Description
Boris Gardiner was a legendary Jamaican bassist who shaped the history of Jamaican music. A gifted bandleader, singer, and producer, he was a stalwart of the industry who participated in countless recording sessions at the studios of masters such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and Herman Chin-Loy. He is also known as the creator of "Melting Pot," a staple track from David Mancuso's legendary party "The Loft," and "Every N----r Is A Star," which opens the film "Moonlight" and was sampled by Kendrick Lamar.
For a long time, this work was considered a hidden treasure in his illustrious career. Produced by Miami-based Ultra Records, "Ultra Super Dub Vol. 2" is an extremely rare album that was originally packaged in a handmade, silkscreened sleeve and distributed in very limited quantities. The story that even Boris himself was unaware of its existence for many years speaks to the mysterious value of this record.
The album features instrumental tracks originally released as singles by The Boris Gardiner Happening, which were reworked into dub versions by the label's Alty East. Masterpieces by soul stars such as Otis Redding, Clarence Carter, Betty Wright, and Jimmy “Bo” Horne are reconstructed in the Jamaican style with earth-shaking, heavy basslines and effects that cut through the space. The cover versions, featuring raw and dynamic sound engineering reminiscent of the masterpieces of King Tubby and Augustus Pablo, capture the moment when soul and dub fused in their most exhilarating form.
Breaking its long silence, this vinyl is being officially reissued under the supervision of Boris himself and includes a detailed booklet by Jeff Mao, who delved deep into the music scene of the time. The final piece of a legend buried in the gaps of history finally reveals itself in full.
A1. Shupe Dub
A2. Black Clay Dub
A3. Jah Stoned Dub
A4. Free I Dub
A5. I & I Dub
B1. She Dub
B2. Booka Dub
B3. Hereto Dub
B4. Chillum Dub
B5. Skanker Dub
The Lost Albums In Jamaican Bass Player, Bandleader, Songwriter, Singer And Producer Boris Gardiner's Discography - First Official Issue Of These Impossibly Rare Albums.
1970s Jamaica suffered an unprecedented stretch of political turmoil and violence, and as the country’s economy and morale collapsed, reggae and its offshoots exploded worldwide. Boris Gardiner enjoyed great success leading bands, issuing albums that mixed reggae, ska, soul and funk, and collaborating with the likes of Lee (Scratch) Perry and Herman Chin-Loy in their legendary studios and playing on hundreds of records. So many that he lost count. Sometime around the issue of his Boris Gardiner Happening Is What’s Happening album - a Loft classic, with David Mancuso favoring Gardiner’s take of Booker T. and the MGs' Melting Pot at his legendary gathering and his soundtrack to Every N----r Is A Star, famously sampled by Kendrick Lamar and used as the introduction to the film Moonlight, two albums - Ultra Super Dub Vols. 1 and 2 - credited to The Boris Gardiner Happening - two albums so obscure that for the longest time Boris wasn’t even aware that they existed.
Following classics such as King Tubby’s Dub From the Roots and Augustus Pablo’s King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown, Miami-based Alty East’s Ultra Records took instrumentals Gardiner created for a run of 45s, and created and issued these compilations of dubbed out originals and JA renditions of songs by Otis Redding, Clarence Carter, Betty Wright, Jimmy “Bo” Horne and Ultra label-mate Frankie Zhivago Young. Released in tiny runs in handmade, silkscreened, paste-on covers, they have become some of the most sought after Jamaican albums. Now, issued under Boris’ guidance, and with a detailed booklet by Jeff Mao, which delves into the deep scene which birthed these remarkable records, we can finally consider the last, unheard portion of this landmark musician’s career.
