Wonderman Years cover

Wonderman Years

Recorded
1971-1973
Released

Producer Lee “Scratch” Perry released lots of singles on the Justice League label in the 1970s, working with a variety of A-list artists: Junior Byles, Dennis Alcapone, Augustus Pablo, even Bob Marley and the Wailers (who ended up stealing the bassist and drummer from Perry’s house band, the Upsetters). This generously packed two-disc set brings together 49 tracks from that period, quite a bit of which appears on other compilations as well; fans will probably already own multiple copies of the Gatherers’ “Words of My Mouth,” Junior Byles’ hair-raising version of “Fever,” and other tunes. But there are lots of relatively obscure tracks here as well, and most of them are outstanding — even Chenley Duffus’ fairly cheesy “Good Night My Love” and “At the End of the Rainbow” are given a certain weight and density by Perry’s unique production style. This collection is a must for all Perry fans.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Heavy Rain cover

Heavy Rain

Lee "Scratch" Perry
Commando Fada cover

Commando Fada

Massilia Sound System
Shrunken Head cover

Shrunken Head

African Head Charge
King Size Dub 25 cover

King Size Dub 25

Various Artists
Man vs. Sofa cover

Man vs. Sofa

Pinch, Adrian Sherwood
Touched cover

Touched

International Observer