Version of Wisdom collects master DJ U-Roy's classic cuts from Version Galore and With Words of Wisdom from his 1970s heyday recordings for Duke Reid. Arguably the greatest dub DJ, U-Roy shouts, screams, and throws out casual lines for unmatched, joyful toasting. With hits like John Holt's "Wear You to the Ball" and "Wake the Town," a version of Alton Ellis' "Girl I've Got a Date," U-Roy takes the laid-back grooves and easy riddims of smooth reggae and rocksteady groups like the Heptones and updates them with the cool hipness and spacy energy of the sound system style. Lee "Scratch" Perry might be the king of the out of this world dub sound, but U-Roy's instruments are his heart and his voice, and he is unbeatable when it comes to grounded, real-world dub that speaks to listeners' experiences, emotions, and simple need to get up and move.
© Charles Spano /TiVo