Screaming Target


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. 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", and "The Killer". Several other tracks employed rhythms from Clarke's other productions, including Leroy Smart's "Pride & Ambition", Lloyd Parks' "Slaving", Dennis Brown's "In Their Own Way", and Gregory Isaacs' "One One Cocoa Fill Basket".

Critical reception

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

Original Gussie release track listing

All tracks written, arranged, and produced by Gussie Clarke.
  1. "Screaming Target"
  2. "Pride and Joy Rock"
  3. "Be Careful"
  4. "Tippertone Rock"
  5. "One of These Fine Days"
  6. "Screaming Target "
  7. "The Killer"
  8. "Solomon a Gunday"
  9. "Honesty"
  10. "I am Alright"
  11. "Lee a Low"
  12. "Concrete Jungle"
The track "Tippertone Rock" is listed as "Tippertong Rock" on the cover of the 1973 Trojan Records release, while it's listed as "Tippertone Rock" on the vinyl LP itself.
Subsequent vinyl releases omitted "Screaming Target " and "Concrete Jungle."

2006 CD release bonus tracks

  1. "KG's Halfway Tree" - Augustus Pablo & The Simplicity People
  2. "Origin Style" - Augustus Pablo
  3. "Screaming Target"
  4. "Pride and Ambition" - Leroy Smart
  5. "In Their Own Way" - Dennis Brown
  6. "Try Me" - Roman Stewart
  7. "Tipper Tone Rocking"
  8. "Rhythm Style"
  9. "One One Cocoa Full Basket" - Gregory Isaacs
  10. "Skylarking" - The Society Squad
  11. "Anywhere But Nowhere" - The Simplicity People
  12. "Slaving " - Lloyd Parks
  13. "No More Slavery" - Glen Brown
  14. "I Am Alright " - Gregory Isaacs

    Credits