Barry Brown - Things & Time / Dub (Black Roots/Archive) 7"

Barry Brown recorded two versions of this song, the first under the name Michael Brown circa 1976 released on Militant Barry Dunn's Kiss label, the second, four years later, for Sugar Minott's Black Roots label.  The song was written by Tony Tuff, and Brown, Tuff and Minott, along with Derrick "Bubbles" Howard were once affiliated with the African Brothers vocal group. It is the 1980 cut featured here and the song benefits from a superior vocal from Brown to the original and a fuller mix that brings out the elegance of the rhythm, that beautiful guitar line, especially so on the staggering Scientist dub, mixed at King Tubby's with that signature test tone prominent. Some may prefer Barry Brown's work on all those ultra-heavy steppers he cut back in the day, but we here at Dub Vendor have always known that this record represents the singer at his best.  First time on 7" too!   "A weak heart shall take a swallow-dive!"