Max Romeo & The Upsetters - War Ina Babylon

Few reggae albums carry the weight and enduring power of War Ina Babylon. Originally released on Island Records in 1976 and now lovingly reissued by Jackpot Records, it is widely considered one of the greatest reggae albums ever made and a record that continues to find new listeners with every passing generation.

The partnership that produced it was an unlikely one and an inspired one. By 1976, vocalist Max Romeo had performed on over 120 singles and was in the midst of a personal artistic transformation, moving away from his earlier work toward lyrics driven by social conscience and protest, responding to a Jamaica gripped by poverty, gang violence, and politically motivated killings. Lee "Scratch" Perry, one of the most visionary producers and sonic experimenters the world has ever seen, was the perfect collaborator. Together, working at Perry's legendary Black Ark studio and recorded in just two weeks, they created something that transcended both of their catalogs.

War Ina Babylon is considered part of Lee Perry's holy trinity of Black Ark productions released on Island Records, alongside Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves and The Heptones' Party Time. Its influence stretched far beyond reggae, reaching deep into the UK punk movement that was just beginning to take shape at the time of its release.

This reissue was mastered all-analog from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed on golden sunshine colored vinyl, and includes the original artwork. The definitive edition of an essential record.