Artist page · 04/07/2026
About
10 essential vinyls spanning 1970s roots dub to 2000s sounds; originals and rare reissues tracked live.
Starting as a skilled radio repairman, Tubby applied his knowledge of electronics to music, creating innovative dub effects like reverb, echo, and phaser. Operating from his Home Town Hi-Fi studio, established in 1971 in Kingston's Waterhouse district, he advanced the art of remixing by manipulating individual instrumental and vocal tracks, shaping the dub genre's soundscape.
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Tubby was prolific in producing and engineering with notable collaborations including Augustus Pablo and Lee "Scratch" Perry. His influence extends to teaching key dub producers like Prince Jammy and The Scientist. His vinyl catalog includes classic albums such as "Dub From The Roots" (1975) and "Majestic Dub" (1981), alongside numerous reissues and test pressings.
Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Motion Records · 2000
Motion Records · 1999
M10 · 1999
Clocktower Records · 1998
Burning Sounds · 1996
Burning Sounds · 1996
Blood & Fire · 1996
Zola & Zola · 1995
Sprint Records · 1995
Tamoki Wambesi · 1995
Sprint Records · 1995
Black Solidarity · 1993
Fat Man · 1991
Original Music · 1990
Abraham · 1990
Angella Records · 1990
Original Music · 1989
Firehouse · 1988
Firehouse · 1986
Sky Juice · 1983
Black Music · 1982
Live And Love · 1981
Star · 1981
KG Imperial · 1981
Copasetic Records · 1981
Moodisc Records · 1978
Moodisc Records · 1977
Moodisc Record · 1976
Total Sounds · 1975
Attack · 1975
Total Sounds · 1975
Total Sounds · 1975
Klik · 1975
Fay Music Inc. · 1974
Rhino Records · 
Abraham · 
Tamoki Wambesi · 
Bumb · 
Clocktower Records · 
Abraham · Playlist
The tracks that sum up King Tubby's career.
The essentials
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
A landmark 14-track dub album laying foundational sounds of roots reggae, featuring tracks like "Dub From The Roots" and "Declaration Of Dub."
This 10-track album demonstrates Tubby's signature dub style with tracks such as "Dub Them Under Manners" and "The Best Dub In The Business."
One of the recent vinyl releases representing King Tubby's enduring dub influence, issued by VP Greensleeves.
Go further
Artists who share part of King Tubby's musical DNA.
Collectors
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
The “Why this rarity” column comes from our upstream sourcing work: for each album, we explain what makes this pressing sought after by collectors (limited run, specific matrix, withdrawn edition…).
Face B
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
King Tubby is often credited as the father of dub, manipulating recording tracks into new music forms.— Vinyl Enthusiasts
In 1971, King Tubby established his Home Town Hi-Fi studio in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, pioneering dub music production by manipulating multitrack recordings.
King Tubby originated dub effects including reverb, echo, phaser, and dynamic level control that define the dub genre and pioneered remixing techniques.
The 1976 album created with Augustus Pablo marks a high point in Tubby's career, merging dub techniques with roots reggae melodies.
The 1981 Star label UK original pressing has a 3:1 want/have ratio with just 4 copies for sale, making it a sought-after release.
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
King Tubby was a Jamaican producer and sound engineer known for pioneering dub, a subgenre of reggae music emphasizing studio effects and remixing.
Essential vinyls include "Dub From The Roots" (1975), "Majestic Dub" (1981), and "At the Grass Roots" (2025), illustrating his influential dub style across decades.
His Home Town Hi-Fi studio was located at 13 Drumilly Avenue in Kingston's Waterhouse district, established in 1971.
King Tubby's most prolific period was between the early 1970s and late 1980s before his death in 1989.
The original 1981 UK pressing of "Majestic Dub" is scarce and highly valued among collectors, with limited copies available.
The original pressing is from 1975 on the Total Sounds label in Jamaica, often without a catalogue number and is rarely found for sale.
Yes, his work laid a foundation for remixing and electronic music genres such as ambient, techno, and hip-hop.
Vinyles.com tracks real-time listings and price ranges for King Tubby vinyl, including originals and reissues globally.
Transparency
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
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