Percussionist Pecker arrived in Jamaica in 1980 to reissue the original Japanese DUB work he created with The Wailers and Sly & Robbie.
Pecker Power, Japan's inaugural dub album, was produced in 1980 by Pecker, a percussionist renowned for establishing Japan's first salsa band, Orquesta del Sol. This boundary-defying dub sound emerged from sessions with The Wailers at Bob Marley's studio "TUFF GONG" and sessions with Sly and Robbie at "CHANNEL ONE," resulting in the titled masterpiece "21st Century Dub." Originally distributed in the United States in 1987, it has since gained global recognition.
Japanese Dub Pioneer:
Dub, originating in Jamaica, was embraced by British rock bands like The Clash and the Rolling Stones in 1980, coinciding with Pecker's production of this dub work. Notably, Japan's first dub band, MUTE BEAT, commenced activities in 1982, highlighting the avant-garde nature of Pecker's work.
Authentic Dub Sessions:
This album is grounded in sessions with The Wailers at the "TUFF GONG" studio and Sly & Robbie at the "CHANNEL ONE" studio. The former includes renowned performers from Bob Marley's golden era, such as the Barrett brothers and Marcia Griffiths, while the latter showcases the emerging talent of Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, and Augustus Pablo. Both sessions, featuring Rico Rodriguez from The Specials, resulted in a recording of exceptional performances fueled by friendly rivalry.
Originating from Katsumi Watanabe's "KYLYN" Sequel:
Originally intended as a sequel to Katsumi Watanabe's "KYLYN" album, plans shifted to Jamaica recording due to scheduling conflicts. Alongside Pecker, Minako Yoshida and Naoya Matsuoka journeyed to Jamaica, leading to the legendary sessions mentioned. Upon returning to Japan, Kenji Omura's guitar overdubs were added at Columbia Studios.
Tokyo's World-Recognized Dub:
Though "Pecker Power" and "Instant Rasta" received critical acclaim upon their 1980 releases, their timeless content did not translate into sales, possibly due to their pioneering nature. However, the 1987 cassette release titled "21st Century Dub" by New York label "ROIR" brought recognition to the unique, boundary-pushing DUB sound. Subsequently, the album was reissued on CD in 1999, earning recognition among DUB enthusiasts worldwide.
Recording Locations:
CHANNEL ONE session (Sly & Robbie): Tracks A1, A3, B2, B4
TUFF GONG session (The Wailers): Tracks A5, B1, B3
Tokyo session: Tracks A2, A4
Musicians:
Pecker, Minako Yoshida, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Augustus Pablo, Rico Rodriguez, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowat, Kenji Omura
