Winston ‘Niney’ Holness, A.K.A. The Observer must be one of reggae’s finest Roots Rebel producers. Capable of making some of the heaviest, innovative music, not only in sound but also in the cultural / political sense. Born George Boswell, Montego Bay, Jamaica,1951, and name checked ’Niney’, due to losing a thumb in a workshop accident, he began his career in music by organising bands to play at school dances. But his first steps learning the musical ropes came working under the tutor ledge of producer Bunny Lee around 1967, organising sessions for Bunny’s stable of artists. He moved on to work alongside Lee Perry at Joe Gibb’s ‘Amalgamated’ label setup, where on Lee Perry’s leaving in 1969 to start his own ‘Upsetter’ label, Niney became chief engineer.

Inspired by Perry’s success it wasn't long before his own ‘Destroyer’ label was under way. It was 1970, and his first production entitled ‘Mr Brown’ by DJ’s Dennis Alcapone and Lizzy, proved to be a minor hit, but his own ‘Blood and Fire’ track released in December of that year would become a major hit. After initial problems with it’s likeness to Bob Marley’s ‘Duppy Conqueror’, being ironed out, it’s reissue on his now named ‘Observer’ label, saw it go on to become, Jamaican Record of the Year 1971. Far out selling Bob Marley’s track to the tune of over 30,000 copies in Jamaica alone. A roots classic...

Niney's reputation for building great roots tracks, was furthered with more success working with singer Max Romeo. Issuing cuts such as 'Beard man Feast', the great 'Reggae Matic' and 'Aily and Ailaloo' and renewing his relationship with Lee Perry on the track 'Rasta Band Wagon' who's production credit read Perry, Niney, Maxie. In 1973, Niney began working with Dennis Brown, who was already an established star from an early age, they found a chemistry that went on to produce some of Dennis's finest work.The 1973 hit 'Westbound Train' was followed in 1974 by 'Cassandra', 'I am the Conqueror' and the timeless 'No more shall I Roam'.Another important connection around this time was the great King Tubby who Niney would take his tapes along to and even record some of his tracks at Tubby's house, 18 Drummlie Avenue, Kingston, which doubled as his Studio of Dub.

It's these tracks that we are concentrating on here, Tubby would strip the tracks back to the bone and rebuild them sometimes leaving off the hook line. Weather that be the horn line or keyboard line and adding effects over the top that could disguise the cut even more. Even Niney stating that when Tubby had finished witWinston Niney Holness aka The Observer must be one of reggae’s finest producers. Capable of making some of the heaviest, innovative music, not only in sound but also in the cultural / political sense. Born George Boswell, Montego Bay, Jamaica,1951, and name checked ’Niney’, due to losing a thumb in a workshop accident, his first steps learning the musical ropes came working under the tutorage of producer Bunny Lee around 1967, organizing sessions for Bunny’s stable of artists. He moved on to work alongside Lee Perry at Joe Gibb’s Amalgamated label, where on Lee Perry’s leaving in 1969 to start his own Upsetter label, Niney became chief engineer.

Inspired by Perry’s success it wasn't long before his own Destroyer label was under way. It was 1970, and his first production entitled “Mr Brown” by DJ’s Dennis Alcapone and Lizzy, proved to be a minor hit, but his own “Blood and Fire” track released later that year would become a major hit. After initial problems with it’s likeness to Bob Marley’s “Duppy Conqueror”, being ironed out, its reissue on his now named Observer label, saw it go on to become Jamaican Record of the Year 1971. Far out selling Bob Marley’s track to the tune of over 30,000 copies in Jamaica alone. A roots classic...

Niney's reputation for building great roots tracks was furthered with more success working with singer Max Romeo. Issuing cuts such as “Beard Man Feast', the great “Reggae Matic” and “Aily and Ailaloo” and renewing his relationship with Lee Perry on the track “Rasta Band Wagon” who's production credit read Perry, Niney, Maxie. In 1973, Niney began working with Dennis Brown, who was already an established star from an early age, they found a chemistry that went on to produce some of Dennis's finest work. The 1973 hit “Westbound Train” was followed in 1974 by “Cassandra”, “I am the Conqueror” and the timeless “No More Shall I Roam”. Another important connection around this time was the great King Tubby who Niney would take his tapes along to and even record some of his tracks at Tubby's house, 18 Drummlie Avenue, Kingston, which doubled as his Studio of Dub.

It's these tracks that we are concentrating on here, Tubby would strip the tracks back to the bone and rebuild them sometimes leaving off the hook line. Weather that be the horn line or keyboard line and adding effects over the top that could disguise the cut even more. Even Niney stating that when Tubby had finished with a cut, he found it hard to recognize the track himself. It's these tracks as dub plate specials that Tubby would play on his Hometown HI - FI Sound System and it's these such tracks that have been compiled for this release. DJ, Arranger, Producer, his Roots Rebel Music still stands the test of time.
h a cut, he found it hard to recognise the track himself.

It's these tracks as dub plate specials that Tubby would play on his Hometown HI - FI Sound System and it's these such tracks that we have compiled for this release. Dub Plates that have not seen the light of day since tragically the great Osbourne Ruddock A.K.A. King Tubby was gunned down and murdered on the 06th of December 1989. For a few dollars and a gold chain, reggae music has lost one of its most inventive, creative forces.

Niney also cut tracks with many other reggae giants, Gregory Issac's, Michael Rose, Junior Delgado, Horace Andy, Delroy Wilson to name but a few. As in house producer at the legendary Channel studios and supervising sessions at Dynamic and Randy's Studio17, his magic touched many. DJ, Arranger, Producer, his Roots Rebel Music still stands the test of time.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Considering their age, Niney's dubs still boom hard through any modern soundsystem. One of the darkest and heaviest producers of the wave first!

TRACK LISTING

1 Set Dub Free
2 Lately Dub
3 Dub With Tubby
4 Dub Exclusive
5 In Love With Dub
6 No More Dub
7 Here Comes Dub
8 Tenement Dub
9 Swallow Field & Dub
10 Dubbing With Sally
11 Dark Side Of Dub
12 Dub In Silver
13 Truthful Dub*
14 Dub Born Here*
*CD Bonus Tracks

Niney the Observer’s first dub album ‘Dubbing With The Observer’ was cut at King Tubby’s Studio with Tubby himself reworking Niney’s rhythms and adding his magic as only he could do. Niney The Observer (b. Winston Holness, 1951 Montego Bay, Jamaica) by the early 70’s had forged a successful working partnership with singer Dennis Brown cutting some of his best songs adding a more rootsy element to the singers sound. *Songs like ‘Westbound Train’, ‘No More Will I Roam’, ‘I Am the Conqueror’ to name but a few. Also cutting a hit for Ken Boothe ‘Silver Words’ and two other singers that Niney had grown up with, Max Romeo ‘That Was Love’ and Delroy Wilson ‘Halfway Up The Stairs’. It was these tracks and a few other Dennis Brown worked rhythms, that Niney took to King Tubby’s studio at 18 Drumilly Avenue, Kingston 11, with the intention to let Tubby remix and enhance the rhythms Tubby Style. The result was to be Niney’s first Dub album the mighty ‘Dubbing with the Observer’. On completion it was sent to London and it was then released on Trojan records and named Dub album of the Year. We are proud to put that album back out there for all to hear, what has now become a dub classic

Niney the Observer, one of Jamaica’s great producers, cultivated a distinctive sparse / heavy sound to his productions.Add to this the poignant lyrics that many of these tunes carried, builds to a roots music catalogue that few could match. Winston Holness, aka Niney the Observer (named due to a workshop accident in which he lost a thumb!), began his musical induction working for producer Bunny Lee in the late 60s.Around 1968 Niney worked alongside Lee Perry for producer Joe Gibbs eventually taking over Perry’s role as ‘in house’ producer in 1968, when Perry decided to go his own way and start his own label.

Niney by now had learned his craft ,especially known for building strong original rhythms which he put to good work on his first production called ‘Mr Brown’ / ‘Everybody Bawling’ for DJs Dennis Alcapone and Lizzy. This was a hometown hit in Jamaica but its follow up in 1970, Niney’s ‘Blood & Fire’ featuring Niney himself on vocals was a runaway hit selling over 30,000 copies in Jamaica alone. Niney’s production work hit another high around 1973 when he began working with singer Dennis Brown. The records initially were released on Joe Gibbs label but soon appeared on Niney’s own imprint ‘Observer’ label. Hit after hit came from this chemistry that flowed between Niney and Dennis Brown, ’Westbound Train’ following in 1974 with, ‘Cassandra’, ‘I Am The Conqueror’ and the timeless ‘No More Shall I Roam’.

Kingston Sounds have culled some great tunes that Niney added his magic production skills to around this time, they show his vast talents and also the cross-section of artists that he worked with. Dennis Brown provides ‘Stages of Life’ alongside Leroy Smarts classic ‘Mr Richman’, Max Romeo ‘Don’t Be Prejudice’, Bob Andy ‘War War’, Delroy Wilson ‘Pretty Girl’. Ken Boothe provides us with two cuts, ‘Namibia’and ‘Peaceful Day’, vocal legend Alton Ellis features with ‘Change My Life’ and vocal groups are represented by the Versatiles ‘Trust The Book’ and Tamlins ‘Give It Up’. A great selection of songs that work so well together, not only because of the heartfelt singing that the artists put across but also the songs are interlinked by Niney’s rich studio style… Hope you enjoy the set……

Hot on the heels of the "Sledgehammer Dub" set on Motion comes this LP of of unreleased dubs (circa '73-'75) from the missing finger man's mastertapes. Most of the tracks had Tubby at the controls, and include dubs of Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, Michael Rose etc.