Lee Perry Chicken Scratch CD

Most tracks are rare or unreleased from 1964-66 studio sessions.

When CHICKEN SCRATCH was released by the archival Afro-Caribbean label Heartbeat Records in 1989, it was a revelation. These tracks, recorded between 1964 and 1966 at Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's legendary Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica, are among the earliest tracks to feature reggae's mad scientist, Lee Perry. Originally an A&R scout for Coxsone and later a producer and performer in his large stable, Perry proves himself an able ska performer on these 12 brief tracks.

"Please Don't Go" makes plain Jamaican music's debt to American soul and R&B, while "Roast Duck" and "Puss In Bag" show the music's hardscrabble roots. And, of course, the title track provided Perry with his most famous nickname. Most of the tracks in this well-annotated collection also feature the Skatalites, Coxsone's house band, and several also feature Rita Marley on backing vocals. The sound quality is surprisingly good.

Includes liner notes by Chris Wilson.

Additional Tracks; Deluxe Edition

Personnel: Lee "Scratch" Perry (vocals, harmonica, xylophone, percussion).

The Soulettes: Rita Marley, "Dimples" Constantine, "Vision" Walker (vocals).

Skatalites Band: Jah Jerry (guitar); Lester Sterling, Deadly Hedley (alto saxophone); Tommy McCook, Ronald Alphonso (tenor saxophone); Johnny "Dizzy" Moore (trumpet); Don Drummond (trombone); Jackie Mitto (piano); LLoyd Brevett (bass); Lloyd Knibbs (drums).

Personnel: Lee "Scratch" Perry (vocals); Jah Jerry Hines, Keith Stoddart, Harold McKenzie, Ernest Ranglin (guitar); Roy Richards (harmonica); Seymour Walker, Dennis Campbell, Headley Bennett, Lester Sterling, Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook, Tony Wilson , Carlton Samuels (saxophone); Trummie Miles, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore (trumpet); Don Drummond, Rico Rodriguez (trombone); Jackie Mittoo, Aubrey Adams, Cecil Lloyd (piano, organ); Herman Sang, Monty Alexander, Theophilus Beckford (piano); Cluett Johnson, Lloyd Mason, Lloyd Brevette, Lloyd Spence, Desi Miles (bass guitar); Carl McCloud, Winston Martin, Ken Williams, Lloyd Knibbs, Lloyd Robinson, Esmond Jarrett (drums); The Skatalites.Spin (p.93) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his hip-swiveling, horn-happy R&B ska from the early to mid-'60s...suggests a mad scientist in the making."
Uncut (p.108) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[This] album sees him singing over a set of propulsive, syncopated ska instrumental mae in the late 1960s."
Dirty Linen (pp.82-83) - "The rhythms themselves are recognizably ska, but also rawer, as the band bashes away enthusiastically."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Perry's backed by some of the finest early reggae talent Jamaica had to offer..."