The Producer Series: Lee Perry - Words of My Mouth

From 1973 to 1975, producer Lee "Scratch" Perry was arguably at the top of his game. His productions, notably Leroy Wallis's "Herb Vendor" and the Junior Byles classic "Curly Locks," were dominating the U.K. reggae charts, and in 1974 he built his own studio, the legendary Black Ark, from which flowed some of the strangest and most beautiful music of reggae's classical period. This generous collection provides an excellent overview of Perry's output just before and during the Balck Ark period: "Curly Locks" is here in all its dark, sweet glory, followed by Perry's dub-and-deejay version titled "Dreader Locks" (in which he castigates another producer who had appropriated the popular "Curly Locks" rhythm for his own use); the Unforgettables deliver the very catchy "Two Bad Bull," which is followed by a dub version, and there are other highlights as well, including the creepy "Bushweed Corntrash" by Bunny & Ricky and the title track, a minor-key roots masterpiece by the Gatherers. An added bonus on this album is Perry's highly inspirational ode to personal hygiene entitled "Bathroom Skank" (which features the deathless couplet "Grab a towel/An' scrub you bowel").