The Sly & Robbie mix of "Fu-Gee-La" is amazing. Lee Perry gets ridiculous amounts of praise heaped on his immaculately stone shoulders. Yet, the only Jamaican music I know well is (duh) Bob Marley, and I had enough of that to last me through two collegiate tours of duty AND another high-school go around. So, where should I go? What should I do?
And is it fair to smack reggae & dub together like I did in the Subject Line? Or are they two tastes that just happened to taste great together?
Like I said, I need help.
― David Raposa, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
lee perry - arkology
the congos - heart of the congos
augustus pablo - king tubby meets rockers uptown
king tubby - dub gone crazy, foundation of dub
big youth - natty universal dread
junior murvin - police and theives
jimmy cliff - the harder they come
bunny wailer - black heart man
burning spear - marcus garvey/garvey's ghost
v/a - tougher than tough: the story of jamaican music
v/a - the 100% (200%, etc.) dynamite series
dub is a process. reggae is a music. (dub reggae = process music?) at least that's my take.
― jess, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Andy, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― RW, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Beyond that, a personal semi-obscuro favorite of mine is Junior Byles' retrospective _Curlylocks_, on Heartbeat.
― Douglas Wolk, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
And finally: a few months back I put together tracklists for Even Tougher Than Tough: Jamaican Classics 1962-95, my own self-styled sequel to the Island box mentioned above. (Tracklists are available here.) If anyone's got suggestions for improvement, let's have 'em.
― M. Matos, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― fritz, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
However, this being said, I think that you could say that everyone who likes dub likes reggae, and everyone who likes reggae would probably like dub, if they knew what it was.
Want some good stuff?
I agree with everything that has been said, but I'd also recommend:
If Deejay was your trade - Various (Blood and Fire) Mad Professor vs. Massive Attack - No Protection Horace Andy - In the Light and In the Light Dub Prince Alla - Only Love Can Conquer Sizzla - Reggae Max
Some of my favourites, not not exactly a comprehensive selection.
Pick up the Rough Guide 100 Essential Reggae CDS. It makes for great reading and is a lovely conversation starter.
― cybele, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
U
SOUND
― Brian MacDonald, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― dave q, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― turner, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― nickn, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
There's lots of great earlier reggae too: I'm particularly fond of Clancy Eccles's productions, Amalgamated-era Joe Gibbs, a lot of Bunny Lee stuff and Winston 'Niney' Holness, probably the heaviest of the early reggae fellows.
A step back a little further to rocksteady can't do any harm, either: the golden age of Treasure Isle.
The other thing I think should be mentioned in this thread is Studio 1. The greatest body of work in Jamaican music bar none. You can never go wrong with the series of "Best of Studio 1" compilations which Heartbeat put out which span early reggae to roots stuff. LPs? I's start with "Bob Andy's Songbook", Cedric 'IM' Brooks's "Flash Forward", "The Wailing Souls" and "Bobby Bobylon" by Freddie Macgregor. But there's loads more to be found.
My other *real* thing at the moment is 70s Gregory Isaacs. More Gregory. Gregory, Horace Andy and Junior Byles are three of my top 10 voices ever.
― Tim, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― m jemmeson, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
The first version I had of that LP (which was a taped version of a Jamaican pressing on Joe Gibbs with the primarily yellow sleeve and a colour version of the photo) had a little reprise / dub of the last track on the second side. Just about 45 seconds of wild dubbing on "Under Heavy Manners". I've heard vinyl and CD reissues on Gibbs and never found another version with that little coda, and it upsets me a little. Anyone have any versions which do have the little end bit? (BTW, it's not the same as the various dub versions I have of the rhythm).
mj, do you have "Prophecy Reveal" by Bo Jangles? I know it was re- pressed a while back but I've never found it. Is it on the "Money In My Pocket" rhythm?
I work for a publishing company and we will be reissuing Beth Lesser's "King Jammy" - it is the definitive book on 80s dancehall. Beth is also a photographer--her work has appeared in the Rough Guide, among other publications.
Just for interest sake, is anyone on this thread (or any dub/reggae fans) intrigued?
― Ian, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Andrew L, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Bim Sherman's 'Miracle', while not exactly Reggae, is still utterly wonderful.
― Johnathan, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
The first dub album? I forget, but one of them. One of the craziest too. Mad loping grooves, everything and the kitchen sink samples before there were samples.
Lee Scratch Perry--Super Ape
Primo mid-70s Scratch. Smooth, rootsical, deep, hypnotic...
― Ben Williams, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― David Gunnip, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Omar, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Tim, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― m jemmeson, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Dr. C, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Daniel, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― David Raposa, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― cybele, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― jess, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Ben Williams, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
But never mind me and my minor griping. Have I thanked you all for your recommendations yet? I haven't gone out and bought anything, mind you, but when I do, you'll be the 10th or 11th to know.
― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
You just can't get it loud enough at home. It's gotta be so heavy that you can feel the bass from your fingers through to your toes. I'd pay $25 for that--then again, I'm Canadian. Don't know whether I'd pay $25 US.
― jk, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Mark, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― m jemmeson, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Cool, thanks!
My friend and I have a theory that no song or style of music can't be reggaefied. Beatles, metal, Christmas music ...
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 24 December 2023 23:32 (one year ago)
Listening now! Do you have a playlist?
― Expansion to Mackerel (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 25 December 2023 18:20 (one year ago)
yup, here you are
1. The Wailers - White Christmas [1965]2. Richard Stoute - Rocksteady Christmas [1969]3. Rico Rodriguez - Jingle Bells [1967]4. Rueben Anderson - Christmas Time Again [1966]5. The Kingstonians - Merry Christmas [1967]6. Augustus Pablo - Snowball and Pudding [1971]7. Granville Willams Orchestra - Santa Clause Is Ska-ing to Town [1965]8. Owen Gray - Collins Greetings [1967]9. Terry & the Hurricanes - Sleigh Jump [1967]10. Trevor & the Maytones - Everyday Is Like a Holiday [1969]11. Toots & the Maytals - Christmas Feeling Ska [1964]12. Rico Rodriguez - Silent Night [1967]13. Hopeton Lewis - Happy Christmas [1968]14. The Ethiopians - Ding Dong Bell [1968]15. Byron Lee & the Dragonaires - White Christmas [1969]16. Ruddy & Sketto w/ Laurel Aitken - Christmas Blues [1962]17. Alton Ellis & the Lipsticks - Merry Merry Christmas [1971]18. Prince Buster & the Charmers - Long Winter [1965]19. Don Cornel & the Eternals - Christmas Joy [1970]20. Desmond Dekker & the Aces - Christmas Day [1968]
― budo jeru, Monday, 25 December 2023 19:55 (one year ago)
I put this on at my mother-in-law's and it was a hit, great mix!
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Monday, 25 December 2023 23:16 (one year ago)
yes indeed!
― stirmonster, Monday, 25 December 2023 23:31 (one year ago)
Thanks budo
― Expansion to Mackerel (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 26 December 2023 00:18 (one year ago)
love this, budo jesu, thank you
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Tuesday, 26 December 2023 00:20 (one year ago)
this is excellent, thx!
― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 26 December 2023 10:52 (one year ago)
thanks for giving it a listen, i'm happy to hear it was enjoyed
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 26 December 2023 18:23 (one year ago)
For UK ilxors - Mad Professor is appearing on The Repair Shop tonight (!?), getting a processor repaired.
― Twelves, Wednesday, 27 December 2023 17:42 (one year ago)
is budo jeru’s christmas mix simply the best christmas album ever? srs question
― Humanitarian Pause (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 28 December 2023 23:15 (one year ago)
:D
― budo jeru, Friday, 29 December 2023 01:37 (one year ago)
listened to budo’s mix on the way out to my parent’s place for christmas dinner on monday. me and the mrs really enjoyed iti regret not taking a bluetooth speaker to share with the fam
― sknybrg, Friday, 29 December 2023 01:52 (one year ago)
like it!!
― ava (paolo), Friday, 29 December 2023 19:30 (one year ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGLmOjymMDc
this is my favourite jamaican christmas song. it's kind of a sad one
― ava (paolo), Friday, 29 December 2023 19:31 (one year ago)
I stumbled across this tonight (Repair Shop is our family zero effort TV) and it's sort of head-frying or dreamlike - Mad Professor brings in a phaser he'd got off Lee Perry and asks them to get it working. The electronics guy who usually just fixes radios and turntables is out of his depth, god love him. Not even a celebrity episode - it's stuck in with a dog-handling ex-copper getting his life-sized ceramic Alsatian repaired and an extremely rugby-playing man getting the rugby boots he got when he was 6 patched up.
iplayer link - "An intriguing 1970s electronic sound effect machine causes a commotion at the barn."
― woof, Monday, 15 January 2024 00:26 (one year ago)
Whoops, meant to quote this:
For UK ilxors - Mad Professor is appearing on The Repair Shop tonight (!?), getting a processor repaired.― Twelves, Wednesday, December 27, 2023 5:42 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Twelves, Wednesday, December 27, 2023 5:42 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
I want to thank this thread for recommending "Dadawah" LP. after my mom passed away it was the only thing I could bear to listen to, like, easing my way back into listening to music. Something about it is good for enduring
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Tuesday, 16 January 2024 01:53 (one year ago)
Condolences, D-40. I hear you, it's really hard to get back into music after losing someone close. When my dad passed, it took me a long time to play any record. Eventually, it was Pharoah Sanders' Harvest Time that stayed on repeat until I could listen to anything else. I'd argue that it's a similar feel to that Dadawah record.
― julian cage (sawdust lagoon), Tuesday, 16 January 2024 22:27 (one year ago)
yes, sorry to hear that D40, truly
picked this one up for a quid early today, hadn't heard it before but it's good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFs5Ldu1lkTeddy Irie - Tear It Down
― blazin' squab (NickB), Tuesday, 16 January 2024 22:39 (one year ago)
Yeah D-40 I would like to echo everyone's sympathies and add that when I was dealing with the long period between my dad's sudden hospitalization and his passing (about 18 months) one of the only types of music i could tolerate was dub. i listened to a LOT of King Tubby. Like hours per week. There's something special about how it lowers the heartrate I think? Idk.
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Wednesday, 17 January 2024 00:31 (one year ago)
Huh, I hadn't made that connection but since my Dad died almost 2 years ago I've gone deep into King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Dr. Alimontado and recently picked up a STELLAR comp called "Step Forward Youth". You may be right that this music soothes the grieving soul.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 17 January 2024 01:21 (one year ago)
I've been absorbed by the Joe Gibbs compilations Cherry Red has been putting out recently through their Doctor Bird imprint.
Joe Gibbs & the Professionals, 100 Years of Dub 2CD
Joe Gibbs & the Professionals, The 1970s Dub Albums Collection 4CD
United Dreadlocks Vols 1 & 2 - Joe Gibbs Roots Reggae 1976-1977 2CD
― Tahuti Watches L&O:SVU Reruns Without His Ape (unperson), Wednesday, 17 January 2024 02:29 (one year ago)
I just heard Gregory Isaacs' "Night Nurse" for the first time. It is amazing - give me more robo-reggae.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, 1 March 2024 23:44 (one year ago)
wow! i'd love to be hearing it for the 1st time. the dub of it is extraordinary too.
― stirmonster, Saturday, 2 March 2024 00:05 (one year ago)
I will have to check that out. I swoon for that synth sound.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Saturday, 2 March 2024 02:50 (one year ago)
More robo-reggae? Here you go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU2kjMMU0Sk
― bbq, Saturday, 2 March 2024 04:35 (one year ago)
Yes! Thank you!
Lol @ that Atari sound on track 2.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Saturday, 2 March 2024 12:53 (one year ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNzo2Jk77eU
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 2 March 2024 14:04 (one year ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL2Ll454OnA
― bbq, Sunday, 3 March 2024 01:44 (one year ago)
chi ba wa wa
― budo jeru, Sunday, 3 March 2024 01:50 (one year ago)
lucked out on a cheap copy of this, what a sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXlZfAdR-yAJunior Reid - Thanks & Praise / Dub Praises
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 07:27 (one year ago)
Pump that dub version straight into my veins! Damn.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 08:22 (one year ago)
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, March 1, 2024 5:44 PM (four months ago) bookmarkflaglink
night nurse is actually very driven by wally badarou's keyboards, he really shaped those songs. not dub but digging in on his discography puts 'night nurse' in a new kind of narrative context
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Tuesday, 30 July 2024 20:28 (ten months ago)
I only have Echoes but I like it a lot. Is that pretty representative?
― Paul Ponzi, Tuesday, 30 July 2024 22:06 (ten months ago)
https://www.mixcloud.com/abschied/christmas-in-jamaica/
― budo jeru, Saturday, December 23, 2023 9:51 PM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink
dusting this off after a year!
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 24 December 2024 20:06 (five months ago)
So good!
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 24 December 2024 21:07 (five months ago)
That's from Roots Rock Reggae: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245397/― rob, Thursday, March 6, 2014 8:47 PM (eleven years ago) bookmarkflaglinkit's on youtube!― Daniel, Esq 2, Thursday, March 6, 2014 8:49 PM (eleven years ago) bookmarkflaglink
― rob, Thursday, March 6, 2014 8:47 PM (eleven years ago) bookmarkflaglink
it's on youtube!
― Daniel, Esq 2, Thursday, March 6, 2014 8:49 PM (eleven years ago) bookmarkflaglink
still true 11 years later. lee "scratch" perry scenes are 👌
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0UFSo7UaWA
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 19 March 2025 17:53 (three months ago)
dang, there's even footage of a jamaican pressing plant ...
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 19 March 2025 18:21 (three months ago)
mega chills seeing the gladiators recording those tracks
― Clock DVLA (NickB), Wednesday, 19 March 2025 21:37 (three months ago)
absolutely
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 19 March 2025 21:44 (three months ago)
coincidentally i was listening to super ape and return of same today so can’t wait to watch this.
― same felthig angle-eye sixon (Fizzles), Wednesday, 19 March 2025 22:34 (three months ago)
also that clip of joe higgs playing acoustic fucked me up
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 19 March 2025 22:37 (three months ago)
hey look, there i am, re-posted just upthread. memories.
― Daniel, Esq 2, Saturday, 22 March 2025 14:30 (two months ago)
I watched that Beats of the Heart / Roots Rock Reggae last night -thanks for posting. It was shown on Channel 4 in the UK in the mid 80s, on a late-night strand I'v forgotten the name of presented by Vivien Goldman and Charlie Gillett, I had a vague clue who they were at the time but not much. I taped it and absolutely rinsed the VHS, real pleasure watching it back and knowing every second. I don't think "Play On Mr Music" was released until it came out on a Japanese Black Ark comp a few years back; anyone know better?
― Tim, Saturday, 22 March 2025 16:13 (two months ago)
New edition of Solid Foundation, the David Katz oral history of Jamaican Music currently £2.99 on kindle. Had the previous edition, but with nasty cramped print. Enjoying a lot more now.
― woof, Tuesday, 8 April 2025 21:04 (two months ago)
oh awesome
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 8 April 2025 21:05 (two months ago)
is it available in print?
Yup - may actually buy that as well. Take my money Katz.
― woof, Tuesday, 8 April 2025 21:55 (two months ago)
looks like the publisher doesn't ship to USA but i found a new copy on ABE for $25 and free shipping
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 8 April 2025 21:59 (two months ago)