Niney the Observer's 'Sledgehammer Dub In The Street Of Jamaica' LP has always been considered to be a long-lost gem with Dub collectors. Originally released in early 1977 and pressed in a limited quantity of between 300 to 400 copies the record was a compilation of Dubs devoid of vocals but high on rhythms - mixed with feeling and showcasing the talents of both musicians and mixing engineers.
King Tubby's involvement is clear, as is that of all the other parties involved such as Niney, The Soul Syndicate and The Cimarrons to name but a few. The actual LP title was derived from how King Tubby mixed his tracks. Strong! Niney described the sound coming from the speakers as like having a sledgehammer hitting you on your head.
Niney himself is steeped in Reggae history, making songs for the likes of Lee Perry, Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs and Coxsone, producing the masterful Blood And Fire cut and being one of the first to experiment with sound in early reggae.'Sledgehammer Dub In The Street Of Jamaica' was pressed on Nineys own Observer label without a jacket and has become something of a holy grail for collectors of dub.
Track Listing
Side A
1. Dub Long Rastafari
2. Travelling Version
3. You're No Dub Baby
4. Burning Dub
5. Kingsgate Version
Side B
1. Dub Now
2. God Bless My Dub
3. Everyone's Dubbing
4. Rich And Poor Dub
5. Tribulation Version