First, as a newcomer, hi to everyone
There are like two tendencies in dancehall and I prefer the sweeter, soulful freestyle than the harsher, ragga one (which seems to put me in the minority). And I'd like to dig it further. I'm talking everything from Levy to Sizzla but not just the rootsy sound, as there was a period in the 80s where sizzling and spacy digital beats were sung by high-pitched vocalists, the most notorious artists to my knowledge being Half Pint, White Mice, Ini Kamoze, Eek-a-Mouse, Michael Palmer, a label called Waterhouse etc. I don't know if it's accurate historically, but this sound kinda reminds me of some very deep 12'' reggae/dub cuts from the end of the 70s (notably on the Hitrun label, or Rhyhthm and Sound).
So, I don't know if I can present this both as a discussion thread and as a recommendation thread, but the bottom line is I adore this stuff.
Here are a few key albums and tracks to my appreciation:
Half Pint / Michael Palmer - Joint Favorites
Papa Michigan & General Smiley - Downpression
Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Two Bad D.J
Rankinng Dread - Lots of Loving
White Mice - the comp
Barrington Levy - Englishman, Shaolin Temple etc
Sizzla - various
Gregory Isaacs - Report to me (single)
Courtney Melody - Black Liberation (single)
Little Kirk - Screechie cross the border
Lloyd Hemmings - Rudeboy (single)
Anthony B - Raid di Barn
Junior Reid - Boom Shack-a-Lack
Ijahman Levi - I am a Levi
Ok so you see where this is going. Thanks to anyone who can expand :) I suppose some comps will be brought to the table but I suppose that's ok (let's just get king tubbys firehouse prods, lawes volcano eruption and george phang's power house selectors out of the way).
I haven't found exactly what I wanted with the search function but in case this's been amply covered, don't hesitate to link me to something :)
― Nabozo, Monday, 6 April 2015 15:01 (ten years ago)
http://www.largeup.com/2013/01/30/check-it-deeply-jazz-and-blues-michael-bolton-and-jamaicas-ear-for-easy-listening/
Ok, not quite sweetly sung dancehall, but some Jamaicans like these folks!
http://www.groovininthepark.com/
Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton, who has sold more than 53 million albums and singles worldwide has been added to the stellar lineup for the 2015 'Groovin In The Park' concert which unfolds at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, NY on Sunday, June 28. Bolton will be joined on stage at 'Groovin In The Park' by R&B sensation Billy Ocean, reggae super group Morgan Heritage and dancehall/gospel DJ Lt. Stitchie and CocoTea who will both perform in a segment billed 'Reggae/dancehall Finest.'
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 April 2015 22:38 (ten years ago)
The Basic Replay and Dug Out labels have released a lot of this type of material
― paolo, Thursday, 9 April 2015 17:34 (ten years ago)