Various Artists — People Funny Boy
People Funny Boy is a double CD/ fifty-three track compilation of the early work of creative, inventive, and influential reggae producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. The release focuses on a period of just two years 1968 and 1969- really giving a great snapshot of the development of this truly one-off talent. And though it’s not all quite as creatively off-kilter/ mad geniuses wonderful as some of his classic 1970s albums, there are some real gems on display here, and you can also chart his growth as an artists- taking more risks, and doing more & more things in his distinctive/ unique was.
The release appears on Doctor Bird- the reggae-focused sub-label of Cherry Red Records. The two discs come presented in a clear double jewel case. It comes with a sixteen-page inlay booklet- this takes in a new six-page write-up about Mr Perry, a good selection of vinyl labels, and photos.
Disc one features twenty-seven tracks, and disc two twenty-six tracks- with a blend of solo tracks, tracks with his backing group The Upsettters, and other artists he produced. With a good flow to the type and pace of tracks on both discs- making for a wholly engaging, at points surprise lined collection- with more than a few tracks I’d not heard myself.
The first disc kicks off with “People Funny Boy” by Perry himself- it opens with a blend of a sampled baby cry & scrubbing/ gyrating percussion tones. Moving on it adds in layered/ detailed gongs/ drum hits, wavering/slightly wonky guitar strums, and more baby-crying samples. As we move through the first disc we have joyfully backwards masked male and female vocals, tape rips, and mellow reggae backing of Burt Walter's “Evol Yenoh”. There’s the almost creeping bass-like horn groove, jiving organ tones, and crudely reverbed vocals of David Issac’s “A Place In The Sun”. We have the rapidly spiralling 'n' slightly whistling organ layers, wavering backing groove, and groaning/ moaning vocalising of “Eight For Eight”.
On the second disc, we move from the rich layered vocalising & groovily sliding ‘n’ hissing percussion of “(People) Funny Fi True” with lyrics like ‘if you reach the top everyone wants a lollop’. There's the manically jiving groove, cheekily piping horn work, and slight bouncing/ vibrating male vocals of “I’ve Got Memories” by David Issac. We have the wavering almost slurred funk/ reggae gospel of “A Testimony” by The Uppersetter Pilgrams. Or the wavering-almost floating-on-top of each organ layers, steady strummed paced, skittering ‘n’ shuffling beats of “The Vampire” by The Upsetters.
I sadly wasn’t old enough to discover Mr Perry’s classic work when it came out in the ’70s, but have been a big fan of his work for at least the last twenty or so years- seeing him as one of the great producers/ artists of our time, no matter what genre. So, it’s a real pleasure to see People Funny Boy appearing, as it truly is an extensive & highly consistent anthology of his late 60’s work.