Dubdisco

by Rick AndersonReggae fans overlook this one at their peril. Originally released as two separate albums on Bunny Wailer's own Solomonic label, this CD brings together the dub versions of songs from Blackheart Man, his solo debut, and Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers, his tribute to the band he originally founded with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. Blackheart Man, in particular, is generally regarded as one of the best reggae albums ever made, and the dub versions (produced by Bunny himself, which is unusual) complement its original contents perfectly. Bunny has a surprisingly adventurous approach to dub -- the sound is wet, warm and crowded, with lots of atmospheric reverb and generous splashes of vocals fluttering in and out through the mix. Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers wasn't as important a record as Blackheart Man, but it was still a fine album, and the inclusion of both titles in dub versions makes this disc a great bargain as well as a musical revelation. Highlights include headbusting versions of "Battering Down Sentence" and "Dreamland," the latter featuring a gloriously cheesy outer-space synth line. Essential.