long legal battles ensued resulting in a tragic scarcity of this album and various unofficial pressings - old soundsystem nemesis Clement Dodd even bootlegged it (under the name “Treasure Isle Dub”) on his Studio One label. This is the real Treasure Dub, lovingly reissued by Music On Vinyl with a repro of the original Zelda-esque artwork known to make reggae diggers salivate on sight. Rocksteady with a heavy helping of space echo is the order of the day; more upbeat and gritty than the subby, spacey, downbeat heaviness later served up by Scientist which re-defined the genre in the early 80s. Check out “De Pauper A Dub,” “Construction Dub Style,” “Moody Dub” “Willow Tree Dub” and “You’ll Dub.” Recommended.

• orange colored vinyl
• 180g audiophile vinyl pressing
• limited edition of 750 numbered copies, individually foil stamped
• poly-lined inner sleeve
• music label: Music On Vinyl 2018

reviewed by Sarakaya Komzin 10/2018