On the origin of the word dub - as with almost all accounts of the labyrinthine Jamaican music industry, there are many often conflicting explanations of a particular phenomenon. However, my guess is that the word 'dub/duppy' as used in patois has an origin that predates recording technology and is related to practice of the Obeah men - shamanistic individuals associated with witchcraft/evil spirits etc. The similarity to the recording technology use of the word may be purely coincidental. Martin - what is the source of your definition?
As for the piece of writing we are discussing, it was OK, but as far as I'm aware the practice of making versions of tracks predates 1969 by quite a few years to the ska era, and there were certainly toasting deejays before U Roy, such as King Stitt and others, though obviusly U Roy was the Don in many respects. Also I wasn't aware of a particular Duke Reid - Tubbys association that gave birth to the thing we recognise as a dubwise version of a tune -complete with echos + dropping in and out of different instruments. For one thing I believe most studios in the late sixties were still recording using equipment with one or two tracks, which makes dropping different instruments out of the mix rather hard. For a more informed opinion than mine (which isn't saying much) check out Dave Katz's excellent biography of Lee Perry - 'People Funny Boy'. Alternatively, Lloyd Bradley's 'Bass Culture' is also a good read, covering the sweep of Jamaican music from the late fifties onwards with some enthralling accounts of legendary UK soundclashes between Shaka and others. Dan. You wrote: > > > > >Duppy is ghosts or practice of voodoo. Listen to Bob Marley's Duppy > >Conquerer to get the picture. Dub is not related to Dup(ppy) afaik. > > > >Rav > > > Why not? Have you been paying attention?!?!? ;-) From what the learned > people have said in the last few minutes it would appear that the two words > *are* related! > > k >
