Beat Down Babylon cover

Beat Down Babylon

Released

One of the greatest singers of reggae’s roots-and-culture period, Junior Byles is also something of a tragic figure, one who has battled mental and physical health challenges throughout his life. On Beat Down Babylon you can hear some the foundational recordings from when he was at the peak of his powers: the yearning repatriation anthem “A Place Called Africa,” the celebratory “(Festival) Da Da,” the very dread title track. All of this music was recorded at the legendary (not to say notorious) Black Ark studio under the supervision of Lee “Scratch” Perry, whose unique production style turned out to be a perfect match for Byle’s musical vision. An essential document of reggae’s classical period.

Rick Anderson

Suggestions
Pull It Up cover

Pull It Up

Overproof Soundsystem
Ital Corner cover

Ital Corner

Prince Jazzbo
Òai e Libertat cover

Òai e Libertat

Massilia Sound System
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown cover

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

King Tubby, Augustus Pablo
Right Now cover

Right Now

Barry Brown
Return from Planet Dub cover

Return from Planet Dub

Ari Up, Lee "Scratch" Perry
Brave New World cover

Brave New World

Tamal, Marcus Gad
Back on the Controls cover

Back on the Controls

Lee "Scratch" Perry