One of the unlikeliest hits of the Seventies was this slice of deep dub-influenced new take on an old tune by Rupie Edwards.

Ire Feelings (Skanga) by Rupie Edwards is a version of a Johnny Clarke tune called Everyday Wondering (which he also produced) that went to No.2 in the UK charts in 1975. In classic reggae style, it was followed by the not entirely dissimilar Leggo Skanga, based on the same riddim.

Listening back now, it does seem somewhat astonishing that this weirdest of instrumental dubs should captivate the nation. I guess it was seen as a “novelty hit” at the time.

Rupie followed Dave and Ansell Collins who reached No.1 with Double Barrel and had another big hit with Monkey Spanner, way back in 1971. Although not technically dubs (ie. reworkings of old riddims), both were essentially proto-dub, produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, one of the key figures in the development of dub.