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Keith Hudson was known briefly for his standout hit record with Big Youth, “Ace Niney Skank” and his debut production with singer Ken Boothe “Old Fashioned Way.” From there Hudson’s output maximized the use of remix and versions that were the hallmark of early dancehall and soundsystem culture. Multiple iterations of songs appeared across releases, including radical dub deconstructions.
Hudson’s most enduring catalog album is the once-obscure Pick A Dub, revived by the Blood & Fire label and reissued by VP in 2016 and his signature vocal album Rasta Communication, which Greensleeves released in Europe in 1979. Hudson would continue his sonic experimentation into the 80s with psychedelic use synthesizer on tracks such as “Nuh Skin Up.” In the process, his work caught the attention of members of Joy Division and his “Turn The Heater On” was later covered by New Order during one of their John Peel Sessions. Article and photo courtesy VP Records
