I consider myself very lucky to have picked up a copy of Ghetto Dub for pennies back in the early 90s. At the time I was obsessively Hoover-ing up everything I could find that was On-U Sound related, from London stores such as Daddy Kool, Reckless, and The Vinyl & Tape Exchange. To be honest, I had no idea that the album was so rare, so sought after, until last year, when a Japanese amigo asked me to help look into the possibility of licensing the track Station Dub – a crazy Mad Professor-esque collision of DJ announcements, doorbells, sirens, summery whistling and strumming – for a compilation. The album, worth it for this alone, was originally released in 1988, and contains 10 dubs – allegedly performed by King Tubby, the then Prince Jammy and Adrian Sherwood – of a mix of 80s On-U and 70s Bim Sherman rhythms. Provided by The Soul Syndicate, Gladiators Band and The Roots Radics / Dub Syndicate. 

Tunes such as World Dub – a delay-decayed take on the classic I Just Can’t Stand It – and Danger Dub – with its “they will never know” hook – contain ghostly glimpses of Bim, while the melodica-driven Fire Dub could be an outtake from Dr. Pablo’s North Of The River Thames. Although the album sleeve pushes the participation of Tubby and Jammy, and the Jamaican Channel One location, to the fore, whenever the bubbling sound effects, and tumbling, rattling timbales, threaten to take over, you can picture an young, enthusiastic Sherwood at the controls. Since On-U weren’t above a bit of promotional misdirection, it would be great to get the real story behind these sessions. 

Talking to Warp, Pressure Sounds and Echo Beach, my friend and I learned that the legality around Sherman’s catalogue had become, it seemed, too complicated to untangle, following his untimely passing just over 25 years ago. However, this no longer appears to be the case since Cologne-based label Week-End Records, have repressed Ghetto Dub, and announced that this is only the first instalment in a comprehensive reissue program. Fingers-crossed, we’ll be getting the magical Miracle some time soon. Preferably spread across 4 sides of vinyl. 

Bim Sherman’s Ghetto Dub can be ordered directly from Week-End Records.