Screaming Target Explained

Screaming Target
Type:Album
Artist:Big Youth
Cover:Big_Youth_-_Screaming_Target.jpg
Released:1972
Recorded:1972
Studio:Randy's Studio; Dynamic Sound Studios; Harry J's Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre:Reggae
Length:37:59
Label:Gussie/Jaguar/Trojan
Producer:Augustus "Gussie" Clarke
Prev Title:Chi Chi Run
Prev Year:1972
Next Title:Reggae Phenomenon
Next Year:1975

Screaming Target is the debut album by Jamaican deejay Big Youth. It was recorded and originally released in 1972 on the Gussie and Jaguar labels in Jamaica.[1] It was issued in the United Kingdom in 1973 by Trojan Records.

Recording and production

The album was produced by Big Youth's childhood friend Augustus "Gussie" Clarke. Some of the tracks on the album had previously been hits as singles, including "Screaming Target", which used K.C. White's "No, No, No" rhythm, "Tippertone Rock" (though the single version was different), and "The Killer".[2] Several other tracks employed rhythms from Clarke's other productions, including Leroy Smart's "Pride & Ambition" (on "Pride & Joy Rock"), Lloyd Parks' "Slaving" ("Honesty"), Dennis Brown's "In Their Own Way" ("Be Careful"), and Gregory Isaacs' "One One Cocoa Fill Basket" (on "One of These Fine Days"). The 2006 CD reissue adds the aforementioned tracks and more as a bonus.

Critical reception

The album was a favorite dub LP for music critic Robert Christgau in the 1970s,[3] although he omitted it from (1981), lacking the comprehensiveness for import-only albums at the time.[4]

Track listing

All tracks written, arranged, and produced by Gussie Clarke.
The track "Tippertone Rock" is listed as "Tippertong Rock" on the cover of the 1973 Trojan Records release (TRLS 61-A), while it's listed as "Tippertone Rock" on the vinyl LP itself. Later releases added "Screaming Target (Version 2)" (as track 6) and "Concrete Jungle" (as track 12). The 1976 Gussie LP releases only added "Concrete Jungle" (as track 11).

Credits

Recording Information

Notes and References

  1. "Big Youth - Screaming Target", Roots Archives
  2. Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (1999) "Reggae: 100 Essential CDs", Rough Guides,
  3. Book: Christgau, Robert. Robert Christgau. 1981. . Ticknor & Fields. 089919026X. Consumer Guide '70s: Z. https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=Z&bk=70. March 23, 2019. robertchristgau.com.
  4. Book: Christgau, Robert. Robert Christgau. 1981. . Ticknor & Fields. 0899190251. The Guide. https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg70/guide.php. March 30, 2019. robertchristgau.com.