Beat Down Babylon (Bonustracks, 2020 Reissue, 2 CDs)

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Released in 1972, the Junior Byles single 'Beat Down Babylon' provided one of the clearest indications to date of the impending roots sound that would soon dominate reggae. The immense popularity of the Lee 'Scratch' Perry-produced 45, both in Jamaica and the UK, swiftly prompted a best-selling long-player of the same title, issued later that year. Comprising ten of the singer-songwriter's recent recordings for the mighty Upsetter, the LP has since been re-issued on vinyl on a number of occasions, but has never been officially made available on CD until now. Now, at long last, "Beat Down Babylon" does finally make it onto the format, with the original track-listing bolstered by the remainder of Byles' released work for Perry, which includes numerous Jamaican hits, most notably the 1974 smash, 'Curley Locks'.