1. Janet Kay - Silly GamesThis wonderful lover's rock hit from 1978 passed me by during my original reggae spree a couple of years back. Heard it for the first time at a house party and it managed to transcend almost everything I'd previously loved about Jamaican music and turned it on it's head. The vocals are incredible, even overwhelmingly intense at points. It turns out Janet had a cold on the day she came into the studio and that's how she managed to hit the higher notes. But even better than the vocal is the production which has an otherworldly feel, particularly in the signature change towards the end, recalling Alice In Wonderland. So good.
2. Silvertones - Sugar SugarThe Silvertones were a massively underrated trio produced by Lee Perry. The vocal on this version of the Archies "Sugar Sugar" showcases what they were capable of. The lead singer's low palatial burr juxtaposed with the other members' sopranos gives almost a Beach Boys-esque effect. I've never heard a bad song by the Silvertones, but it's also worth checking out "Kiddy-O", "Endlessly", "That's When It Hurts" and "Soul Sister".
3. Johnny Clarke - None Shall Escape The JudgementNothing sounds like this track. Nothing comes close to the hopping roots-y beat, the ever-shifting sections and bridges, the infectious bouncing bassline (made famous by Jonathan Richman on his own "Egyptian Reggae"). For years I've been looking for somethign with this kind of feel to it, hopefully to be able to mix it in whilst DJ-ing, but nothing seems to do justice to this wonderful song.
4. Susan Cadogan - Don't Burn Your BridgesAnother Lover's Rock number from Lee Perry. Susan Cadogan's "Hurt So Good" is chocka with great tunes, including her immortal cover of "Fever". This song is genuinely affecting, however and there's something so achingly soul-searching about the sparse production and Susan's echoing vocal that it gives me shivers up my spine each time I hear it.
5. The Lovejoys - I Belong To YouWe were listenign to this the other day and my friend described it as "Reggae Heaven" - because that's exactly what it sounds like. The production is so blurry and floaty, it could have been produced by a cloud.
6. The Naturalites - Picture On The WallThis song kicks so much roots-arse it's unbelievable. A song all about a picture of Rastafari in your living room is going to be though innit?
7. Bob Andy - You Don't KnowAt first a scolding and then a praising of the song's subject's bad habitds. "You don't know how you make your family feel" by the end of the song turns into "They don't know how it gives you joy inside". Not only that, but Bob Andy, arguably the king of the Ska/Rocksteady crossover performs with one of the most beautifully sung pieces in Reggae.
8. Michael Rose & Black Uhuru - Born FreeSomething about the overwhelming basswork on "Born Free" just keeps it moving on and on.
9. Gregory Isaacs - Night NurseEverybody, "Night Nuuu-uuu-rrrse". That advert worked well didn't it?
10. The Congos - Open Up The Gate"Heart Of The Congos" is arguably the best roots reggae album ever recorded, and this is the best song on it. Go figure.
― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 2 June 2006 09:51 (eighteen years ago)
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 09:54 (eighteen years ago)
1. Is This Love? - Bob Marley2. One Drop - Bob Marley3. I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant4. Apartheid - Peter Tosh5. Jammin' - Bob Marley6. Red Red Wine - UB407. So Much Trouble In The World - Bob Marley8. Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley9. Rat Race - Bob Marley10.Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:29 (eighteen years ago)
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:31 (eighteen years ago)
Geir, there's a little more to reggae than Mr. Marley, trust me. And I'll assume you're joking about 10cc and Steely Dan.
― Jim M (jmcgaw), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:39 (eighteen years ago)
GEIR IS WHITE!!!1!
― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ is a GE Money Genie (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:41 (eighteen years ago)
― breathny spears let me see the sex that you did. (noodle vague), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:46 (eighteen years ago)
Dick.
― Confounded (Confounded), Friday, 2 June 2006 19:09 (eighteen years ago)
holy SHIT this song is incredible. One of those songs that makes you feel incredibly stupid for not having spent your entire life listening to it.
― James.Cobo (jamescobo), Saturday, 3 June 2006 06:57 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 07:40 (eighteen years ago)
here
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 07:59 (eighteen years ago)
'Is This Love' is a timeless classic
― Good Dog (Good Dog), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:12 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:22 (eighteen years ago)
― Good Dog (Good Dog), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:30 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:30 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:32 (eighteen years ago)
off top head
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:37 (eighteen years ago)
― Marmotdeth (marmotwolof), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:42 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:43 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:44 (eighteen years ago)
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:47 (eighteen years ago)
― Marmotdeth (marmotwolof), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:50 (eighteen years ago)
1-Jimmy Cliff- The Harder they Come1- Judy Mowatt - Black Woman3 - Stevie Woman - Master Blaster
― Good Dog (Good Dog), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:58 (eighteen years ago)
― Good Dog (Good Dog), Saturday, 3 June 2006 08:59 (eighteen years ago)
hey onya good dog
stevie *woman*? i don't think yer minds on sbjct at hand!
― molly (bulbs), Saturday, 3 June 2006 09:00 (eighteen years ago)
― Good Dog (Good Dog), Saturday, 3 June 2006 09:20 (eighteen years ago)
a sublime, askew take on the crux of reggae.
― Max Blazevic (kitaj), Saturday, 3 June 2006 10:50 (eighteen years ago)
Sure, but none quite as good. Heard a lot of great reggae from the 70s and early 80s, while I am not too keen on the early 60s stuff, and I absolutely despise 90s dancehall.
And I'll assume you're joking about 10cc and Steely Dan.
"Dreadlock Holiday" and "Haitian Divorce" are both excellent reggae-tinged pop songs, but, no, they are not reggae.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:01 (eighteen years ago)
― simon 803 (simon 803), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:14 (eighteen years ago)
lol ;_;
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:16 (eighteen years ago)
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:18 (eighteen years ago)
But while I'm posting - I am looking for a reggae song which I think is called "It is you"...but that's ALL I KNOW. Not very much to go on, I know, but can anyone help? Ta.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:19 (eighteen years ago)
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:21 (eighteen years ago)
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:27 (eighteen years ago)
I know Eddie Grant isn't technically reggae, but I love Baby Come Back and Give Me Hope Jo'anna a whole bunch.
Years ago I had a Yellowman CD but i think it got ripped off during one of my party-after-the-party parties. One of the songs had this great euphemism about "rolling out the rug of Moses" or something like that. It was always a big hit with a bunch of drunken guys.
And yes, I'm a huge fan of Bob Marley, with and without Bunny and Peter, and I like some of Peter's solo stuff.
Favourites by Marley and the Wailers:Judge NotThe Real SituationGet Up, Stand UpOne DropOne Foundation400 YearsPass It On
― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:31 (eighteen years ago)
Sorry 'bout that.
― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 3 June 2006 21:34 (eighteen years ago)
― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 3 June 2006 22:29 (eighteen years ago)
I think my favorite reggae song ever would be a tossup between these two and "Uptown Top Ranking", although I sure have listened to "Silly Games" about forty thousand times since searching it out last night. I am also enormously partial to Toots & the Maytals' "Get Up Stand Up" (which has nothing to do with the Marley song) and "My Love Is So Strong".
Also of note: I have just returned from the record store with a copy of Susan Cadogan's Hurt So Good thanks to this thread.
― James.Cobo (jamescobo), Saturday, 3 June 2006 23:12 (eighteen years ago)
― grapple (grapple), Sunday, 4 June 2006 23:53 (eighteen years ago)
molly, it's called "barbwire", and yes it's an amazing track!
― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 5 June 2006 08:30 (eighteen years ago)
― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 5 June 2006 08:36 (eighteen years ago)
― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 5 June 2006 08:38 (eighteen years ago)
― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 5 June 2006 09:29 (eighteen years ago)
― molly young (egyptian shumba), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 06:11 (eighteen years ago)
― Confounded (Confounded), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 12:16 (eighteen years ago)
OR
Horace Andy - Zion GateJunior Byles - Heart and SoulRuts - Whatever We DoBurning Spear - TraditionPeter Tosh - Brand New Second HandMikey Dread - S.W.A.L.K.Israel Vibration - The Same SongDelroy Wilson - Stop Look What You're Doin'Junior Byles - A Place Called AfricaAlthea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking
Keeping it very simple, roots without DJs or dub...
― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 21:57 (eighteen years ago)
― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 21:59 (eighteen years ago)
― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 22:06 (eighteen years ago)
1. Althea and Donna - Uptown Top-Ranking. The greatest record ever made, from the deadpan vocals down to Joe Gibbs's trademark funky production. Genius.
2. Gregory Isaacs - Love Is Overdue. "Whose voice is gonna say goodnight?" I have to have some early GI in there and this cut for Alvin Ranglin narrowly gets the nod over Lonely Man. The simple uncluttered production just lets you hear every nuance of THE VOICE.
3. Scientist - Your Teeth In My Neck. Now I was going to avoid dub entirely, but here I think enough of the original song, Michael Prophet's 'Love And Unity' remains to allow it in the list. Trademark Scientist/Roots Radics - splashing snares, reverbed and wah-ed guitars, terrifyingly fat bass and the most beautiful vocal you could ever hear.
4. Keith and Tex - Tonight. "Why Won't You Come 'Ome/Tell Me That You Love Me?". 1969 rocksteady cut over a simple, chugging minor chord guitar riddim from Derrick Harriot. Great harmonies.
5. Tommy McCook and The Upsetters - Cloak and Dagger. I can't get enough of Winston Wright's organ sound and this adds Tommy McCook's horns, so has to be a winner.
6. Lone Ranger - Badder Than Dem. Late Studio One DJ duologue with another unnamed DJ. Bizarre intro that sounds like a sample from The Cabs 'Nag Nag Nag'.
7. Junior Murvin - Cool Out Son. That falsetto! Coupled with a tuff Joe Gibbs production on the Rockers Rock riddim, Junior dispenses some words of wisdom : " Son, don't put your hat where you can't reach it/makes no sense at all"
8. Prince Moonie - See A Man's Face. DJ cut of Horace Andy's original. Lovely voice, great DJ work by Moonie.
9. Big Youth - Can You Keep A Secret? DJ cut of Keith Hudson's 'Melody Maker' - loping riddim with deep wah-wah guitars skulking around the mix. And Yout' paying tribute to Mr. Keit' Hudson. Good gosh!
10. The Mighty Diamonds - Kouchi Vibes/Pass The Knowledge (Discomix). Lovely harmonies, sparse & deep riddim and some nice coughing as the bong is passed!
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 06:23 (eighteen years ago)
1. Gladiators: Eli Eli2. Ranking Joe: Natty Dread a Trademan3. Barrington Levy: Here I come4. Toyan: Pope in a di corner5. Tenor Saw: Ring the Alarm6. Dawn Penn: No no no7. U-Roy: I got to tell you tonight8. Gladiators: Dreadocks the time is now9. Eek a mouse: Ganja Smuggling10. Burning Spear: Days of Slavery
― paulhw (paulhw), Saturday, 26 August 2006 21:17 (eighteen years ago)
01 The Terrors - Assemble Not Thyself02 Max Romeo - Every Man Ought To Know03 The Congos - Solid Foundation04 The Abyssinians - Know Jah Today05 Burning Spear - Live Good06 Bob Marley - Three Little Birds07 Vivian Jackson and The Ralph Brothers - Conquering Lion08 Wayne Wade - Black Is Our Colour09 Lopez Walker - Trial Days10 Prince Alla - Only Love Can Conquer
― rentboy (rentboy), Sunday, 27 August 2006 01:41 (eighteen years ago)
― Joker! Hysterical! Face! (Bimble...), Sunday, 27 August 2006 01:46 (eighteen years ago)
10 x 2
http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1765&Itemid=103
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 February 2009 04:56 (sixteen years ago)
I've been listening to a lot of reggae recently but I'm starting to feel like the bitter ol' rockist version of Reggae - most of the reggae I really dig is from the late 60s/mid 70s (really digging the studio 1 comps). What happened from the 80s to now? What should I seek out?
― the maximum value that ZS obtains given its constraint is 8 (Z S), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:41 (sixteen years ago)
1. Buju Banton - Driver A2. Zap Pow - This is Reggae Music3. King Burnett - I Man Free4. Lee Perry - Tight Spot5. Peter Tosh - Steppin' Razor6. Bob Marley - Duppy Conqueror7. Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie8. Niney - Blood and Fire9. Ini Kamoze - World A Music10. Pato Banton - Don't Sniff Coke
― Joe Bob 1 Tooth (Hurting 2), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:55 (sixteen years ago)
I immediately regret asking that.
― the maximum value that ZS obtains given its constraint is 8 (Z S), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:58 (sixteen years ago)
mine was not an answer to your question, obv
― Joe Bob 1 Tooth (Hurting 2), Sunday, 1 February 2009 06:03 (sixteen years ago)