Errol Thompson

As house engineer at Randy's Studio 17 and later Aquarius Studio, Thompson helped pioneer dub alongside King Tubby and Lee Perry, though his instincts ran cleaner and less chaotic than either. His 1970 work on Derrick Harriott's The Undertaker, one of the first strictly instrumental reggae albums, proved that a record without vocals could still hold a listener's attention start to finish. Working with producer Herman Chin Loy, Thompson helped push dub from a sound-system curiosity toward a commercial form in its own right. His mixes were precise and powerful rather than freewheeling, but no less imaginative for it. He died in 2004.

At a glance

Active

1968–2004

From

Kingston, Jamaica

Listening guide track

“Lick the Pipe Peter - Fever DJ Version”

Listen

In the 70s Dub Reggae listening guide: “Lick the Pipe Peter - Fever DJ Version”

In the issues

• 005
  70s Dub Reggae

  Supporting cast · 1968-1980

  70s Dub Reggae is a genre from Kingston, Jamaica, 1968–1980. Its principal artists include King Tubby, Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Augustus Pablo. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Places

• Joe Gibbs Recording Studio
  Kingston · 1967-1980 · 70s Dub Reggae

  Producer Joe Gibbs' studio where engineer Errol Thompson created groundbreaking dub mixes and where Lee Perry worked before starting his own label.

Terms

Sound system

A mobile setup of turntables, amplifiers, and large speaker stacks used to play recorded music at outdoor parties and dances, especially in Jamaican and Caribbean culture.

Version

In reggae production, an instrumental or remixed rendering of an existing song, typically placed on the B-side of a single.