abelson:

if you only know the remarkable albums lee “scratch” perry produced for bob marley & the wailers, you’re making a terrible mistake. lee perry was the phil spector of reggae, producing a kind of music that had never been made before, with its own sound. it was from its own planet, but bursting with melody and totally hypnotic. if his prettiest album isn’t the congos’ heart of the congos (where the photo up above is from), it’s junior murvin’s police and thieves (especially if you like the clash), but max romeo’s war ina babylon isn’t bad, either. the singles he produced for other people, like gregory isaacs’ mr. cop or carl dawkins’ hard to handle, are just as distinct, odd, and lovely. it’s good music to sway to.

and then, even better, there are the albums he made alone: listen to 1978′s roast fish, collie weed & cornbread, and then try the three masterpieces that are credited to his group the upsetters: super ape, blackboard jungle and then return of the super ape. they’re celestial.

perry is still alive: he is 80, and supposedly living in switzerland.