All but one of the tracks on today's selection come from The Essential Augustus Pablo, a 2CD set from 2006 that actually lives up to the 'essential' tag. The exception, the version of Nora's Dean wonderfully titled 1975 single Scorpion In His Underpants, comes from another essential collection, 2004's 4CD set The Bunny 'Striker' Lee Story.
Much of the music featured here either appeared as single A-sides or version B-sides on Jamaican 7" singles in the mid-late 1970s, with a few by other artists featuring or produced by Pablo.
It's still dark outside as I finish writing this but an hour in the company of Augustus Pablo and friends and I feel bathed in Caribbean sunshine.
1) 555 Dub Street: Augustus Pablo (1975)
2) Skanking Easy: Augustus Pablo (1972)
3) East Of The River Nile (Single Version): Herman ft. Augustus Pablo (1971)
4) Up Waricka Hill: Augustus Pablo (1974)
5) I Am Alright (Single Version By Augustus 'Gussie' Clarke): Gregory Isaacs & Old Boys Inc. ft. Augustus Pablo (1973)
6) King David's Melody: Augustus Pablo (1979)
7) Let's Get Started (Single Version By Augustus Pablo): Tetrack (1978)
8) Islington Rock: Augustus Pablo (1978)
9) Memories Of The Ghetto: Augustus Pablo (1978)
10) The Sting aka The Scorpion: Augustus Pablo ft. Nora Dean (1975)
11) Black Gunn: Augustus Pablo (1974)
12) Crucial Burial: Augustus Pablo (1979)
13) Bells Of Death: Augustus Pablo (1972)
14) Our Man Flint (Single Version By Lee 'Scratch' Perry): Augustus Pablo & Lloyd Young (1973)
15) El Rocker's: Augustus Pablo (1974)
16) Pablo's Satta: Augustus Pablo (1975)
17) King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown: Augustus Pablo (1975)
18) Fiat 125 aka Cowtown Skank Version: Augustus Pablo (1973)
19) Unfinished Melody: Augustus Pablo (1977)
