Bunny Wailer

Bunny Wailer is the only surviving member of the Wailers trio, and certainly the least celebrated. Perhaps he is lesser known because he never had the major label money behind him that Bob Marley and Peter Tosh did, although at this point he has produced vastly more music than Bob or Peter. Even in Jamaica he is not accorded the status he justly deserves, mainly because he is seen by some of leeching off the Marley legend. Fortunately, Shanachie and RAS records have believed in Bunny and his music in the '80s and '90s. Dub D'sco Volumes 1 & 2 are a major addition to the available Bunny canon. To have both these dub albums, issued on Bunny's Solomonic label in 1978 and 1981, respectively, on one disc is great value. Bunny specially selected these tracks for the dancehall massive. Rhythms from the classic albums Blackheart Man (which featured the Wailers band) and Sings the Wailers (one of the great Sly and Robbie sessions) are dubbed out, sometimes maniacally so, by "Jah B." This is everything-but-the-kitchen-sink dub, with wild EQ sweeps and saturated reverb hits flying fast and furious. Sometimes Dubd'sco seems a little overcooked with special effects, but ultimately the strength of the songs and the wicked performances of the musicians makes this disc a must-own for the serious dub fan.