Augustus Pablo - Original Rockers (Greensleeves 1979) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

As any business person will tell you, the way to success is through the discovery of a niche or a previously unexploited market. Still, few business people, and even fewer musicians, would have believed that there was a market for the sound of the melodica. What next, they would have sniggered, a kazoo? Yet Augustus Pablo would take this child's toy and launch a revolution in Jamaican music. Not only was Pablo's melodica unique, it would sweep the entire island's scene and become an integral part of the music of the era. But Pablo was no one-trick pony, he was also a virtuoso keyboardist and his playing permeated the island across myriad of his own releases and as a session man for others. He was equally talented on the other side of the recording desk and his production work was as inspired as his playing. Jo-Ann Greene AMG

Original Rockers is a solid introduction to Augustus Pablo's haunting melodica playing, and includes brief flashes of his dub inspiration as well on "Tubby's Dub Song" and "Rockers Dub." As usual, the lineup is superb with Robbie Shakespeare, Aston and Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, Earl "Chinna" Smith and Bobby Ellis, among others. Though much of the album is instrumental, Dillinger guests on "Brace a Boy." John Bush AMG

Track listing:

A1. Rockers Dub
A2. Up Warrika Hill
A3. Cassava Piece
A4. Tubby’s Dub Song
A5. Jah Dread

B1. Brace A Boy
B2. Thunder Clap
B3. Park Lane Special
B4. New Style
B5. A P Special

Bonus tracks:

From Island single WIP 6226 (1975)
C1. King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown
D1. Baby I Love You So

Personnel:

Augustus Pablo: Melodica, organ, piano, clavinet
Carlton Barrett: Drums
Robbie Shakespeare & Family Man Barrett: Bass
Chinna: Guitar
Dirty Harry: Tenor Sax
Don D Junior: Trombone
Bobby Ellis: Trumpet
Vocals by: Dillinger & Clive on ‘Brace A Boy’
Pablo & Paul K. on ‘Rockers Dub’
Hugh Mundell on ‘Park Lane Special’
Pablo on ‘Jah Dread’
Recorded at Dynamic Sounds & Channel One Studios
Mixed at King Tubby’s
Mixing engineers: Philip Smart, King Tubby, Prince Jammy
Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe
Arranged & Produced by Augustus Pablo