The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

producer

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am the Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Coxsone Dodd.

History

The Upsetters were originally Gladdy's All-Stars, led by pianist Gladstone Anderson and it was they who originally recorded the international hits "Live Injection" and "

Return of Django Return may refer to: In business, economics, and finance * Return on investment (ROI), the financial gain after an expense. * Rate of return, the financial term for the profit or loss derived from an investment * Tax return, a blank document or t ...

". The double A-side release of "Return of Django" / "Dollar in the Teeth", peaked at No. 5 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

in November 1969. When other commitments prevented the All Stars from participating, another band named

The Hippy Boys The Hippy Boys was a Jamaican band formed in 1968 by Lloyd Charmers. The band included guitarist Alva "Reggie" Lewis, organist Glen Adams, and brothers Aston 'Family Man' Barrett on bass guitar and Carlton Barrett on drums. After the UK Single ...

were recruited to do the subsequent tour in the United Kingdom. This line-up remained the studio band that is most associated with the name, going on to eventually form the nucleus of

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

's backing band

The Wailers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

. The band included guitarist Alva Lewis,

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

Glen Adams Glen Adams (27 November 1945 – 17 December 2010) was a Jamaican musician, composer, arranger, engineer, producer, based since the mid-1970s in Brooklyn, New York City. Career Adams' mother was from Kingston and his father from St. Vincent; ...

and brothers Aston "Family Man" Barrett and

Carlton Barrett Carlton "Carly" Barrett (17 December 1950 – 17 April 1987) was a Jamaican musician best known for being the long-time drummer for Bob Marley & The Wailers. Recognized for his innovative style, which featured a highly syncopated, broken triple ...

, on bass guitar and drums respectively. Under Lee "Scratch" Perry's direction, the band backed Bob Marley on a full-time basis, especially on the albums ''

Soul Rebels ''Soul Rebels'' is the second studio album by the Wailers, their first album to be released outside Jamaica. The Wailers approached producer Lee "Scratch" Perry in August 1970 to record an entire album, and the sessions took place at Randy's re ...

'' and ''

Soul Revolution Part II ''Soul Revolution Part II'' (also known as ''Soul Revolution'') is the third album by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry. While the name on the album cover for all the original releases was ''Soul Revolution P ...

''. By 1972 the Barrett brothers had joined The Wailers and Scratch brought in other musicians to replace them. The main Black Ark Upsetters became

Boris Gardiner Boris Gardiner (born 13 January 1943) is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and bass guitarist. He was a member of several groups during the 1960s before recording as a solo artist and having hit singles with " Elizabethan Reggae" (in 1970), " I Wann ...

(bass), Mikey Richards, Sly Dunbar, Benbow Creary (drums),

Earl "Chinna" Smith Earl "Chinna" Smith (born 6 August 1955), a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest,Johnson, Richard (2013)The Melchizedek way, '' Jamaica Observer'', 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013 is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late ...

(guitar), Winston Wright (keyboards) and

Keith Sterling Keith Sterling (born Keith Sterling-McLeod, January 1952, Kingston, Jamaica)Larkin, Colin (2006) ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', 4th edn., OUP USA, , p. 743 is a piano and keyboard player. Biography Keith Sterling is a well-respected Jam ...

(keyboards).

Discography

;Albums * ''

The Upsetter ''The Upsetter'' is a studio album of Lee "Scratch" Perry productions, released in 1969. The album largely comprises instrumentals from Perry's studio band The Upsetters, but also features vocal tracks by Busty Brown and The Muskyteers (aka the ...

'' (1969) * ''

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...

'' (1970) * ''

Many Moods of the Upsetters Many may refer to: * grammatically plural in number *an English quantifier used with count nouns indicating a large but indefinite number of; at any rate, more than a few ;Place names * Many, Moselle, a commune of the Moselle department in Franc ...

'' (1970) * ''

Scratch the Upsetter Again ''Scratch the Upsetter Again'' is a studio album by The Upsetters, released in 1970. Track listing Side one #"Bad Tooth" #"The Dentis" #"Outer Space" #"One Punch" #"Will You Still Love Me" – Dave Barker Dave Barker (born David John Crooks ...

'' (1970) * ''

The Good, the Bad and the Upsetters ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

'' (1970) * ''

Eastwood Rides Again ''Eastwood Rides Again'' is a studio album by The Upsetters, released in 1970. Track listing All tracks composed by Lee "Scratch" Perry, except where indicated. #"Eastwood Rides Again" – 2:59 #"Hit Me" – 2:28 #"Knock on Wood" (The Untouchab ...

'' (1970) * ''

Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle ''Black Board Jungle'', often called ''Blackboard Jungle Dub'', is a studio album by The Upsetters. The album, originally released in 1973 under artist name "Upsetters 14 Dub", was pressed in only 300 copies and issued only in Jamaica. According ...

'' (1973) * ''

Double Seven ''Double Seven'' is a studio album by The Upsetters. Track listing All tracks composed by Lee Perry; except where indicated Side one #"Kentucky Skank" #"Double Six" – U Roy #"Just Enough" (Buddy Mize, Ira Allen) – David Isaacs #"In The Ia ...

'' (1974) * ''

Musical Bones ''Musical Bones'' is a studio album by Vin Gordon and The Upsetters, produced by Lee Perry and released in 1975. It was first released as a white label record.Lee Perry: Dubstrumentals (Trojan Records CD TJBDD294) Track listing #"Coco-Macca" ...

'' (1975) * ''

Return of Wax ''Return of Wax'' is a studio album by The Upsetters, released in 1975. The album was first released as a very limited white label A white label record is a vinyl record with white labels attached. There are several variations each with a dif ...

'' (1975) * ''

Revolution Dub ''Revolution Dub'' is a studio album by Jamaican dub producer Lee Perry and his studio band The Upsetters, released in 1975 by Cactus. The album, which features nine pared down dubs, was the last in a line of releases that year in which Perry beg ...

'' (1975) Lee_Perry_&_the_Upsetters.html" ;"title="Lee_"Scratch"_Perry.html" ;"title="redited as Lee_Perry_&_the_Upsetters">Lee_"Scratch"_Perry.html"_;"title="redited_as_Lee_"Scratch"_Perry">Lee_Perry_&_the_Upsetters*_''Super_Ape.html" ;"title="Lee "Scratch" Perry">Lee Perry & the Upsetters">Lee_"Scratch"_Perry.html" ;"title="redited as Lee "Scratch" Perry">Lee Perry & the Upsetters* ''Super Ape">Lee "Scratch" Perry">Lee Perry & the Upsetters">Lee_"Scratch"_Perry.html" ;"title="redited as Lee "Scratch" Perry">Lee Perry & the Upsetters* ''Super Ape'' (1976) * ''Return of the Super Ape'' (1978) * ''Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator)'' (1986) [credited as Lee "Scratch" Perry, Mr. Lee 'Scratch' Perry and the Upsetters] ;Contributing artist * ''The Rough Guide to Dub'' (2005,

World Music Network World Music Network is a UK-based record label specializing in world music. The World Music Network website features news, reviews, live music listings, and guide sections on world music. It also features an online "Battle of the Bands" competit ...

) *

Junior Murvin Junior Murvin (born Murvin Junior Smith, circa 1946 – 2 December 2013) was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single " Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Early life He was born in Saint J ...

: ''

Police and Thieves "Police and Thieves" ( "Police and Thief") is a reggae song first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. It was covered by the punk band The Clash and included on their self-titled debut album released in 1977. Junior Murvin ve ...

'' (1977) * Max Romeo & The Upsetters: ''

War Ina Babylon ''War Ina Babylon'' is an album by Max Romeo and Lee Perry's backing band The Upsetters, released in 1976. Along with The Heptones' '' Party Time'' and Junior Murvin's ''Police and Thieves'', both released in 1977, this album is a part of what i ...

'' (1976) *

The Heptones The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady into ...

: '' Party Time'' (1977) *

Dave Barker Dave Barker (born David John Crooks, 10 October 1947, Franklyn Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae and rocksteady singer who has made a string of solo albums along with recordings as a member of The Techniques and as half of the duo Dave and An ...

meets The Upsetters: ''Prisoner of Love'' (1970) * Full Experience: '' Full Experience'' (1990)

References

External links

*
Discography at Discogs
* 1960s establishments in Jamaica 1980s disestablishments in Jamaica Jamaican backing bands Jamaican reggae musical groups Trojan Records artists Island Records artists {{reggae-stub