Scientist: Watch This! Dubbing At Tuff Gong (CD)

When people think of Tuff Gong they usually think of Bob Marley and rightly so, as he was nicknamed and often called Tuff Gong and from his early releases which came out on the Tuff Gong label. But Tuff Gong was also the name of a recording complex named after Bob Marley that included a top level recording studio, pressing plant and distribution centre that would allow reggae music to carry on many years after his sad and too early demise.

Bob Marley had taken over the former residence of Island Records boss Chris Blackwell the Island House, 56 Hope Road around 1974. Just before the “Smile Jamaica” concert on the 3rd of December the same year the house was ambushed by gunmen. Bob’s manager Don Taylor was hit 5 times and Bob was shot in the arm and his wife Rita Marley was hit in the head by a stray bullet. How no one was fatally injured is staggering.

Immediately after the concert Bob Marley started his self imposed exile from Jamaica, settling in London, England. This would lead to the aptly named Exodus album being recorded there in the summer of 1977. It would not be until the “One Love” peace concert in Kingston’s national arena on the 22nd April 1978 that would see Bob’s return to the island.

Marley felt it was important to show his commitment to the people of Jamaica and on his return to 56 Hope Road he began construction of his own recording studio with the help of music mogul Tommy Cowen. Unfortunately Bob Marley’s short life would end on the 11th May 1981 from cancer which originated from a football injury. His passing would lead to 56 Hope Road being turned into a museum to the legend of reggae music. A new location would have to be found to carry on Bob’s work which was 220 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 11. The buyer would be Rita Marley and the Tuff Gong International Organisation.

Engineers working at the new facility included Errol Browne who had worked at Treasure Isle studios and Hopeton Overton Browne known as “Scientist”, named by the great producer Bunny “Striker” Lee who worked with him previously at King Tubbie’s and Channel One’s studios described his groundbreaking style as being like that of a scientist.

We focus for this release on the work carried out by the great Scientist on the songs of the Black Solidarity Label run by Ossie Thomas (aka Joe The Boss) recorded at Tuff Gong studios. One of the foremost recording, pressing and distribution facilities on the Jamaican island set up from the work of Bob Marley to carry forward reggae music.

1. A Bad Boy Dub
2. Black Solidarity Dub
3. Watch This Dub
4. 56 Road Of Dub
5. Dub Madness
6. Cooler Than Kilimanjaro Dub
7. Tuff Gong Dub
8. Off The Dub
9. Inner City Dub
10. G’wan Go Dub
11. Greatest Dub
12. 220 Garvey Dub