25th anniversary issue of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s ‘On The Wire’ Featuring six previously unissued studio recordings and seven previously unreleased live recordings.
Released at the dawn of the 21st Century, ‘On The Wire’ marked the long awaited return of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s to Trojan Records, 14 years after the company had issued his powerful come-back long-player, ‘Battle Of Armagideon’
Demonstrating The Upsetter’s eccentric and innovative approach to music-making, the 2000 album comprises a compelling blend of weird and wonderful sounds, over which he delivers typically unpredictable yet captivating lyrics that range from the profound to the absurd.
Upon its release, the Trojan collection was comprehensively praised, with many critics proclaiming Scratch was finally back to his best, but unbeknown to most, the recordings were in fact already well over a decade old, with Scratch having cut the material, accompanied by popular British roots band Misty In Roots, at London’s Matrix Studio early in 1987.
Despite the enduring popularity of ‘On The Wire’, it has remained unissued since its original release, an oversight this 25th anniversary edition sets to finally address. This long- overdue deluxe version comprises the original album augmented by a second disc featuring additional unreleased material from the Matrix sessions, along with previously unheard live tracks delivered to Trojan by Scratch around the close on the 1990s.
Annotated by official Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry biographer, David Katz, this celebratory 2CD set is a must for fans of the Jamaican Jenius and anyone seeking to experience over 2 ½ hours of musical magic and mayhem.
CD1: ON THE WIRE
1 Lee Scratch Perry On The Wire
2 Exodus
3 For Whom The Bells Tolls
4 The Grim Reader
5 Yes, My Friends
6 Rock My Soul
7 Seaside (Mystic Mirror)
8 I Am The Upsetter
9 Keep On Moving
10 Burn Funky
CD2: UNRELEASED STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS
1 Keep On Moving (full mix)
2 Muzik
3 Jah Come
4 IMF
5 Jenesis
6 Stars In The Bathroom Live recordings:
7 Six Million Dollar Dub (live)
8 Here Comes Lee Perry (live)
9 Rock Around The Corner (live)
10 Rocking On The Wire (live)
11 War In A Babylon (live)
12 Heads Of Government (live)
13 Open Door (live)
