PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
Release Date: 15 May 2026
Label: Proper Records
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 805520241472
Description
Originally released in 1976, War Ina Babylon was recorded with backing band the Upsetters and produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry at the Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica - This re-issue faithfully replicates the original Island Records UK release and is pressed on 180g vinyl.
Widely regarded as Romeo's finest work, the album is a landmark of roots reggae, combining political commentary, Rastafarian themes, and Perry's distinctive dub-influenced production style.
Released on Island Records, the album reflects the social and political turmoil of mid-1970s Jamaica, addressing poverty, violence, and oppression. Its lyrics frequently critique "Babylon," a Rastafarian term for corrupt systems of power, while also offering spiritual resistance and social awareness.
The record features nine tracks, including some of Romeo's most enduring songs such as "One Step Forward," "War Ina Babylon," and "Chase the Devil," the latter becoming especially influential through later sampling in popular music.
War Ina Babylon is often grouped with other Black Ark productions as part of a celebrated trio of reggae albums from the era, and it remains one of the most acclaimed and influential releases in the genre.
Tracklisting
Max Romeo & The Upsetters
Shed Seven
Unbelievable Truth
Ladyhawke
Wishbone Ash
Ian Hunter
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Johnny Flynn
Johnny Jubilee And The Blackstones
Winston Reedy
Various Artists
RSD
Pablo Moses
Linton Haughton
Linton Haughton
George Dekker
