What I am Listening To : Keith Hudson

Though there is an online pressure to like every single genre of music, I don’t know that I find it is necessary to me. 

Still, I try to listen to all the relatable genres and “dub” seemed to be one that resisted me. I am not quite sure why. I love reggae (and ska). I am surely one of the genre’s most unlikely fan. I used to go to a record store which staffed by a Rasta, but I can’t picture ever chatting him up for recommendations (there’s probably not a chance that wouldn’t have been awkward). Instead I read the British music press of the 90s which at that time mostly covered Britpop. That newsstand market opened up for import British magazines like Mojo and Uncut. Those magazines would feature a monthly CD, and often they might feature classic Reggae from Studio One or Trojan Records. 

There always has been pressure to “listen” to certain albums. Surprisingly, I would say it’s even worse now than when I was a teenager. I am not saying it isn’t a bad idea to take an ambitious shot at listening to new stuff. Still, the online pressure to enjoy “Pet Sounds” or “Kind of Blue” or “brat” is ridiculous. Almost every other day I see a post of someone trying to force themselves into liking someone like the Swans. While I count myself one of that particular band’s biggest fans, with their immense popularity on sites like AOTY and RateYourMusic, I laugh at the idea of having to listen to them over and over again like a jigsaw puzzle. So I try to make my listening as organic as possible.

When I was younger, I would definitely search out new-to-me artists, but I don’t really do that anymore. That said, I do listen to outlets that might introduce me to new sounds.

For example, the local public radio station which is where I probably first heard Keith Hudson. I wasn’t necessarily going to seek out a King Tubby record or a Scientist disc, but when I first heard Hudson, it was a bit of a revelation. 1974s “Pick A Dub” is an album that has become one of the most well regarded Dub albums of all time. I have to admit that reading the five star Allmusic review of the album, I have some idea why I enjoy it. Some of the typical Dub gimmicks like space and explosive sound affects are missing - with a deference to a stripped not overproduced sound. I also admit I love how he uses vocal snippets in his dub songs. I really find him quite appealing. 

Pick A Dub has an all star cast with Carlton and Aston Barrett of Bob Marley’s Wailers, Augustus Pablo, and vocal cuts from Horace Andy and Big Youth. 

I have also been spending time with 2004s The Hudson Affair compilation - a collection of songs, dubs and production work that is a Who’s Who of Jamaican music- Ken Boothe, U-Roy, I-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Delroy Wilson and Alton Ellis. Though I don’t worry about such things, that album is on The Guardian’s 1000 Albums To Hear Before You Die”

Brown sadly died young of lung cancer aged 38 in 1984. I don’t recall hearing much about him but clearly his work has only been more appreciated in the ensuing years. What I found interesting as I was checking out his Wikipedia page was that Ian Curtis was a fan. To the point, New Order chose to cover “Turn the Heater On” for their 1982 Peel Session recording. 

2025 sees the re-release of the 1979 album Nuh Skin Up Dub credited to Hudson and the prolific Jamaican band Soul Syndicate released on the German label Week-End Records. It scratches my particular itch for some one who thought they would never “get into” Dub music.