VA - Words Of My Mouth - The Producer Series: Lee Perry (Trojan, 1996)

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 Black 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").

Tracklist:

01. Words Of My Mouth - The Gatherers
02. Words Of My Mouth (Version) - The Upsetters
03. Kuchy Skank - The Upsetters
04. Rejoice In Jah Jah Children - The Silvertones
05. Rejoicing Skank - The Upsetters
06. Bush Weed Corn Trash - Bunny & Ricky
07. Callying Butt - The Upsetters
08. Da Ba Day - The Upsetters
09. Kiss Me Neck - The Upsetters
10. Curly Locks - Junior Byles
11. Dreader Locks - Lee & Junior
12. Many A Call - The Unforgettables
13. Two Bad Bull - Bunny & Ricky
14. Two Bad Cow - The Upsetters
15. Fists Of Fury - Lee Perry
16. Herb Vendor - Horse Mouth
17. Cane River Rock - Lee Perry & The Upsetters
18. Riverside Rock - The Upsetters
19. Stay Dread - Lee Perry
20. Kentucky Skank - Lee Perry
21. Bathroom Skank - Lee Perry
22. Spiritual Whip - Jah Lloyd

VA - Words Of My Mouth - The Producer Series: Lee Perry (Trojan, 1996)
(320 kbps, cover art included)