The 1986 album from the legendary reggae producer and dub pioneer in a 15-song expanded edition.
Pop historiography agrees that Lee “Scratch” Perry, who died in 2021 at the age of 85, was not only the premier reggae and dub producer, but also transformed the role of the producer, turning the recording studio into another instrument understood.
After countless productions for themselves and others in the seventies, the collaboration with Chris Blackwell’s Iceland label ended in 1984 with the little creditable HISTORY, MYSTERY & PROPHESY. A chance encounter in London with guitarist Mark Downie aka Marcus Upbeat led to the collaboration that resulted in the 1986 album BATTLE OF ARMAGIDEON (MILLIONAIRE LIQUIDATOR).
Perry seemed to be in his element on the album
It was not only Perry’s return to London’s Trojan label, which had released its first international records in the late ’60s, but also to the old form. Perry seemed to be in his element on the album. Thanks to his studio tricks, the eleven ultra-minimalist roots reggae songs are always a bit off track and are in no way inferior to their producer.
A second CD features 14 dub versions, 12-inch mixes and session outtakes, 12 of which are making their CD debut. And that offers real added value, for example with the remake of their own classic “I Am The Upsetter” as well as the 12-inch mix and the dub version of “I Am A Madman”, for which Lee Perry goes into the echo chamber and deep reaches into the bag of tricks.