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Dubplate

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Saved by PBworks
on June 30, 2007 at 12:12:25 pm
 

A dubplate is a term used to describe a one off or exclusive piece of music played by Sound Systems.

 

From the 50's through to the 90's this invariable reffered to an acetate, though from the 90's onwards other formats, firstly DAT (Digital Audio Tape) and minidisc and now CDR and digital formats have blurred the definition.

 

The earliest dubplates were recordings of music that had yet to be released that was played on Sound Systems to gauge audience approval and popularity. Later (by the lend of the 60's) the trend began to record exclusive mixes that would remain unavailable to purchase in order to enahance the reputation of the Sound System.

 

In the late 80's the exclusive dubplate developed into the Special. A special is an exlcusive mix or recording of a tune that usually has the lyrics altered to mention and praise a specific Sound System. The rise of the special coincided with a decline in the appearance of live DJ's on sound systems.

 

Whilst the special became prevelent in the 90's the first example of this is probably On The Beach by Owen Gray, recorded in the very late 50's. This contained the lyric "Dancing to the sound of Sir Coxsone Downbeat, on the beach".

 

Original acetate dubplates

Count Lasher on a 7" acetate from circa 1960

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