riddim heritage

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the notion of many artists using the same riddim is central to the music of Jamaica, yeah? also these riddims get recycled over the years. its not just a dancehall thing, is it?

can you help identify the most important (or just your favourite) riddims, and list the best songs/dubs associated with them? give some info if possible.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

stalag riddim =
tenor saw - ring the alarm
sister nancy - bam bam
etc, at least 40 versions must exist.

there is a long tradition of sigle riddim albums...
http://www.turntablelab.com/labindub/labindub8.html

― autovac (autovac), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

ok: stalag riddim. from Ansell Collins 1973 instrumental "Stalag 17".

i actually know this one. but what other cuts of it are great?

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

ha, and i just found this

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

and this

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Most important? Start with the Sleng Teng, my friend.

― cybele (cybele), Friday, 19 September 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks cybele. what are the other good cuts of that rhythm? i have under me sleng teng by wayne smith.

― gaz (gaz), Friday, 19 September 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to start a thread like this so cheers Gaz. I really don't anything about any riddims beyond the chart versions of Diwali, so info on the other big ones would be good (Egyptian, Taliban, Cooley Dance are ones I've heard mentioned), along with the best versions for each.

― Nick H, Friday, 19 September 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks nick. seems no one wants to help. maybe the mighty ILM knowledgebase knows nothing about this though...

― gaz (gaz), Saturday, 20 September 2003 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Gaz in terms of the history I can recognise the common riddims but I don't know their names neccessarily. For the modern ones there's a great thread about people's recent favourites which surfaces every month or so.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 20 September 2003 11:33 (twenty-two years ago)

'Real Rock' is one of the best known. My favourite cuts :

Real Rock - Sound Dimension
Armagideon Time - Willie Williams
False Rumour - Jah Levi/A.Pablo
Rockers Rock - Augustus Pablo
Sandra Lee Buy A Big House For Me - Purpleman
Cool it Son - Junior Murvin

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Saturday, 20 September 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I think me and Gaz are looking more for the digital stuff of the last couple of years, at least I am anyway. Of course I could be wrongly assuming that Pablo and Murvin aren't digital but I'm more looking for the Elephant Man/Lady Saw-type stuff.

― Nick H, Monday, 22 September 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

hmmm...maybe the question is too broad. i was actually looking for some kind of genealogy.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 22 September 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I understand your question...

― cybele (cybele), Monday, 22 September 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

glad that you don't, cybele, cuz i don't either.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

eh? some examples of riddims and the songs they appear in. hoping this will cover from 60's - 00's.

which are the big ones? what are a few of the best songs they're used in. how hard is it? (thanks dr c)

maybe some context could be given (ie stalag riddim: first used Ansell Collins, 1973 "stalag 13" other examples and dates? ever revived?)

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, that second site you linked to answers your question a lot better than I ever could.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

ha, but i want the specialised personalised ILM recommendation treatment!

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Well then, off the top of my head (keep in mind I am absolutely horrible at remembering which songs are which and keeping a database in my head), here are a few of my favorites:

Ali Baba redone as "I Trim the Barber" on King Tubby's Special
Dirty Harry as "Termination Dub" by Glen Brown
Youthman as "Melodica International" by Glen Brown--sampled by St. Etienne on 'Carnt Sleep' which is probably why I like it so much
Jah Vengeance as Version Dub on King Tubby's Prophecy of Dub (it's a Yabby You riddim)
Queen Minstrel--original by Pat Kelly/Techniques is hard to improve on

― oops (Oops), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

ta. i was wondering if a cdr700 thing was gonna be possible. but i'd have to do a lot of work with this.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 22 September 2003 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone know the name of an old riddim (or old reggae song) which uses the horns from a Johnny Cash tune (don't know the name but it has something to do with fire)?

― Sengai, Tuesday, 23 September 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that's "I Shall Sing" by Marcia Griffiths. Cash song is "Ring of Fire".

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

What riddim is "Love Is the Light"?

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Stalag, baby.
Next? ;)

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I Shall Sing is Judy Mowatt. Did Marcia do it too?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 06:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Bah! I put Judy down first and then changed it. Pretty sad when you're too lazy to check allmusic.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 06:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I seem to remember Marcia having a bash at "I Shall Sing" about seven years ago but age could be messing with my memory.

"Ali Baba": two genius DJ cuts are "Gal Boy I Roy" by Jazzbo and "Ganja Exchange" by Ringo (possibly the least mucky Ringo recording ever), I strongly recommend either of these.

Rhythms on which I'll enjoy pretty much anything: You Don't Care, Satta, Rockfort Rock.

Classy touch to see Reggae-Riddims listing "Minstrel and Queen" by the Impressions as being on the "Queen Majesty" rhythm.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Good cuts on Ali Baba - 'Arabian Dub' - Treasure Isle All-Stars, 'Borderline Dub' and 'Cut-Throat Dub' - Tubby, and I-Roy 'I Shot The Barber'

Anybody know the name of the riddim of Tapper Zukie's 'MPLA', also done by King Tubby as 'Soundboy Massacre'?

My current riddim of the moment is Far East (Augustus Pablo), especially Philip's Showcase (Philip Smart/Pablo)and East Man Sound (Pablo All Stars).

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

According to Reggae Riddims it's known as "Freedom Blues", Doctor: http://212.202.251.207/scripts/rr.dll?s=2&id=30933&sb=/fi/riddim%3D%22freedom%2Bblues%22/na//so/riddim/st/0/max/50/

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 11:04 (twenty-two years ago)

It's also called MPLA. It's only been in the last ten years or so that people have effectively "named" riddims. It used to be just the name of the most popular song on the riddim. It was just that simple...

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Favourite ali baba version is Dr Alimantado 'I Shot The Barber', probably my fav reggae song ever n'all. Best stalag is Yellowman 'Zungazungagagjdgjhdgjhggj' or whatver it's called. What's the riddim used on the Big Youth song 'Screaming Target'?

― danny seed, Tuesday, 23 September 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"No No No". Yes it is.

Who decides on a name for a rhythm these days then?

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 09:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Producer.

― cybele (cybele), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Now *that* must be fun. "I think we'll call this one... ummmm....."

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

eight months pass...

The coolest classic riddim in my opinion is Far East. First recorded by Roland Alphonso 'Jah Shakey', but the killer version is 'Far East' by Barry Brown from the late seventies recorded at channel one.
Other versions: 'Murderer' - Buju Banton; 'Cold Blooded Murderer' - Capleton; 'Rejoice' - Sizzla; 'Tune In' - Cocoa Tea
Real Rock is always cool as well. Kuff/Sick riddim; duck riddim, peenie peenie, any Jammy's riddim is hard. Mad Mad/Johnny Dollar (which is the riddim of Yellowman's 'Zunguzunguzeng' and 'Diseases' by what'stheirname): extremely cool
For the newer 'bogle' riddims check Coolie Dance, Bad Kalic, Bollywood, Hindu Storm, Diwali, G String, hard drive, escalade, rice & peas
Joyride, rated x
sleng teng: off the air bad boy - beenieman;
The best one riddim album i ever heard was 'Angel' a new roots riddim

― blah, Friday, 28 May 2004 08:51 (twenty-one years ago)

the name of the mpla riddim is freedom blues

― blah, Friday, 28 May 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

yikes! now we're getting somewhere

― mullygrubber (gaz), Friday, 28 May 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Blah there's a brilliant Studio One Cut on that rhythm, also "Far East". The Willie Williams cut, "Master Plan" is also tremendously good.

I'd forgottne all about this thread.

― Tim (Tim), Friday, 28 May 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

duck! i love duck, u can imagine your enemies walking along to the grocers to its soundtrack. the shabba ranks is wicked

― prima fassy (mwah), Friday, 28 May 2004 11:23 (twenty-one years ago)

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